SONNET FROM "LES REGRETS"	SONNET FROM "LES REGRETS"
Joachim du Bellay	tr. James Kirkup (tanka)
Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage, Ou comme cestuy là qui conquit la toison, Et puis est retourné, plein d'usage et raison, Vivre entre ses parents le reste de son aage! Quand revoiray-je, helas, de mon petit village Fumer la cheminée: et en quelle saison Revoiray-je le clos de ma pauvre maison, Qui m'est une province, et beaucoup d'avantage? Plus me plaist le sejour qu'ont basty mes ayeux, Que des palais Romains le front audacieux: Plus que le marbre dur me plaist l'ardoise fine, Plus mon Loyre Gaulois, que le Tybre Latin, Plus mon petit Lyré, que le mont Palatin, Et plus que l'air marin la doulceur Angevine.	Happy he who, like Ulysses, completes a great voyage; or like he who gained the Golden Fleece - then returned, well versed in knowledge, to his family, there to spend his days in peace! Alas, when shall I see once more rising the smoke from my small village chimney? And in what season shall I see again my poor dwelling's little plot, that is to me an entire province - even more than that? I feel more pleasure in my ancestors' works than in Roman palaces, so audacious in their pride! more than marble love fine slate, Our Gallic Loire than Latin Tiber; my modest Lyré than the Mount Palatine - than salt sea air our Angevine mellowness.

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Trans. Copyright © James Kirkup 2002

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