Ballade LVIII: Je treuve qu'entre les souris
Eustache Deschamps| Original | English Translation by Henry Tompkins Kirby-Smith |
| BALLADE LVIII: JE TREUVE QU'ENTRE LES SOURIS | BALLADE LVII A PARLIAMENT OF MICE, THEY SAY |
| Je treuve qu'entre les souris Ot un merveilleux parlement Contre les chas leurs ennemis, A veoir maniére comment Elles vesquissent seurement Sanz demourer en tel debat; L'une dist lors en arguant Qui pendra la sonnette au chat? | A parliament of mice, they say, Assembled, glorious to behold, Considering how to do away With cats, their enemies of old, How cats might finally be controlled To put an end to the ancient spat; A logical mouse at once made bold: “Which of us will bell the cat?” |
| Cilz consaulz fut conclus et prins; Lors se partent communement. Une souris du plat païs Les encontre et va demandant Qu'om a fait ; lors vont respondant Que leur ennemi seront mat Sonnette aront ou col pendant. Qui pendra la sonnette au chat? | The question seemed resolved: straightway They took their leave, greatly consoled. But a flatland mouse that came that way Wanted to chat, and buttonholed Each one: “What’s up?” The plans unfold: With a bell to tell where he was at They’d have the foe in a stranglehold: “Which of us will bell the cat?” |
| « C'est le plus fort », dist un rat gris. Elle demande saigement Par qui sera cilz fais fournis. Lors s'en va chascune escusant; Il n'i ot point d'executant, S'en va leur besongne de plat. Bien fut dit, mais au demourant, Qui pendra la sonnette au chat? | - Ay, there’s the rub”, said a rat in gray. The mouse, with wisdom manifold, Kept asking which would save the day. The response to this was rather cold; They all backed off, not overbold: Their enterprise, of course, fell flat. Big talk, but then when all is told, Which of us will bell the cat? |
L'Envoy Prince, on conseille bien souvent, Mais on puet dire, com le rat, Du conseil qui sa fin ne prant Qui pendra la sonnette au chat? | Envoi Prince, advice comes thousandfold, But one might say, like the gray rat, Of counsels no one dares uphold: “Which of us will bell the cat?” |
