| BELLE LEÇON DE VILLON AUX | LESSON FOR LOST CHILDREN |
| ENFANS PERDUZ | |
| LE GRAND TESTAMENT - CLVI-CLVIII | THE TESTAMENT - CLVI-CLVIII |
| François Villon | tr. Peter Dean |
|
CLVI "Beaulx enfants, vous perdez la plus Belle roze de vo chappeau; Mes clercs pres prenans comme glus, Se vous alez a Montpipeau Ou a Rüel, gardez la peau, Car pour s'esbatre en ces deux lieux, Cuidant que vaulsist le rappeau, Le perdyt Colin de Cayeulx. CLVII "Ce n'est pas ung jeu de troys mailles, Ou va corps, et peult estre l'ame. Qui pert, riens n'y font repantailles C'on n'en meurre a honte et diffame, Et qui gaigne n'a pas a femme Dido, la royne de Cartaige. L'omme est donc bien fol et infame Qui pour si peu couche tel gaige. CLVIII "Q'un chacun encores m'escoute: On dit, et il est verité, Que charecterie se boit toute, Au feu l'ivre, au boys l'esté: S'argent avez, il n'est quicté, Mais le despendez tost et viste; Qui en voyez vous herité? Jamais mal acquest ne proufficte." |
CLVI Fair children, don’t, I beg you, lose the sweetest rose under your hat: keep close, my clerks, as if with glues, if Montpipeau’s your pussycat, or even Ruel, watch what you’re at - for knocking about in these two spots and climbing down before a spat, Colin de Cailles got tied in knots. CLVII It’s not a game that’s worth the dice as far as body goes or soul. He loses? Naught will atone, suffice, but death in shame, which no bells toll. He wins? He won’t have to console him Dido, Carthage queen, for wife. A man’s an idiot on the whole who for such scraps stakes his own life. CLVIII Listen to one word more! It’s said - and I believe with truth they say - that charity is soonest fled; by winter’s fires it’s drunk away, in summer’s woods, too, it won’t stay. Cash, if you’ve got it, spend it fast. Who should inherit from you, pray? No good from ill-got! It won’t last. |
Trans. Copyright © Peter Dean 2003