| BALLADE DES DAMES DU TEMPS JADIS | BALLAD OF THE LADIES OF YORE |
| François Villon | tr. Thomas D. Le |
Dictes moy ou, n'en quel pays, Est Flora la belle Rommaine? Archipiades ne Thaïs Qui fut sa cousine germaine? Echo parlant quant bruyt on maine Dessus riviere ou sus estan Qui beaulté ot trop plus qu'humaine? Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan? Ou est la tres sage Helloïs Pour qui chastré fut et puis moyne Pierre Esbaillart a Saint Denis? Pour son amour ot ceste essoyne. Semblablement ou est la royne Qui commanda que Buridan Fust geté en ung sac en Saine? Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan? La royne Blanche comme lis Qui chantoit a voix de seraine? Berte au grant pié, Bietris, Alis, Haremburgis qui tint le Maine Et Jehanne la bonne Lorraine Qu'Englois brulerent a Rouan, Ou sont ilz, ou, Vierge souvraine? Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan? Prince, n'enquerez de sepmaine Ou elles sont, ne de cest an, Qu a ce reffrain ne vous remaine: Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan? | Tell me where, or in what country, Is Flora, the lovely Roman, Archipiada or Thaïs, Who was her rival in beauty? Or Echo whose voice remains Over rivers and over ponds With beauty beyond human reach? But where are the snows of yesteryear? Where is the learned Heloise For whom suffered mutilation Pierre Esbailard at Saint Denis Who endured love's tribulation? And likewise where is the Queen Who ordered that Buridan Be thrown in a bag into the Seine? But where are the snows of yesteryear? The Queen as white as a lily Whose songs are suchlike a siren's. Bertha the tall, Beatrix, and Alice Haremburgis, who held the Maine And Joan the maid of Lorraine Whom the English burned at Rouen. Where are they, our sovereign Virgin? But where are the snows of yesteryear? Prince, inquire not this very week Where they are, nor this very year Lest you should get this refrain here: But where are the snows of yesteryear? |
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