Quand ma maitresse au monde print naissance,
Honneur, Vertu, Grace, Savoir, Beauté
Eurent debat avec la Chasteté
Qui plus auroit sus elle de puissance.
L'une vouloit en avoir joüyssance,
L'autre vouloit l'avoir de son costé,
Et le debat immortel eust esté
Sans Jupiter, qui leur posa silence.
Filles, dit-il, ce n'est pas la raison
Que l'une seule ait si belle maison,
Pour-ce je veus qu'apointement on face:
L'accord fut fait: et plus soudainement
Qu'il ne l'eut dit, toutes également
En son beau cors pour jamais prindrent place.
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Researcher for this page: David Wyatt
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 91
When my mistress was born into the world,
Honour, Virtue, Grace, Knowledge and Beauty
Debated with Chastity
Who should have the greatest power over her.
One wanted to enjoy her,
Another to have her by her side,
And the debate would have lasted for ever
Without Jupiter, who imposed silence on them.
My daughters, he said, there is no reason
That just one of you should have so fair a home,
For this reason I want you to face your disappointment.
The agreement was made, and even more suddenly
Than he had said it, everyone equally
Took their place in her fair body for ever.
