by
Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585)
Thiard, chacun disoit à mon commencement
Language: French (Français)
Thiard, chacun disoit à mon commencement
Que j'estoi trop obscur au simple populaire :
Aujourd'hui, chacun dit que je suis au contraire,
Et que je me dements parlant trop bassement.
Toi, qui as enduré presqu'un pareil torment,
Di moi, je te suppli, di moi que doi-je faire ?
Di moi, si tu le sçais, comme doi-je complaire
'A ce monstre testu, divers en jugement ?
Quand j'escri haultement, il ne veult pas me lire,
Quand j'escri bassement, il ne fait qu'en médire :
De quel estroit lien tiendrai-je, ou de quels clous,
Ce monstrueux Prothé, qui se change à tous cous ?
Paix, paix, je t'enten bien: il le faut laisser dire,
Et nous rire de lui, comme il se rit de nous.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
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 ]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-08-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 118
O my Tyard, they used to say at the...
Language: English after the French (Français)
O my Tyard, they used to say at the beginning
That I was too obscure to the simple man in the street;
But today they say that I am the opposite,
And that I’ve gone mad for speaking in too low a style.
You who have endured much the same torment,
Tell me, I beg, tell me what should I do?
Tell me (for you know everything) how I should please
This many-headed monster, with such varied opinions?
When I write in a high style, they don’t want to read me;
When I write in a low style, they just abuse me.
With what tight bonds or what nails shall I hold
This monstrous Proteus who changes shape at every attack?
OK, OK, I understand you completely: we must leave them to speak,
And laugh at them, as they laugh at us.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2019 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2019-10-30
Line count: 14
Word count: 142