- Partant pour la Syrie
Partant pour la Syrie (Departing for Syria) is a French song the music of which was written by
Hortense de Beauharnais and the text byAlexandre de Laborde in or about1807 .Background
The song was inspired by
Napoleon 'sFrench Invasion of Egypt (1798) . It represents a chivalric composition of the aspirations of a
Egypt campaigncrusader knight in a style typical for theFirst French Empire . Hortense indicated in her "Memoires" that she wrote the music when she lived at Malmaison. During its popularity in the nineteenth century the song was arranged for numerous instruments by various composers.The poem by Labarde was originally titled "Le beau Dunois" telling the story of the handsome crusader Dunois. Prior to his departure to
Syria he prays to theVirgin Mary that he will love the most beautiful woman and that he himself may be the bravest. His prayers are answered. On his return the brave warrior wins the hand of Isabelle. Love and honor prevail.Popularity
The song was popular during the remainder of the First Empire, popular with Hortense in her exile, and with the
bonapartist s during theBourbon Restoration . During the Second Empire "Partant pour la Syrie" was the unofficial national anthem, while "La Marsaillaise " was forbidden but for the very end. With the collapse ofNapoleon III ’s rule the popularity of the song waned. The song was played to the emperor Napoleon III as he departed fromSchloss Wilhelmshöhe to his exile in England in 1871. It remains part of the repertoire of French military music.=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.
: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. :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.
: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.
References
* Baguley, David. Napoleon III and His Empire. An Extravaganza. Louisiana State University Press, 2000, ISNB 0-8071-2664-1
External links
* [http://ingeb.org/songs/partantp.html The melody]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.