DE TRISTE CUER CHANTER JOYEUSEMENT ... | TO SING A HAPPY SONG WITH A SAD HEART ... |
Christine de Pisan | tr. Sheenagh Pugh |
De triste coeur chanter joyeusement Et rire en deuil c'est chose fort à faire, De son penser montrer tout le contraire, N'issir doux ris de dolent sentiment, Ainsi me faut faire communément, Et me convient, pour celer mon affaire, De triste coeur chanter joyeusement. Car en mon coeur porte couvertement Le deuil qui soit qui plus me peut déplaire, Et si me faut, pour les gens faire taire, Rire en pleurant et très amèrement De triste coeur chanter joyeusement. |
To sing a happy song with a sad heart, to feel one thing and fake the contrary, to coax a light laugh out of misery; no actor ever played a harder part, but I must do so: it is what I've taught myself. This is my only remedy; to sing a happy song with a sad heart, for what would I be otherwise but sport, in love with one who does not care for me? I will hide pain in smiles, sooner than be the common talk. It is a bitter art to sing a happy song with a sad heart. |
Trans. Copyright© Sheenagh Pugh 1999 - publ. seren
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