by
Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
Language: English after the French (Français)
Right, squire, go saddle my faithful steed.
My heart bends with joy when I tread the stirrup.
(2)
By Saint-Gille, let's go, you agile chestnut horse of mine.
Listen, we’re hitting the road to see the joust of King John.
...
(4)
We who are, by the grace of God, high ranking noblemen,
need to make a noise on earth; and war is a mere game.
...
(20)
The fight begins. The bell has sounded!
Lance blows, cries of fright! Brave deeds are done,
throats are cut, it’s happening, by George, by the King!
...
(25)
In the tumult, like a bent lily, a handsome page has fallen.
He faints, he is dying, he calls for a priest.
...
(27)
Monks and virgins will place large candles
above his brow; and in the shade
of that sombre place two dark eyes will weep.
...
(29)
Right, brother steed, let's go back to our baronial domain;
go faster, for in the home that awaits you, we will find
(30)
oats for you in the morning, and for me Augustin,
the holy monk of the Roman church who bores me with Latin,
...
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4,20,25,27,29-30 of the original text.
Note: this translation joins many lines together so is not shown in parallel.
Translator's note: The "Pas d’Armes" was a medieval jousting game where competitors had to attack or defend a gateway or an enclosed terrain. Chroniclers recorded injuries and sometimes deaths.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2017 by Peter Low, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2017-06-02
Line count: 109
Word count: 724
