Partant pour la Syrie (“Departing to Syria”) is a French song which, during the Second French Empire (1851 to 1870), served as the predominant representative song as a national anthem , but without being an official national anthem.
The song, which was influenced by Romanticism , is said to have been written around 1807. Already during the French Empire under Napoleon l. the song was popular as an unofficial anthem and was often sung. The melody is attributed to Hortense de Beauharnais , mother of Emperor Napoléon III. , however, the composer is supposed to be Louis-François-Philippe Drouet, flute player at Hortense's court. Alexandre de Laborde wrote the text .
text
Partant pour la Syrie,
Le jeune et beau Dunois
Venait prier Marie
De bénir ses exploits:
Faites, Reine immortelle,
Lui dit-il en partant,
Que j'aime la plus belle
Et sois le plus vaillant.
When the
beautiful young Dunois left for Syria , he
went to ask Our Lady to
bless His heroic deeds:
Do you, immortal queen, He
said to her on his departure
that I love the most beautiful
and the most brave.
Il trace sur la pierre
Le serment de l'honneur,
Et va suivre à la guerre
Le Comte son seigneur;
Au noble vœu fidèle,
Il dit en combattant:
Amour à la plus belle,
Honneur au plus vaillant.
He dug in the stone
the oath of honor
And followed into the war
The count, his lord,
As a nobly loyal vow he
said in battle:
Love the most beautiful,
honor the most valiant.
On lui doit la Victoire.
Vraiment, dit le seigneur;
Puisque tu fais ma gloire
Je ferai ton bonheur.
De ma fille Isabelle
Sois l'Epoux à l'instant,
Car elle est la plus belle,
Et toi le plus vaillant.
The victory was owed to him.
Verily, said the Lord,
Since you have established my fame,
I will make your happiness.
Be the husband of
my daughter Isabell from now on ,
for she is the most beautiful,
and you the most valiant.
À l'Autel de Marie
Ils contractent tous deux
Cette union Chérie
Qui seule rend heureux.
Chacun dans la chapelle
Disait en les voyant:
Amour à la plus belle,
Honneur au plus vaillant.
At the altar of Our Lady,
the two founded
this dearest union,
which alone makes you happy.
Everyone in the chapel
said when he saw her:
love the most beautiful,
honor the most brave.
