by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832)
Translation by Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret (1767 - 1843)
The barefooted friar
Language: English
I’ll give thee, good fellow, a twelvemonth or twain, To search Europe through, from Byzantium to Spain; But ne’er shall you find, should you search till you tire, So happy a man as the Barefooted Friar. Your knight for his lady pricks forth in career, And is brought home at even-song prick’d through with a spear; I confess him in haste — for his lady desires No comfort on earth save the Barefooted Friar’s. Your monarch? — Pshaw! many a prince has been known To barter his robes for our cowl and our gown, But which of us e’er felt the idle desire To exchange for a crown the grey hood of a Friar! The Friar has walk’d out, and where’er he has gone, The land and its fatness is mark’d for his own; He can roam where he lists, he can stop when he tires, For every man’s house is the Barefooted Friar’s. He’s expected at noon, and no wight till he comes May profane the great chair, or the porridge of plums For the best of the cheer, and the seat by the fire, Is the undenied right of the Barefooted Friar. He’s expected at night, and the pasty’s made hot, They broach the brown ale, and they fill the black pot, And the goodwife would wish the goodman in the mire, Ere he lack’d a soft pillow, the Barefooted Friar. Long flourish the sandal, the cord, and the cope, The dread of the devil and trust of the Pope; For to gather life’s roses, unscathed by the briar, Is granted alone to the Barefooted Friar.
Authorship:
- by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The barefooted friar" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret (1767 - 1843) , "Le joyeux frère", appears in Ivanhoé ; composed by Benjamin Louis Paul Godard.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-03
Line count: 28
Word count: 268
Le joyeux frère
Language: French (Français)  after the English
Prenez un an, prenez-en deux Courez la France et l'Angleterre Quel homme y trouverez—vous heureux ? Le joyeux Frère Un guerrier meurt au champ d‘honneur Sa veuve, hélas ! se désespère Quel sera son consolateur ? Le joyeux Frère Que désire pour son guerdon Le prince à son heure dernière ? C‘est le froc et le capuchon Du joyeux Frère Riche et pauvre, brave et poltron Chacun le fête et le révère Chaque maison est la maison Du joyeux Frère Le mari lui donne en tous lieux A table la place première Et la femme traite encor mieux Le joyeux Frère Du diable, pour braver le choc Pour semer de fleurs sa carrière Vivent la sandale et le froc Du joyeux Frère !
Authorship:
- by Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret (1767 - 1843), "Le joyeux frère", appears in Ivanhoé [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "The barefooted friar"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Benjamin Louis Paul Godard (1849 - 1895), "Le joyeux frère", op. 4 no. 24 [medium voice and piano], from 30 morceaux de chant, no. 24, Éd. Durand, Schoenewerck & Cie [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 123