Читать книгу The Political Songs of England: From the Reign of John to That of Edward II - Various - Страница 6

[Royal Library at Paris, MS. du fonds de St. Germain, No. 1989, fol. 111, v^o. 13th cent.]

Mors est li siècles briemant,

Se li rois Touwairs sormonte;

De ceu li vait malement

Ke li faillent li troi conte,

Et li vieillairs de Bouaing

I averait grant honte,

C’après la mort à vifconte

Morrait à si mauté.

Savaris de Maliéon,

Boens chiveliers à cintainne,

Se vos fals à ces besons,

Perdue avons nostre poinne;

Et vos, xanexals

Asi d’Anjow et dou Mainne,

Xanexal ont an Torainne

Atre ke vos mist.

Et vos, sire xanexals,

Vos et Dan Jehan dou Mainne,

Et Ugues, antre vos trois

Mandeis à roi d’Alemaigne,

Ke cist rois et cil Fransois

C’ameir ne nos d[a]ignent,

Cant por .j. mulet d’Espaigne

Laxait Bordelois.

Et vos, signors bacheleirs,

Ki ameis lois et proeses,

Cant vos souliez garreir

Touwairs iert vos forteresce.

Jà Deus ne vos doust porteir

Ne mainche ne treses,

Se Touwairt au teil tristesce

Laixiez oblieir.

Translation.—The world will shortly come to nought,—if the king overcome Thouars.—On this account it fares ill with it,—that the three earls desert it,—and the old man of Bouaing—would have there great shame,—that after the death of the viscount—he should die in such evil case.

Savary of Mauleon,—a good knight at the quintain,—if you fail us in this need,—we have lost our labour;—and you, Seneschal,—both of Anjou and of Maine,—they have placed a seneschal in Touraine—other than you.

And you, Sir Seneschal,—you and Sir John of Maine,—and Hugh, between you three,—send word to the King of Almain,—that this king and him of France,—deign not to love us,—when for a mule of Spain—he left the Bordelois.

And you, Sir bachelors,—who love praise and prowess,—when you were wont to war—Thouars was your fortress.—Now God hinder you from bearing—sleeves or tresses,—if Thouars in such distress—you allow to be forgotten.

John’s own friends, disgusted with his weakness, began to desert him; and the following bitter song was addressed by the younger Bertrand de Born, to Savary de Mauleon, to persuade him to follow their example.