i «^f* • cir' *«t y. . .-. i» r' It t tr r\i\ < CO X r #". % f-n.- ^ o THE MODERN BOOKS OF VERSE THE MODERN BOOK OF FRENCH VERSE THE MODERN BOOK OF FRENCH VERSE IN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS BY CHAUCER, FRANCIS THOMPSON, SWINBURNE, ARTHUR SYMONS, ROBERT BRIDGES, JOHN PAYNE AND OTHERS EDITED BY ALBERT BONI y BONI AND LIVERIGHT PUBLISHERS NEW YORK COPYBIGHT, 1920 By Boni & LivEKiGET, Inc. All Rights Reserved Printed in Die U. S. A. CONTENTS AUTHOR AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY GUILLAUME DE POITIERS (IO7I- ? ) Behold, the meads H. W. Preston Chanson de Roland (Xllth Cent.) Death of Archbishop Turpin . . H. W. Longfellow Marcabrun (Xllth cent.) At the fountain H. W. Preston Bernard de Ventadour (113a- ? ) No marvel is it " Marie de Fr.-.nce (Xlllth cent.) Song from Chartivel A. O'Skaughnessy Would I might go far over sea . . " The VroAME de Chartres (12- ? ) April A. C. Swinburne . Guillaume de Lorris (1230- ) Romaunt of the Rose ,,,... Chaucer . . . Jean Froissart (1338-1404) Rondel H. W. Longfellow Al-MN Chartier (1386-1449) From La Belle Dame Sans Mercy Chaucer . . . Charles d'Orleans (1391-1465) Rondel Andrew Lang . . Spring " " . . Alons au bois !e may cueillir . . W. E. Henley . . Dieu qu'il la fait Ezra Pound . . Old French John of Tours is back with peace . D. G. Rossetti . . Normande Ballade de Marguerite .... Oscar Wilde . . Breton The dole of the king's daughter . " " MEDiiEVAL Norman Songs I Fair is her body, bright her eye J. A. Symonds . II Sad, lost in thought, and mute I go " . III Kiss me then, my merry May IV Before my lady's window " gay V I found at daybreak yester morn " . V PAGB I 6 7 14 14 18 19 19 20 20 22 24 25 25 25 26 26 v7v>4St^-'^0 n CONTENTS AUTHOR AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY VI This month of May, one pleasant eventide . . J. A. Symonds VII In this merry morn of May VIII O Love, my Love, and per- ^^ feet bliss ,, IX Alas, poor heart, I pity thee X Nowr who is he on earth that ^^ lives XI Sweet fiower, that art so fair ^^ and gay ,, XII My love for him shall be XIII Beneath the branch of the green May ,, XIV They have said evil of my dear XV They lied, those lying trait- ^^ ors all XVI O nightingale of woodland ^^ gay ; • • XVII Maid Marjory sits at the cas- ^^ tie gate XVIII Drink, gossips mine, we ^^ drink no wine .... Ballads The three captains Andrew Lang . The bridge of death .... Le pere severe The milk-white doe .... A lady of high degree . . . Lost for a rose's sake Old French My Father's close D. G. Rossetti Francois Villon (1431-1489) Ballad of the gibbet Andrew Lang Rondel Arbor Amoris ■ No, I Am Not, as Others Are . . Straight Tip to All Cross Coves . The Ballad of Dead Ladies . . To Death, of His Lady His Mother's Service to Our Lady . The Complaint of the Fair Armouress A Double Ballad of Good Counsel Fragment on Death Ballad of the Lords of Old Time . . Ballad of the Women of Paris . . . Ballad Written for a Bridegroom . . Ballad Against the Enemies of France The Dispute of the Heart and the Body Epistle in the Form of a Ballad to His Friends The Epitaph in the Form of a Ballad Arthur Symons W. E. Henley . D. G. Rossetti . A. C. Swinburne PAGE 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 33 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 43 45 46 47 48 48 49 52 54 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 CONTENTS author and title translated by Mellin de Saint-Gelais (1491-1558) The sonnet of the mountain . . Austin Dobson . . Clement Marot (149 5-1544) The posy-ring Ford Madox Hueffer A love-lesson Leigh Hunt Madame d'Albert's laugh . . . . " " Jacques Tahureau (1527-1555) Shadows of his lady Andrew Lang Moonlight " " Jean Passerat (1534-1602) The lover and the grasshoppers . John Payne Canzonet to his mistress . . . . " Love in May Andrew Lang Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585) Fragment of a sonnet .... John Keats Roses Andrew Lang The rose To the moon " " To his young mistress " " Deadly kisses " " Of his lady's old age " On his lady's waking ...».." " His lady's death " His lady's tomb " And Lightly, Like the Flowers . . W. E. Henley The paradox of time Austin Dobson Joachim du Bellay (1525-1560) From the visions Spencer . . Hymn to the winds Andrew Lang A vow to heavenly Venus .... " " To his friend in Elysium . . . . " " A sonnet to heavenly beauty ... " " Rome Ezra Pound Robert Bridges Arthur Piatt Louise Labe (i 526-1 566) Povre Ame amoureuse . . . Long as I still can shed tears Remy Belleau (1528-1577) April Andrew Lang In praise of wine John Payne Love and money Philip Desportes (1545-1606) Sonnet, Can it be true . . . The dream Sonnet, When you and I .... " " Theophile de Viau (1590-1626) Sleep Edmund Gosse Pierre Corneille (1606-1684) Les Ravages du temos . . . John Payne James Robertson page 62 63 63 64 64 65 65 66 67 68 69 69 70 70 71 72 72 73 73 74 74 76 78 79 79 80 80 81 81 82 84 86 86 87 87 88 89 VUl CONTENTS author and title thanslated by La Fontaine (1621-1695) The cock and the fox E. Wright . . . Love and folly W. C. Bryant . . Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moli^re (1622-1673) Austin Dobson Charles Randolph Tobias Smollett To M. de la Mothe le Vayer Jean Racine (1639-1699) From the chorus of "Athalie" Voltaire (1694-1778) Stanzas upon the epic poets Andre Chenier (i 760-1 794) Elegies: I Every man has his sorrows Arthur Symons . II A white nymph wandering in the woods Ill Well, I would have it so ... " The young captive W.J. Robertson . Communion of saints .... Robert Bridges . Joseph Rouget-de-l'Isle (i 760-1 836) Marseilles Hymn Anonymous . . Pierre Jean de Beranger (1780-1857) The king of Yvetot William Toynbee Les souvenirs du peuple .... James Robertson . Le cinq May Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1785-1859) Refuge Johtt Payne . . Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869) f-'- Le lac " " • • The V lley W. J. Robertson . To a young girl that begged a lock of my hair Evening John Payne , . From the French (1795) Song before death A.C.Swinburne. Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) Moses Grace King . . Jacques Jasmin (1798-1864) The ice-hearted siren H. W. Preston . Victor Hugo (1802-1885) The Veil Democratic Review The Djinns Anonymous . . A sunset Francis Thompson Heard or the mountain " " Aubade John Payne June nights Love's nest The lonely hours |' || By the seaside Light on the horizon " " page 90 91 92 93 93 94 95 95 96 97 97 99 100 103 104 105 107 no no 1X2 113 113 115 116 119 121 f24 125 125 126 126 127 CONTENTS IX AUTHOR A^a) TITLE The grave and the rose . The genesis of butterflies More strong than time . The poor children . . . Her name To a woman New song to an old air . In a church This age is great and strong A hymn of the earth . . The streets and the woods To the imperious beauty Morning The pool and the soul The poet's simple faith TRANSLATED BY Andrew Lang . A . C. Swinburne W. J. Robertson W. M. Hardinge R. F. Hodgson Edward Dowden Alexandre Dumas (1803-1870) Don Juan's song John Payne Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve (1804-1869) Wish ;; ;] Reverie Gerard de Nerval (i 808-1 855) An old tune In the woods "El Desdichado" Andrew Lang John Payne Andrew Lang Alfred de Musset (.1810-1857) Juana Tristesse Theophile Gautier (1811-1872) Art Posthumous Coquetry . . . Clanmonde Love at sea A verse of Wordsworth . . . James Robertson George Santayana Arthur Symons Lafcadio Hearn A. C. Swinburne W. J. Robertson Leconte de Lisle (1818-1894) Hialmar speaks to the raven . . J. E. Flecker The virgin forest John Payne A last memory M«« <« oonrise Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) The balcony F. P. Sturm Spleen A madrigal of sorrow Robed in a silken robe The little old women An allegory Beauty The sadness of the moon . . , . The seven old men Meditation Arthur Reed Ropes The rebel Cosmo Monkhouse PAGE 128 128 129 139 131 132 132 133 133 135 138 139 140 140 141 142 142 143 144 144 145 146 147 149 150 151 152 153 154 156 157 158 159 160 i6x 162 164 165 166 166 168 168 X CONTENTS AtTTHOE AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY PAGE Litany of Satan James Elroy Flecker . 169 Don Juan in Hell " " " . . 171 Epilogue Arthur Symons . . . 171 Henri Murger (1822-1861) Spring in the students' quarter , Andrew Lang .... 172 Old loves " '• .... 173 Musette " " .... 174 Thodeore de Banville (1823-1844) The nightingale John Payne .... 176 A love-song W.J. Robertson . . . 177 Frederic Mistral (1830-1914) The Mares of the Camargue (from the Mirieo) ...... George Meredith . . . 178 The cocooning H. W. Preston . . . 179 The leaf-picking " ... 180 Sully Prudhomme (1839- ) A supplication ....... I. O. L 180 The ideal Dorothy Frances Gwiney 181 The shadow A. O'Shaughnessy . . 182 Profanation " . . 182 The struggle " . . 183 The appointment " . . 183 Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) Three days of vintage .... W. J. Robertson . . . 184 Emile Zola (1840-1902) My wishes " ,. 185 Catulle Mendes ( 1 841-1909) The disciple " ... 186 The mother " ... 187 Stephane Mallarme (1842-1898) Sigh Arthur Symons . . . 188 Sea-wind " " ... 188 Anguish ..." " ... 189 Jose-Maria de Heredl\ (1842-1905) The flute: a pastoral A. J. C. Grierson . . 189 Francois Coppee (1842-1908) The three birds W. J. Robertson . . . 190 On a tomb in spring-time .... " ... 190 Paul Verlaine (1844- 1896) II pleut doucement sur la ville , Ernest Dowson ... 191 CoUoque sentimental " " ... 191 Spleen " " ... 192 The sky is up above the roof ..." " ... 193 Parsifal Cuthbert Wright . . . 193 A Clymene Arthur Symons . . . 194 L'amour par terre " " ... 195 Fantoches " " ... 195 Pantomime " " ... 196 CONTENTS XI AtTTHOR AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY From Fetes Galantes: Les Indolents Arthur Symons Cythere " Dansl'allee " Mandoline " " Clair de lune " SurTherbe " A la promenade " " Danslagrotte " Les ingenues " " Cortege . . ......" " Les coquillages " " En patinant " En bateau " Lefaune " Lettre " Colombine " En Sourdine " Soleils couchants " " Chansons d'automne " " Femme et chatte " " From La bonne chanson: The white moon sits " " The fireside, the lamp's little . . " " From Romances sans paroles: 'Tis the ecstasy of repose ..." " I divine, through the veil of a mur- muring " " A frail hand in the rose-grey even- ing " O sad, sad was my soul, alas! . . " " Wearily the plain's " " There's a flight of green and red . " " The roses were all red " " Dance the jigl " From Jadis et Naguere : Art poetique " " Mezzetin Chantant " From Sagesse: The little hands that once were mine " O my God, thou hast wounded me with love " Slumber dark and deep , . . . " The body's sadness and the languor thereof " Fairer is the sea " From Parallelement: Impression fausse " From chansons pour elle .... " From epigrammes " Jean Richepin (1849- ) The death of the gods W. J. Robertson PAGE 196 197 197 198 199 199 200 200 201 201 202 203 205 206 206 207 208 209 210 210 211 212 212 213 213 214 214 215 216 2l6 217 2X8 219 219 221 221 222 223 224 224 225 229 230 230 232 233 234 235 xii CONTENTS AUTHOR AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY PACK Guy de Maupass-ant (i 850-1 893) Desires W. J. Robertson . . . 227 From the French Revenants Robert Bridges . . . 228 Arthur Rimbaxjd (1854-1891) Sensation Jelhro Bithell .... 229 Albert Sam.\in (1858-1900) Music on the waters Jelhro Bithell Pannyra of the Golden Heel . . J. E. Flecker Summer Hours Jelhro Bithell Autumn " " Eventide Sleepless night " " Your memory " Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915) Hair Jethro Bithell .... 235 GusTAVE Kahn (1859- ) I dreamed of a cruel lad. . . . Jethro Bithell .... 236 My Own " " .... 237 Homage . . " " .... 237 The three girls on the seashore . . " " .... 238 Jules Laforgue (i 860-1887) For the book of love .... Jethro Bithell .... 239 Henri DE Regnier (1864- ) Night Semnas O' Sullivan . . 239 Nay, sweet, my grief and I . . . " " .... 240 Stanzas " " .... 241 The gate of the armies . . . J. E. Flecker .... 241 Francis Viele-Griffin (1864- ) Now the sweet eves are withered Jethro Bithell .... 242 Alfred Mortier (1865- ) I ask you, love Jethro Bithell .... 243 Aktdre Spire (1868- ) Lonely Jethro Bithell .... 244 Spring o . " " .... 245 To my books " " .... 245 Nudities " " .... 247 Francis Jammes (1868- ) Amsterdam J ethro Bithell .... 248 Prayer to go to Paradise with the asses " " .... 250 Love 251 CONTENTS xiii AUTHOR AND TITLE TRANSLATED BY PAGE The cricket's song Jethro BUhell . . . . 251 Paul Fort (1872- ) A baliad of the season " " .... 253 A ballad of the night " " .... 253 Philomel J. E. Flecker .... 254 Bell of dawn Ludwig Lewisohn . . 255 Pan and the cherries Jetliro Bithell . . . . 256 The sailor's song " " .... 256 Charles Guerin (i 873-1907) Partings Jetliro Bithell .... 257 Vain vows " " .... 257 The journey's end " " .... 258 The delicate evening " " .... 259 Charles Vildrac (1882- ) After midnight Jethro Bithell .... 250 Cf mmentary " " .... 269 An l!in " " .... 263 Georges Duhamel The beggar Jethro Bithell .... 265 Jules Romans (1885- ) The barracks Jethro Bithell .... 268 The church " " .... 373 NOTE This anthology is more correctly a compilation of transla- tions selected primarily for those who have no means of enjoying French poetry in the original. Expanded from a collection gathered originally for personal pleasure, it is my belief that most of the selections here included are of high poetical merit, fully capable of standing squarely on their own feet as adequate renderings of the original. Where this claim seems extravagant, the reader is asked to accept the selection as one of several that were included to give the volume the proper proportions that an anthology such as this must possess. In such cases, it was deemed better that our poet be inadequately represented than not at all. A transla- tion fairly literal, though lacking in the lyrical quality we should desire, is, at any rate, an aid to the appreciation of the original, and we hope that these versions will lead some readers back to their source. Acknowledgments are due to many publishers for their generous authorizations in the use of copyrighted material. In particular I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to : Charles Scribner's Sons for the selections from "The Poems of George Meredith" and "The Hermit of Carmel" by George Santayana; B. W. Huebsch for "The Bell of Dawn" by Paul Fort from "The Poets of Modern France" by Ludwig Lew- isohn; Doubleday, Page and Company for selections from "The Collected Poems of James Elroy Flecker"; Alfred Knopf for translations from "Lustra" by Ezra Pound ; John Lane and Com.pany for many translations by Arthur Symons and Ernest Dowson ; Brentano's for Lafcadio Hearn's trans- lation of "Clarimonde" by Theophile Gautier; The Walter Scott Publishing Company for selections from "Contemporary French Poetry" by Jethro Bithell; Thomas Bird Mosher XV XVI NOTE for innumerable selections taken from "The Bibelot," which has proved a veritable treasure-house for material unobtain- able elsewhere. Albert Boni. August 2"], 1919- "High Orchard," Westfield, N. J. THE MODERN BOOK OF FRENCH VERSE MODERN BOOK OF FRENCH VERSE GUILLAUME DE POITIERS (1071-?) Behold the Meads BEHOLD, the meads are green again. The orchard-bloom is seen again, Of sky and stream the mien again Is mild, is bright! Now should each heart that loves obtain Its own delight. But I will say no ill of Love, However slight my guerdon prove: Repining doth not me behove: And yet — to know How lightly she I fain would move Might bliss bestow 1 There are who hold my folly great. Because with little hope I wait; But one old saw doth animate And me assure: Their hearts are high, their might is great, Who will endure. (H. W, Preston.) 2 THE CHANSON DE ROLAND FROM THE CHANSON DE ROLAND (XHth CENT.) Death of Archbishop Turpin THE archbishop, whom God loved in high degree, Beheld his wounds all bleeding fresh and free; And then his cheek more ghastly grew and wan, And a faint shudder through his members ran. Upon the battle-field his knee was bent; Brave Roland saw, and to his succour went. Straightway his helmet from his brow unlaced. And tore the shining haubert from his breast; Then raising in his arms the man of God, Gently he laid him on the verdant sod. "Rest, Sire," he cried,— "for rest thy suflFering needs." The priest replied, "Think but of warlike deeds! The field is ours; well may we boast this strife! But death steals on,— there is no hope of life; In paradise, where the almoners live again. There are our couches spread,— 'there shall we rest from pain." Sore Roland grieved; nor marvel I, alas! That thrice he swooned upon the thick green grass. When he revived, with a loud voice cried he, "O Heavenly Father! Holy Saint Marie! Why lingers death to lay me in my grave? Beloved France! how have the good and brave Been torn from thee and left thee weak and poor!" Then thoughts of Aude, his lady-love, came o'er His spirit, and he whispered soft and slow, "My gentle friend! — what parting full of woe! Never so true a liegeman shalt thou see; — Whate'er my fate, Christ's benison on thee! Christ, who did save from realms of woe beneath The Hebrew prophets from the second death." Then to the paladins, whom well he knew, He went, and one by one unaided drew To Turpin's side, well skilled in ghostly lore;— THE CHANSON DE ROLAND : No heart had he to smile, — but, weeping sore, He blessed them in God's name, with faith that he Would soon vouchsafe to them a glad eternity. The archbishop, then, — on whom God's benison rest I— Exhausted, bowed his head upon his breast; — His mouth was full of dust and clotted gore. And many a wound his swollen visage bore. Slow beats his heart, — his panting bosom heaves, — Death comes apace, — no hope of cure relieves. Towards heaven he raised his dying hands and prayed That God, who for our sins was mortal made, — Born of the Virgin, — scorned and crucified, — In paradise would place him by his side. Then Turpin died in service of Charlon, In battle great and eke great orison; 'Gainst Pagan host alway strong champion; — God grant to him his holy benison ! (H. W. Longfellow.) MARCABRUN (XIITH CENTURY) At the Fountain A FOUNT there is, doth overfling Green turf and garden walks; in spring A glory of white blossoming Shines underneath its guardian tree; And new-come birds old music sing; And there, alone and sorrowing, I found a maid I could not cheer,— Of beauty meet to be adored, The daughter of the castle's lord; Methought the melody outpour'd By all the birds unceasingly, The season sweet, the verdant sward, MARCABRUN Might gladden her, and eke my word Her grief dismiss, would she but hear. Her tears into the fountain fell; With sorry sighs her heart did swell; "O Jezus, King invisible!" She cried, — "of thee is my distress! Through thy deep wrong bereft I dwell: Earth's best have bidden us farewell, On thee at thine own shrine to wait. "And my true Love is also gone, The free, fair, gentle, valiant One; So what can I but make my moan, And how the sad desire suppress That Louis' name were here unknown, The prayers, the mandates, all undone Whereby I am made desolate?" Soon as I heard this plaintive cry, Moving the limpid wave anigh, "Weep not, fair maid ! So piteously. Nor waste thy roses!" thus I cried, — "Neither despair, for He is by Who brought this leafy greenery. And He will give thee joy one day." "Seigneur ! I well believe," she said, — "Of God I shall be comforted In yonder world when I am dead; And many a sinful soul beside; — But now hath He prohibited My chief delight I bow my head, — But heaven is very far away." (H. W. Preston.) BERNARD DE VENTADOUR BERNARD DE VENTADOUR (1130-?) No Marvel Is It NO marvel is it if I sing Better than other minstrels all: For more than they I am Love's thrall, And all myself therein I fling, — Knowledge and sense, body and soul, And whatso power I have beside; The rein that doth my being guide Impels me to this only goal. His heart is dead whence did not spring Love's odour, sweet and magical; His life doth ever on him pall Who knoweth not that blessed thing; Yea! God, who doth my life control. Were cruel did he bid me bide A month, or even a day, denied The love whose rapture I extol. How keen, how exquisite the sting Of that sweet odour! At its call An hundred times a day I fall And faint, an hundred rise and sing. So fair the semblance of my dole, 'Tis lovelier than another's pride: If such the ill doth me betide, Good hap were more than I could thole. Yet haste, kind heaven ! the sundering True swains from false, great hearts from small 1 The traitor in the dust bid crawl ! The faithless to confession bring! Ah! if I were the master sole Of all earth's treasures multiplied, To see my Lady satisfied Of my pure faith, I'd give the whole. (H. W. Preston.) MARIE DE FRANCE MARIE DE FRANCE (XIIITH CENTURY) Song from Chartivel HATH any loved you well, down there, Summer or winter through? Dov/n there, have you found any fair Laid in the grave with you? Is death's long kiss a richer kiss Than mine was wont to be — Or have you gone to some far bliss And quite forgotten me? What soft enamouring of sleep Hath you in some soft way? What charmed death holdeth you with deep Strange lure by night and day? A little space below the grass. Out of the sun and shade; But worlds away from me, alas, Down there where you are laid. My bright is vaved and wasted gold, What is it now to thee — Whether the rose-red life I hold Or white death holdeth me? Down there you love the grave's own green, And evermore you rave Of some sweet seraph you have seen Or dreamt of in the grave. There you shall lie as you have lain. Though in the world above, Another live your life again, Loving again your love: Is it not sweet beneath the palm? MARIE DE FRANCE 7. Is it not warm day rife With some long mystic golden calm Better than love and life? The broad quaint odorous leaves like hands Weaving the fair day through, Weave sleep no burnished bird withstands. While death weaves sleep for you; And many a strange rich breathing sound Ravishes morn and noon : And in that place you must have found Death a delicious swoon — Hold me no longer for a word I used to say or sing: Ah, long ago you must have heard So many a sweeter thing: For rich earth must have reached your heart And turned the faith to flowers; And warm wind stolen, part by part, Your soul through faithless hours. And many a soft seed must have won Soil of some yielding thought. To bring a bloom up to the sun That else had ne'er been brought; And, doubtless, many a passionate hue Hath made that place more fair. Making some passionate part of you Faithless to me down there. (A. O'Shaughnessy.) Would I Might Go Far Over Sea WOULD I might go far over sea. My Love, or high above the air, And come to land or heaven with thee, 8 MARIE DE FRANCE Where no law is, and none shall be. Against beholding the most rare Strange beauty that thou hast for me. Alas, for, in this bitter land, Full many a- written curse doth stand Against the kiss thy lips should bear; Against the sweet gift of thy hands; Against the knowing that thou art fair, And too fond loving of thy hair. (A. O'Shaughnessy.) THE VIDAME DE CHARTRES (12-?) Jpril WHEN the fields catch flower And the underwood is green. And from bower unto bower The songs of the birds begin, I sing with sighing between. When I laugh and sing, I am heavy at heart for my sin; I am sad in the spring For my love that I shall not win. For a foolish thing. This profit I have of my woe, That 1 know, as I sing, I know he will needs have it so W^ho is master and king, Who is lord of the spirit of spring. I will serve her and will not spare Till her pity awake, THE VIDAME DE CHARTRES Who is good, who is pure, who is fair, Even her for whose sake Love hath ta'en me and slain unaware. my lord, O love, I have laid my life at thy feet; Have thy will thereof, Do as it please thee with it, For what shall please thee is sweet. 1 am come unto thee To do thee service, O Love; Yet cannot I see Thou wilt take any pity thereof. Any mercy on me. But the grace I have long time sought Comes never in sight, If in her it abideth not. Through thy mercy and might, Whose heart is the world's delight. Thou hast sworn without fail I shall die, For my heart is set On what hurts me, I wot not why. But cannot forget What I love, what I sing for and sigh. She is worthy of praise. For this grief of her giving is worth All the joy of my days That lie between death's day and birth. All the lordship of things upon earth. Nay, what have I said? I would not be glad if I could ; My dream and my dread Are of her, and for her sake I would That my life were fled. 10 THE VIDAME D£ CHARTRES Lo, sweet, if I durst not pray to you. Then were I dead; If I sang not a little to say to you, (Could it be said) O my love, how my heart would be fed ; Ah, sweet, who hast hold of my heart. For thy love's sake I live, Do but tell me, ere either depart. What a lover may give For a woman so fair as thou art. The lovers that disbelieve. False rumors shall grieve And evil-speaking shall part (Algernon Charles Swinburne.) GUILLAUME DE LORRIS (1230-?) From the Romaunt of the Rose WITHIN my twentie yeere of age, When that love taketh his courage Of younge folke, I wente soone To bed, as I was wont to doone: And fast I slept: and in sleeping. Me mette such a swevening,* That liked me wondrous wele: But in that sweven is never a dele * That it n'is* afterward befall, Right as this dreame well tell us all. Now this dreame woll I rime aright, To make your heartes gay and light: For love it prayeth, and also Commaundeth me, that it be so. And if there any aske me, * Dreaming. ■ Never a bit, nothing at alL ■ For ne is, is not. GUILLAUME DE LORRIS 11 Whether that it be he or she, How this booke which is here Shall hatte,' that I rede" you here: It is the Romaunt of the Rose, In which all the art of love I close. The matter faire is of to make: God graunt me in gree ' that she it take For whom that it begonnen ' is : And that is she that hath ywis * So mokel prise,' and thereto she So worthie is beloved to be, That she wel ought, of prise and right, Be cleped Rose of everie wight. That it was May me thoughte tho," It is five yere or more ago, That it was May, thus dreamed rae, In time of love and jolitie. That all thing ginneth waxen gay: For there is neither buske " nor hay In May, that it n'ill " shrouded bene, And it with newe leves wrene:" These woodes eke recoveren grene, That drie in winter ben to sene. And the erth waxeth proud withall. For swote" dewes that on it fall. And the poore estate forget. In which that winter had it set: And than " become the ground so proude, That it wol have a newe shroude. And maketh so queint his robe and faire, That it had hewes an hundred paire, * Be named. * Advise, explain. • Pleasure, good will ; to take in gree, to take in good part. ^ Begun. ' Certainly. • Much praise. '0 Then. " Bush. **For nc ■will, will not. " Covered. " Sweet » Then. 12 GUILLAUME DE LORRIS Of grasse and floures, of Inde and Pers, And many hewes full divers : That is the robe I mean ywis, Through which the ground to praisen is. The birdes, that han left hir '^ song, While they han suffred cold full strong, In wethers grille," and derke to sight, Ben in May, for the sunne bright, So glad, that they shew, in singing, That in hir heart is such liking. That they mote cingen and ben light: Than doth the nightingale her might To maken noyse and singen blithe: Than is blisfull many a sithe,^' The chelaundre," and the popingaye: Than younge folke entenden"' aye, For to ben gay and amorous, The time is then so savorous."' Harde is his heart that loveth nought In May, whan all this mirth is wrought, Whan he may on these braunches here The smalle birdes singeir clere Hir blisfull swete song piteous, And in this season delitous : When love affirmeth all thing. Me thought one night, in my sleeping Right in my bed full readyly, That it was by the morrow "^ early. And up I rose, and gan me cloth, Anone I wysshe ^ mine hondes "^ both, A silver needle forth I drow Out of an aguiler''* queint ynow, " Their. " Dreadful, horrible. " Time. " Goldfinch. =0 Listen to. attend. ^' Sweet, pleasant. "' Hear. 2' In the morning. " Washed. " Hands. 2« Needle-case. 23 GUILLAUME DE LORRIS 13 And gan this needle thread anone. For out of towne me list to gone. The sound of birdes for to heare That on the buskes singen cleare, In the swete season that lefe is: With a thred basting my slevis, Alone I went in my playing, The smal foules song hearkening, That payned hem" full many a paire To sing on bowes blossomed faire: Jolife"' and gay, full of gladnesse, Toward a river gan I me dresse,'* That I heard renne "" faste by, For fairer playeng" none saw I Than playen me by the rivere: For from an hill, that stood there nere, Come downe the stream full stiffe and bold, Clere was the water, and as cold As any well is, sooth to saine,'^ And somedele lasse" it was than Saine, But it was straiter, weleaway, And never saw I, ere that day, The water that so wele liked me. And wonder" glad was I to se That lusty" place, and that rivere: And with that water, that ran so clere, My face I wysshe, tho saw I wele The bottome ypaved °° everidele " With gravel, full of stones shene : " The meadowes softe, sote,'" and grene, Beet right upon the water side : " Pained themselves, that is, took great pains or trouble. «» Joyful. " To address, turn towards. *o Run. •' Enjoyment, enjoying, "To say the truth. •* Somewhat less. •* Wonderfully, very. •» Pleasant. •• Paved. " Entirely, every part. •• Bright, beautiful. •• Sweet. 14 GUILLAUME DE LORRIS Full clere was than the morowe tide, And full attempre" out of drede:** Tho gan I walken thorow the mede, Downward aye, in my playing, The rivers side coosting. (Chaucer.) JEAN FROISSART (1337-1404) Rondel LOVE, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I fixed or sure in thee! I do not know thee,— nor what deeds are thine: Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I fixed or sure in thee! Shall I be mute, or vows with prayers combine? Ye who are blessed in loving, tell it me: Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I permanent or sure in thee! (H. W. Longfellow.) ALAIN CH ARTIER (1386-1449) From La Belle Dame Sans Mercy THE hordes were spred in right little space, The ladies sat each as hem* seemed best, There were no deadly seruants in the place, But chosen men, right of the goodliest: And some there were, perauenture most freshest, That saw their judges full demure, *" Temperate.