Clear of reason, a slave of madness | Clear of reason, a slave of madness

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by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)

Translation © by David Wyatt

Franc de raison, esclave de fureur

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG

Franc de raison, esclave de fureur,
Je vay chassant une Fere sauvage,
Or' sur un mont, or' le long d'un rivage,
Or' dans le bois de jeunesse et d'erreur.

J'ay pour ma lesse un long trait de malheur,
J'ay pour limier un violent courage,
J'ay pour mes chiens l'ardeur et le jeune âge,
Et pour piqueurs l'espoir et la douleur.

Mais eux voyans, que plus elle est chassee,
Plus elle fuit d'une course eslancee,
Quittent leur proye: et retournent vers moy

De ma chair propre osant bien leur repaistre.
C'est grand pitié (à mon dam je le voy)
Quand les valets commandent à leur maistre.

About the headline (FAQ)

Later version.

Text Authorship:

by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585) [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):

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Set in a modified version by Guillaume Boni.

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Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (David Wyatt) , title 1: "Clear of reason, a slave of madness", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: David Wyatt

This text was added to the website: 2015-02-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 105

Clear of reason, a slave of madness

Language: English after the French (Français)

Clear of reason, a slave of madness,
I chase and chase a savage Beast
Now over hills, now along riverbanks,
Now in the woods of youth and error.

I have as my leash a long line of misfortunes,
I have as my limed twig violent courage,
I have as my dogs passion and youth,
And as beaters hope and sadness.

But when they see that the more she is pursued,
The more she flees, bounding ahead,
They give up their prey, and return towards me

Daring to feast themselves on my own flesh.
It is a great shame (to my chagrin I see it)
When the servants rule their master.

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2015 by David Wyatt, (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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Based on:

a text in French (Français) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2015-02-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 110