Ballade of the ladies of bygone times
Ballade des dames du temps jadis Written by François Villon in 1461, after his release under an amnesty and before a new arrest |
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Dictes-moy où, n’en quel pays Tell me where, or in what land is Flora, the lovely Roman, or Archipiades, or Thaïs, who was her first cousin; |
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Echo, parlant quand bruyt or Echo, replying whenever called across river or pool, and whose beauty was more than human? But where are the snows of yesteryear? |
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Semblablement, où est la royne And where is that queen who ordered that Buridan But where are the snows of yesteryear? |
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La royne Blanche comme lis Queen Blanche, white as a lily, who sang with a siren’s voice; Big-footed Bertha, Arembourg who ruled over Maine; |
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Et Jehanne, la bonne Lorraine And Joan, the good maiden of Lorraine who was burned by the English at Rouen — where are they, where, But where are the snows of yesteryear? |
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Prince, n'enquerez de sepmaine Prince, do not ask in a week where they are, or in a year. The only answer you will get is this refrain: But where are the snows of yesteryear? |