Autograph poem signed by poet François Coppée entitled "Lied".
Light foxing to left margin of the leaf.
The signed poem, 14 lines in black ink on one leaf, was included in the collection "L'exilée" published in 1877 under the same title:
"Rougissante et tête baissée,
Je la vois me sourire encor.
Pour le doigt de ma fiancée*
Qu'on me fasse un bel anneau d'or.
Elle part, mais bonne et fidèle ;
Je vais l'attendre en m'affligeant.
Pour garder ce qui me vient d'elle
Qu'on me fasse un coffret d'argent.
J'ai sur le coeur un poids énorme ;
L'exil est trop dur et trop long.
Pour que je me repose et dorme
Qu'on me fasse un cercueil de plomb."
François Coppée. ("Blushing and with lowered head, / I see her smiling at me still. / For my fiancée's finger / Let me have a beautiful gold ring made. / She leaves, but good and faithful; / I will wait for her in sorrow. / To keep what comes to me from her / Let me have a silver casket made. / I have an enormous weight on my heart; / Exile is too harsh and too long. / So that I may rest and sleep / Let me have a lead coffin made." François Coppée.)