Elfinspell: François Villon, Algernon Charles Swinburne Translation of Fragment on Death, from Ballades by François Villon, by Thomas B. Mosher from The Bibelot, Volume I, Number II, a reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Literary criticism, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, e-book, 175h century French poetry, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot1VillonSwinburne)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume I, Number II, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1895; p. 32.

[32]

In ‘The Greater Testament’ of Villon, these stanzas immediately precede the incomparable ‘Ballade Des Dames Du Temps Jadis,’

FRAGMENT OF DEATH.

AND Paris be it or Helen dying,
Who dies soever, dies with pain.
He that lacks breath and wind for sighing,
    His gall bursts on his heart; and then
    He sweats, God knows what sweat! again,
No man may ease him of his grief;
    Child, brother, sister, none were fain
To bail him thence for his relief.

Death makes him shudder, swoon, wax pale,
    Nose bend, veins stretch, and breath surrender,
Neck swell, flesh soften, joints that fail
    Crack their strained nerves and arteries slender.
    O Woman’s body found so tender,
Smooth, sweet, so precious to men’s eyes,
    Must thou too bear such count to render?
Yes; or pass quick into the skies.

II. BALLADES FROM FRANÇOIS VILLON

In ‘The Greater Testament’ of Villon, these stanzas immediately precede the incomparable ‘Ballade Des Dames Du Temps Jadis,’

FRAGMENT OF DEATH.

A. C. SWINBURNE.

[Back] [Blueprint] [Next]