AVRIL (extrait) from APRIL
Remi Belleau trans. Bertram Kottmann
...
...
Avril, la grace, et le ris
De Cypris,
Le flair et la douce haleine:
Avril, le parfum des Dieux,
Qui des cieux
Sentent l'odeur de la plaine.

C'est toy, courtois et gentil,
Qui d'exil
Retires ces passagères,
Ces arondelles qui vont,
Et qui sont
Du printemps les messagères.

L'aubespine et l'aiglantain,
Et le thym,
L'oeillet, le lis et les roses
En ceste belle saison,
A foison,
Monstrent leurs robes ecloses.
...
...
 ...
...
April, grace and charming smile
of Aphrodite,
sentiment and soft breath;
April, fragrance of gods,
who from the heavens
perceive the plain's pleasant scent.

April, it is your gentle hand
that out of
Nature's bosom releases
a cornucopia of perfumes
and flowers
filling the air and the earth.

It is you - courtly and gracious
who, from their exile,
brings back those passengers,
the swallows which come
and are
Spring's messengers.
...
...
Click here 2 for another translation of this poem.
Trans. Copyright © Bertram Kottmann 2006 







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