| BALLADE | BALLADE |
| Eustache Deschamps | tr. A.S.Kline |
|
En Hainaut et en Brabant ai Apris à sauces ordonner: Es hostels où je me logeai Me fist on tousdis apporter A rost, à mouton, à sangler, A lievre, à connin, à ostarde, A poisson d'eaue douce et mer, Tousjours, sans demander, moustarde. Harens frais quis, et demandai Carpe au cabaret pour diner, Bequet en l'eaue y ordonnay, Et grosses soles au souper; A Brusselles fis demander Sauce vert; le clerc me regarde, Par un varlet me fist donner Tousjours; sans demander, moustarde. Sans li ne bu ne ne mangeai. Avec l'eaue la font mesler Du poisson, et encore sai Que la graisse du rost jeter Font en la moustarde et bouter. D'en servir nul d'eux ne retarde: Là avrez vous, pour vostre user, Tousjours, sans demander, moustarde. Prince, gingembre, c'est tout cler, Clos, safran, graine n'ont d'eux garde, Mais à chascun font destremper Tousjours, sans demander, moustarde. |
In Hainaut and Brabant I Ordered sauces freely: In each inn where I would lie, Yet they’d always bring me, With mutton, roast and coney, With hare, and boar, and bustard, With fish from river or from sea, Without ever asking: mustard! Fresh herring, I demanded, ay, Or carp at every place to eat, Steamed in pure water, pike, Or giant soles for supper treats: In Brussels I said to give me Green sauce: chef looked disgusted, Then sent some lad to serve me, Without ever asking: mustard! No food or drink without it, why It’s mixed with the water you see, The fish goes in, and I’ve espied The dripping from the roast run free With mustard mixed for gravy. They serve it you unflustered: You’ll always have it handy, Without ever asking: mustard! Prince: cardamom need have no fear, Cloves, saffron, ginger mustered: For every traveller they prepare, Without ever asking: mustard! |
Trans. Copyright© A.S.Kline 2005