Friday, June 03, 2016

 

The World Is Sick of Me

Charles d'Orléans (1394-1465), Rondeau CLXXXVII (my translation):
The world is sick of me,
and I likewise of it;
I can't think of anything today
that matters even a bit to me.

Everything I see before my eyes        5
I can call weariness upon weariness.
The world is sick of me,
and I likewise of it.

Good faith is expensive,
no one buys it cheaply,        10
and so if I'm the one
who complains, I have good reason:
the world is sick of me.
The French, from Charles d'Orléans, Poésies, ed. Pierre Champion, Vol. II: Rondeaux (1924; rpt. Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, 1983), p. 397:
Le monde est ennuyé de moy,
Et moy pareillement de lui;
Je ne cognois rien au jour d'ui
Dont il me chaille que bien poy.

Dont quanque devant mes yeulx voy,        5
Puis nommer anuy sur anuy;
Le monde est ennuyé de moy,
Et moy pareillement de lui.

Cherement se vent bonne foy,
A bon marché n'en a nulluy;        10
Et pour ce, se je suis cellui
Qui m'en plains, j'ay raison pour quoy:
Le monde est ennuyé de moy.
4 chaille: from chaloir = to matter (cf. nonchalant); poy: peu
6 anuy: ennui



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