pfvb3725

SONNET DE LA BELLE CORDIÈRE	SONNET 25
attributed to Louise Labé	tr. Peter Low
Las! cettui jour, pourquoi l'ai-je dû voir, Puisque ses yeux allaient ardre mon âme? Doncques, Amour, faut-il que par ta flamme Soit transmué notre heur en désespoir! Si on savait d'aventure prévoir Ce que vient lors, plaints, poinctures et blâmes; Si fraîche fleur évanouir son bâme Et que tel jour fait éclore tel soir; Si on savait la fatale puissance, Que vite aurais échappé sa présence! Sans tarder plus, que vite l'aurais fui! Las, Las! que dis-je? O si pouvait renaître Ce jour tant doux où je le vis paraître, Oisel léger, comme j'irais à lui!	Why did I have to meet him that day there and let his eyes inflame me with desire? Oh Eros, are we doomed to feel your fire transmute our happiness into despair? If one could somehow know by second sight the future pain and blame and discontent, how such a flower will lose its lovely scent and such a day give birth to such a night; if one could know the yoke that passion brings, how quickly then, with what unseemly haste would I have turned my back and fled away! Oh, what am I saying? Were that sweetest day to dawn again when first I saw his face, how I would fly to him on eager wings!