| A UN VANNEUR DE BLÉ | TO THE WINDS, FROM A WINNOWER |
| Joachim du Bellay | tr. Timothy Adès |
A vous, troupe légère, Qui d'aile passagère Par le monde volez, Et d'un sifflant murmure Doucement ébranlez, L'ombrageux verdure J'offre ces violettes, Ces lis et ces fleurettes, Et ces roses ici, Ces vermeillettes roses, Tout fraîchement écloses, Et ces oeillets aussi. De votre douce haleine Eventez cette plaine, Eventez ce séjour: Cependant que j'ahanne A mon blé, que je vanne A la chaleur du jour. | To you lighter than light Who with fugitive flight At liberty flutter, Who lovingly ruffle The sheltering verdure With sibilant murmur: I offer these violets, Lilies and flowerets, Roses I hold, These little red roses Newly unfurled, And pink gillyflowers. Let a breath of your breeze Come play on the plain As long as I stay, Come play as I strain At my winnowing-fan In the heat of the day. |
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Trans. Copyright © Timothy Adès 2009