Villon, His Life and Times. Stagpoole, p

PCT EE

© To that extreme adventure I would near

Be brought by want of food and penury In belt or purse no denier clings to me Dear God ! the wonder makes me half dismayed. No cross I see in sunshine or in shade Save those of wood or stone — I do not gloze Yet if to me the true cross be displayed Nought but the time in waiting wilt thou lose. »

Envoi.

« Prince of the lily, all whose deeds are weighed By mercy, guess my grief at having strayed So far from that intent these iines disclose

TI wait me thy decision, having prayed

Nought but the time in waiting wilt thou lose. »

- La même stance est traduite par Payne ainsi :

« If I could sell my youth and lustihead

Unto the Lombards, usurers that be.

Lack gold has brought me to such piteous stead I do believe the venture I should dree

In purse or belt no money can I see

I wonder what it is, by God his throne

For unto me, save it be wood or stone

No cross at all appears — I do not lie

But if the true cross once to me be shown Nothing, but waiting shalt thou lose thereby ».

Envoi

Prince of the Lys, that lov’st good deeds alone Think’st thou it has not cost me many à groan That I can not to my intent draw nigh.

Give ear, if it so please thee to my moan; Nothing but waiting shalt thou lose thereby ».

Dans l’inimprimable Ballade de Villon et de la Grosse Margot et dans la troisième stance, Swinburne (qui déclara un jour dans une lettre à Mallarmé qu’un certain passage était