In translating this widely-translated poem I have tried to bring to light a different side of it, to convey some of the obscene undertones present in Villon's word choices throughout the poem.
Ballad of the Ladies of Yore
By Fran�ois Villon
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click to hear me recite the original in Middle French
So, tell me where on lands or seas
Has Flora gone, the Roman belle,
And Thais and Archipiades,
Great twins of beauty as stories tell.
And Echo who by brook and dell
Answered the rising cock come dawn,
And wove a more than mortal spell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
And where is learned Heloise
For whom Pete Abelard once fell
So hard he came to Saint Denis�
Where his cut was a eunuch's cell?
And where�s that dowager quaintrelle
Who bagged her plaything Buridan
Then sent him down the Seine to Hell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
That lily quean whose tune could tease
Sires even Sirens couldn't swell?
Broad Bertha, Alice, Beatrice
And Erenburg who banged Maine's bell?
That Maid of Orl�ans that fell
To English torches at Rouen?
Where are they? Where, Queen Virgin, tell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
Prince, ask no longer where they dwell.
For as the days and years draw on,
I�ve this and naught but this to tell:
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
The Original:
Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis
Dictes moy o�, n�en quel pays,?
Est Flora, la belle Romaine
Archipiada, ne Tha�s,
Qui fut sa cousine germaine;
Echo, parlant quand bruyt on maine
Dessus rivi�re ou sus estan,
Qui beaut� eut trop plus qu�humaine?
Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan !
O� est la tr�s sage Helo�s,?
Pour qui fut chastr� et puis moyne
Pierre Esbaillart � Sainct-Denys?
Pour son amour eut cest essoyne.?
Semblablement, o� est la royne?
Qui commanda que Burridan
Fust jett� en ung sac en Seine?
Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan!
La royne Blanche comme ung lys,
Qui chantoit � voix de sereine;
Berthe au grand pied, Bietris, Allys;
Harembourges, qui tint le Mayne,
Et Jehanne, la bonne Lorraine,
Qu�Anglois brusl�rent � Rouen;
O� sont-ilz, Vierge souveraine?
?Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan !
Prince, n�enquerrez de sepmaine?
O� elles sont, ne de cest an,?
Qu�� ce refrain ne vous remaine:
Mais o� sont les neiges d�anten?
Ballad of the Ladies of Yore
By Fran�ois Villon
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click to hear me recite the original in Middle French
So, tell me where on lands or seas
Has Flora gone, the Roman belle,
And Thais and Archipiades,
Great twins of beauty as stories tell.
And Echo who by brook and dell
Answered the rising cock come dawn,
And wove a more than mortal spell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
And where is learned Heloise
For whom Pete Abelard once fell
So hard he came to Saint Denis�
Where his cut was a eunuch's cell?
And where�s that dowager quaintrelle
Who bagged her plaything Buridan
Then sent him down the Seine to Hell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
That lily quean whose tune could tease
Sires even Sirens couldn't swell?
Broad Bertha, Alice, Beatrice
And Erenburg who banged Maine's bell?
That Maid of Orl�ans that fell
To English torches at Rouen?
Where are they? Where, Queen Virgin, tell?
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
Prince, ask no longer where they dwell.
For as the days and years draw on,
I�ve this and naught but this to tell:
Well, where could last year�s snows have gone?
The Original:
Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis
Dictes moy o�, n�en quel pays,?
Est Flora, la belle Romaine
Archipiada, ne Tha�s,
Qui fut sa cousine germaine;
Echo, parlant quand bruyt on maine
Dessus rivi�re ou sus estan,
Qui beaut� eut trop plus qu�humaine?
Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan !
O� est la tr�s sage Helo�s,?
Pour qui fut chastr� et puis moyne
Pierre Esbaillart � Sainct-Denys?
Pour son amour eut cest essoyne.?
Semblablement, o� est la royne?
Qui commanda que Burridan
Fust jett� en ung sac en Seine?
Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan!
La royne Blanche comme ung lys,
Qui chantoit � voix de sereine;
Berthe au grand pied, Bietris, Allys;
Harembourges, qui tint le Mayne,
Et Jehanne, la bonne Lorraine,
Qu�Anglois brusl�rent � Rouen;
O� sont-ilz, Vierge souveraine?
?Mais o� sont les neiges d�antan !
Prince, n�enquerrez de sepmaine?
O� elles sont, ne de cest an,?
Qu�� ce refrain ne vous remaine:
Mais o� sont les neiges d�anten?
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