II.  BALLADES FROM FRANÇOIS VILLON

33

BALLAD OF OLD-TIME LADIES.

I.

TELL me where, in what land of shade,
Bides fair Flora of Rome, and where
Are Thaïs and Archipiade,
    Cousins-german of beauty rare,
    And Echo, more than mortal fair,
That, when one calls by river-flow
    Or marish, answers out of the air?
But what is become of last year’s snow?

II.

Where did the learn’d Helosa vade,
     For whose sake Abelard might not spare
(Such dole for love on him was laid)
    Manhood to lose and cowl to wear?
    And where is the queen who willed whilere
That Buridan, tied in a sack, should go
    Floating down Seine from the turret-stair?
But what is become of last year’s snow?

III.

Blanche, too, the lily-white queen, that made
    Sweet music a if she a siren were;
Broad-foot Bertha; and Joan the maid,
    The good Lorrainer, the English bare
34     Captive to Rouen and burned her there;
Beatrix, Eremburge, Alys, — lo!
    Where are they, Virgin debonair?
But what is become of last year’s snow?

ENVOI.

Prince, you may question how they fare
    This week, or liefer this year, I trow;
Still shall the answer this burden bear,
    But what is become of last year’s snow?