Partant pour la Syrie
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"Partant pour la Syrie" (French: [paʁtɑ̃puʁlasiʁi]; lit.'Leaving for Syria') was the de facto national anthem of the Second French Empire, used between 1852 and 1870. The music was composed by Hortense de Beauharnais, and the lyrics were written by Alexandre de Laborde, in or around 1807.
Background
The song was inspired by Napoleon I's campaign in Egypt and Syria. It represents a chivalric composition of the aspirations of a crusader knight in a style typical of the First French Empire. Hortense (Napoleon I's stepdaughter and the mother of Napoleon III) indicated in her Memoires that she wrote the music when she lived at Malmaison. During its popularity in the 19th century, the song was arranged for numerous instruments by various composers.
The poem by Laborde was originally titled Le beau Dunois, telling the story of the handsome crusader Dunois. Prior to his departure to Syria, he prays to the Virgin Mary that he will love the most beautiful woman and that he himself may be the bravest, and his prayers are answered. On his return, the brave warrior wins the hand of Isabelle, the daughter of his liege lord, and love and honor prevail.
Popularity
The song was popular during the remainder of the First Empire, with Hortense in her exile at Arenenberg, and with the Bonapartists during the Bourbon Restoration. "Partant pour la Syrie" was the unofficial national anthem during the Second Empire, an era when "La Marseillaise" was regarded with suspicion. After the collapse of the Second Empire, the song was played to the Emperor Napoleon III as he departed from Schloss Wilhelmshöhe to his exile in England in 1871, but by the time of Empress Eugénie's funeral in 1920, the band did not know it and played "La Marseillaise" instead. "Partant pour la Syrie" did, however, achieve a posthumous fame as one of the quoted tunes in "Fossils" from Camille Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals, written in 1886 but not published until 1922.
It remains part of the repertoire of French military music.[dubious – discuss]
Lyrics
| French original | English translation |
|---|---|
| I 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. II 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. III 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. IV A 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. | I Leaving for Syria, The young and handsome Dunois Went to ask the Virgin Mary, His heroic deeds to bless, Make it so, immortal Queen He said on his leaving, "I love the most gorgeous And be the bravest." II On stone he writeth The oath of honour And into war followeth The count, his Lord. Faithful to his noble vow, He said while fighting, "Love to the most gorgeous, Honour to the bravest." III We owe thee the victory Truly! saith the Lord, Since thou hast established my glory, I shall make thee happy! My daughter Isabelle Will be thy wife For she is the most gorgeous And thou the bravest. IV At the altar of Mary, They pledged both This dear union Which alone bringeth happiness. Everyone in the chapel Said seeing them, "Love to the most gorgeous, Honour to the bravest." |
Further reading
- Baguley, David. Napoleon III and His Regime: An Extravaganza. Louisiana State University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8071-2624-1