Le Testament is a collection of poetry composed in 1461 by François Villon. Le Testament, comprising over twenty essentially independent poems in octosyllabic verse, consists of a series of fixed-form poems, namely 16 ballades and three rondeaux,[1] and is recognized as a gem of medieval literature.
A page from Villon's Le grand testament. Kungliga biblioteket in Stockholm, Sweden.
The 2,023 lines of the Testament are marked by the immediate prospect of death by hanging and frequently describe other forms of misery and death. It mixes reflections on the passing of time, bitter derision, invective, and religious fervor. This mixed tone of tragic sincerity stands in contrast to the other poets of the time.
In one of these poems, Ballade des dames du temps jadis ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past"), each stanza and the concluding envoi asks after the fate of various celebrated women, including Héloise and Joan of Arc, and ends with the same semi-ironic question:
Dictes moy ou n'en quel pays Est Flora le belle Romaine Archipiades, ne Thaïs, Qui fut sa cousine germaine, Echo parlant quant bruyt on maine Dessus riviere ou sus estan, Qui beaulté ot trop plus qu'humaine. Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan?
Tell me where, in which country Is Flora, the beautiful Roman; Archipiada (Alcibiades?), and Thaïs Who was her cousin; Echo, speaking when one makes noise Over river or on pond, Who had a beauty too much more than human? Oh, where are the snows of yesteryear!
This same "Ballade des dames du temps jadis" was famously translated into English in 1870 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti as "Ballade of Dead Ladies". Rossetti translated the refrain as "But where are the snows of yester-year?"[3]
^* Fein, David (1997), "6 The Testament: The Ballades", François Villon Revisited, New York: Twayne, ISBN0805745645, Villon has interspersed a series of fixed-form poems, 16 ballades and three rondeaux, throughout the Testament.
^Villon, "Tide and Undertow", poems of various languages translated by Anthony Weir, 1975
^Rossetti, Dante Gabriel (1872) [original French poem Ballade des dames du temps jadis 1461 by François Villon], "Three Translations From François Villon, 1450. I. The Ballad of Dead Ladies", Poems (1870): Sixth Edition, French poems translated 1869 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (6 ed.), London: F. S. Ellis, p. 177, retrieved 2013-07-23
External linksedit
Complete works at Project Gutenberg
François Villon: Poems, translated by David Georgi
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Le Testament
April 15, 2024
testament, collection, poetry, composed, 1461, françois, villon, comprising, over, twenty, essentially, independent, poems, octosyllabic, verse, consists, series, fixed, form, poems, namely, ballades, three, rondeaux, recognized, medieval, literature, contents. Le Testament is a collection of poetry composed in 1461 by Francois Villon Le Testament comprising over twenty essentially independent poems in octosyllabic verse consists of a series of fixed form poems namely 16 ballades and three rondeaux 1 and is recognized as a gem of medieval literature Contents 1 Analysis 2 Poems 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAnalysis edit nbsp A page from Villon s Le grand testament Kungliga biblioteket in Stockholm Sweden The 2 023 lines of the Testament are marked by the immediate prospect of death by hanging and frequently describe other forms of misery and death It mixes reflections on the passing of time bitter derision invective and religious fervor This mixed tone of tragic sincerity stands in contrast to the other poets of the time In one of these poems Ballade des dames du temps jadis Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past each stanza and the concluding envoi asks after the fate of various celebrated women including Heloise and Joan of Arc and ends with the same semi ironic question Dictes moy ou n en quel pays Est Flora le belle Romaine Archipiades ne Thais Qui fut sa cousine germaine Echo parlant quant bruyt on maine Dessus riviere ou sus estan Qui beaulte ot trop plus qu humaine Mais ou sont les neiges d antan Tell me where in which country Is Flora the beautiful Roman Archipiada Alcibiades and Thais Who was her cousin Echo speaking when one makes noise Over river or on pond Who had a beauty too much more than human Oh where are the snows of yesteryear Anthony Weir 2 This same Ballade des dames du temps jadis was famously translated into English in 1870 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti as Ballade of Dead Ladies Rossetti translated the refrain as But where are the snows of yester year 3 Poems editPoems included in Le Testament are Ballade des dames du temps jadis 1458 59 see also main article Ballade des dames du temps jadis Ballade des seigneurs du temps jadis Ballade en vieux language francois Les regrets de la belle Heaulmiere Ballade de la Belle Heaulmiere aux filles de joie Double ballade sur le mesme propos Ballade pour prier Nostre Dame Ballade a s amie Lay ou rondeau Ballade pour Jean Cotart Ballade pour Robert d Estouteville Ballade des langues ennuieuses Les Contredits de Franc Gontier Ballade des femmes de Paris Ballade de la Grosse Margot Belle lecon aux enfants perdus Ballade de bonne doctrine Rondeau ou bergeronnette Epitaphe Rondeau Ballade de conclusionSee also edit nbsp Poetry portalBallade des pendus Poetical testament Neuss Testament Karl Anton Klammer de Paul Zech de References edit Fein David 1997 6 The Testament The Ballades Francois Villon Revisited New York Twayne ISBN 0805745645 Villon has interspersed a series of fixed form poems 16 ballades and three rondeaux throughout the Testament Villon Tide and Undertow poems of various languages translated by Anthony Weir 1975 Rossetti Dante Gabriel 1872 original French poem Ballade des dames du temps jadis 1461 by Francois Villon Three Translations From Francois Villon 1450 I The Ballad of Dead Ladies Poems 1870 Sixth Edition French poems translated 1869 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti 6 ed London F S Ellis p 177 retrieved 2013 07 23External links editComplete works at Project Gutenberg Francois Villon Poems translated by David Georgi nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Le Testament Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Le Testament amp oldid 1166324512, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
