I’m working on learning this aria from an opera called Werther by Jules Massanet. It’s pretty gorgeous, so I thought I’d share a video of Pavarotti singing it.

It comes at a point in the opera when Werther comes to see the woman he loves, but whom he can never be with. He proceeds to read her a French poem (which happens to be this song). She realizes that she returns his love, and they embrace shortly before he leaves the stage. Shortly thereafter Werther kills himself, distraught with the knowledge that he can never be with the woman he loves.

Translation:
“Pourquoi me réveiller, ô souffle du printemps?
“Why awaken me, oh breath of spring?

Pourquoi me réveiller?
Why awaken me?

Sur mon front, je sens tes caresses
On my brow, I feel your caresses,

Et pourtant bien proche est le temps
and yet, very close is the time

des orages et des tristesses!
of storms and of sorrows!

“Pourquoi me réveiller, ô souffle du printemps?
“Why awaken me, oh breath of spring?

Demain dans le vallon viendra le voyageur,
Tomorrow in the valley will come the voyager,

Se souvenant de ma gloire première.
Remembering my first glory.

Et ses yeux vainement chercheront ma splendor,
and his eyes vainly will seek my splendor,

Ils ne trouveront plus que deuil et que misère!
They will find only mourning and suffering!

Hélas!
Alas!

“Pourquoi me réveiller, ô souffle du printemps?
“Why awaken me, oh breath of spring?

Translation by Lea Frey (blfrey@earthlink.net)
Thanks to Aria-Database.com