Sous le dôme épais, où le blanc jasmin
À la rose s’assemble
Sur la rive en fleurs, riant au matin
Viens, descendons ensemble.
(Under the thick dome, where the white jasmine
With the rose gathers,
To the flowered river bank, with morning laughter,
Come, let us go down together.)
Doucement glissons de son flot charmant
Suivons le courant fuyant
Dans l’onde frémissante
D’une main nonchalante
Viens, gagnons le bord,
Où la source dort
Et l’oiseau, l’oiseau chante.
(Gently let us slip from the pleasant rising flow,
Let us follow the fleeting current
In the shimmering stream,
Without any care,
Come, let us reach the bank,
Where the spring waters slumber
And the bird, the bird, she sings.)
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin,
Ah! descendons
Ensemble!
(Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together!)
Mais, je ne sais quelle crainte subite,
S’empare de moi,
Quand mon père va seul
A leur ville maudite
Je tremble, je tremble d’effroi!
Pour que le dieu Ganesa le protége
Jusque’a l’étang ou s’ebattent joyeux
Les cygnes aux ailes de neige
Allons cueillir les lotus bleus
Ou, pres des cygnes aux ailes de neige
Allons cueillir les lotus bleus.
(But I don't know what sudden dread,
takes me over, when my father goes alone,
to their cursed town,
I tremble, I tremble of fear!
So the god Ganesa protects him,
Up to where the source runs joyful,
The swans with wings of snow,
let us go gather the blue lotus,
near the swans with wings of snow,
let us gather the blue lotus.)
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin
À la rose s’assemble
Sur la rive en fleurs
Riant au matin
Viens, descendons ensemble.
(Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together! Under the thick dome where white jasmine
With the roses entwined together
On the river bank covered with flowers laughing in the morning)
Doucement glissons de son flot charmant,
Suivons le courant fuyant
Dans l’onde frémissante
D’une main nonchalante
Viens, gagnons le bord
Où la source dort et
L’oiseau, l’oiseau chante.
(Let us descend together
Gently floating on its charming risings,
On the river’s current
On the shining waves,
One hand reaches,
Reaches for the bank,
Where the spring sleeps,
And the bird, the bird sings.)
Sous le dôme épais
Où le blanc jasmin,
Ah! descendons
Ensemble!
(Under the thick dome where the white jasmine
Ah! We descend
Together!)
The Flower Duet
The Flower Duet Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Katherine Jenkins's rendition of "The Flower Duet," a celebrated piece originally from Léo Delibes' opera *Lakmé*, captures the serene beauty and underlying tension present in the music and lyrics. Released on January 16, 2019, this performance brings the renowned operatic passage to a wider audience, highlighting its lyrical and melodic richness. The duet is typically sung by two female voices, embodying a moment of peaceful companionship and connection with nature before the intrusion of external conflict.
The initial verses of the duet paint an exquisite picture of a natural paradise. Under a "thick dome, where the white jasmine with the rose gathers," the singers invite each other to descend to the "flowered river bank," describing a scene filled with "morning laughter." This idyllic setting continues as they speak of gently slipping down the "pleasant rising flow" and following the "fleeting current" in the "shimmering stream." The imagery is lush and evocative, suggesting a place of unspoiled beauty and tranquility, where one can move "without any care," reaching a bank where "the spring waters slumber and the bird, the bird, she sings." These lines establish a strong connection between the characters and the natural world, portraying it as a source of peace and refuge.
However, the mood shifts dramatically with a sudden expression of fear. One voice reveals, "But I don't know what sudden dread, takes me over," specifically mentioning anxiety when her father goes alone "to their cursed town." This stark contrast disrupts the preceding tranquility, introducing a sense of vulnerability and external threat. The fear is palpable, expressed as "I tremble, I tremble of fear!" This moment highlights the characters' precarious situation, situated within a world that holds danger for those they love.
The lyrics then turn to a plea for divine protection and a practical act born of concern. To ensure her father's safety, specifically that "the god Ganesa protects him," they decide to go gather "the blue lotus." This action is linked to a specific location, near where "the source runs joyful" and where "the swans with wings of snow" are found. The reference to Ganesha grounds the scene in the Indian setting of the opera, and the gathering of the blue lotus serves as an act of devotion or perhaps a necessary component for a protective ritual. This blend of natural beauty, personal fear, and spiritual practice adds layers to the narrative within the song, demonstrating how even in moments of idyllic peace, anxiety for loved ones can surface.
Following this expression of fear and the plan to gather the lotus, the duet returns to the opening verses about the beautiful natural setting. The repetition of "Under the thick dome, where the white jasmine, with the rose gathers" and the invitation to descend to the river bank reinforces the significance of this place as their sanctuary. The return to the imagery of gently gliding on the river and reaching the peaceful bank where the bird sings serves as a kind of balm after the moment of dread, emphasizing the enduring comfort and beauty of their natural surroundings and their shared experience. This structure, moving from peace to fear and back to the sanctuary of nature, underscores the central theme of seeking refuge and solace in the natural world and in companionship, even when faced with external dangers.
