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Vous qui faites l'endormie - No. 15, Serenade
from Act IV, Scene 3 of the French opera Faust by Charles-François Gounod
Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Mèphistophélès, the Devil
Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass
Setting: A square in front of a cathedral in a German city, 16th century
Synopsis: Faust and Mèphistophélès come at night to Marguerite's house. Marguerite's window is lit up and Mèphistophélès offers to sing a serenade to get her to open the door for Faust. The serenade advises a woman not to give up her virginity until after she is married. Of course, he is mocking her for she has already slept with Faust and, in fact, is bearing his child.
Range: Tessitura:
G2 - G4D3 - D4
Translations/Aria Texts:
Translation into English by Lea Frey (added 1997-04-17)
Vous qui faites l’endormie, Mephistopheles's aria from Faust

Je crois que mes avis sont vains	I think my advices are in vain
Et que l’amour l’emporte,		And that love carries him away,
Mais pour vous faire ouvrir la porte,	But to make you open the door,
Vous avez grand besoin			You have great need
du secours de ma voix.			Of the help of my voice.

Vous qui faites l’endormie,		You who are supposed to be asleep,
N’entendez-vous pas,			Don’t you hear
N’entendez-vous pas,			Don’t you hear
Ô Catherine, ma mie			O, Catherine, my sweetheart
N’entendez-vous pas,			Don’t you hear
Ma voix et mes pas?			My voice and my steps?
Ainsi ton gallant t’appelle		Thus your lover calls you
Ainsi ton gallant t’appelle		Thus your lover calls you
Et ton coeur l’en crois. Ah!		And your heart believes in him. Ah!
N’ouvre  ta porte, ma belle,		Don’t open the door, my beauty,
Que la bague au doigt!  etc.		Till the jewel is on your finger!  etc.

Catherine que j’adore, 			Catherine, whom I adore,
Pourquoi refuser			Why refuse
A l’amant qui vous implore		To the lover who implores you
Pourquoi refuser un si doux baiser?	Why refuse such a sweet kiss?
Ainsi ton gallant supplie		Thus your lover pleads 			
Ainsi ton gallant supplie		Thus your lover pleads
Et ton coeur en croit. Ah!		And your heart believes in him. Ah!

Ne donne un baiser, ma mie		Don’t give a kiss, my sweetheart,
Que la bague au doigt,			Till the jewel is on your finger,


Word-by-word translation by Lea Frey,  blfrey@earthlink.net
Sounds:
MIDI version by George Pollen
Sheet Music/Scores:
none
Recordings:
none
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