| BALLADE EN VIEIL LANGAGE | BALADE: IN THE OLD FRENCH |
| FRANÇOYS | |
| François Villon | tr. Peter Dean |
|
Car ou soit ly sains appostolles, D'aubes vestuz, d'amys coeffez, Qui ne seint fors saintes estolles Dont par le col prent ly mauffez De mal talant tout eschauffez. Aussi bien meurt que cilz servans, De ceste vie cy buffez: Autant en emporte ly vens! Voire, ou soit de Constantinobles L'emperieres au poing dorez, Ou de France le roy tres nobles Sur tous autres roys decorez, Qui pour ly grant Dieux adorez Batist eglises et couvens, S'en son temps il fut honnorez, Autant en emporte ly vens! Ou soit de Vïenne et de Grenobles Ly Dauphin, ly preux, ly senez, Ou de Dijon, Salins et Dolles, Ly sires filz le plus esnez Ou autant de leurs gens prenez Hereaux, trompectes, poursuivans, Ont ilz bien boutez soubz le nez, Autant en emporte ly vens! Princes a mort sont destinez, Et tous autres qui sont vivnans; S'ilz en sont courcez n'atinez, Autant en emporte ly vens! |
For whether they’re apostolic saints, fitted with haloes, loved by all, whose virtues by no evil taints could be dragged out of them, nor fall into whatever kind of sin - like serving lads they have their day, torn from the only life they’re in: they’re carried by the wind away. It no more matters if they be gold-fingered Emperors of Constantinople or of all kings of France the apogee, the one most honoured and most noble, who built, to show his love of Heaven, convent and church in which to pray, so that his age worshipped him even: they’re carried by the wind away. Or be it Dauphins of Vienne or of Grenoble, mighty, venerable, Dijon, Salines and Doles, great men, fathers and elder sons, all able; or it may be their private staff - heralds, flutes, those who trumpets play: haven’t they fed well, had much to quaff? They’re carried by the wind away. Princes to death, too, are foredoomed: with all things living it holds sway; whether they’re ready, once it’s loomed they’re carried by the wind away. |
Trans. Copyright © Peter Dean 2003