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Ballade LVIII: Je treuve qu'entre les souris

Eustache Deschamps
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English Translation by Henry Tompkins Kirby-Smith
BALLATA LVIIIBALLADE LVII
M'HAN DETTO CHE SI TENNE TRA LI SORCIA PARLIAMENT OF MICE, THEY SAY
  
M’han detto che si tenne tra li SorciA parliament of mice, they say,
Un gran maraviglioso ParlamentoAssembled, glorious to behold,
Per veder come, ossia in quale GuisaConsidering how to do away
In fine si potesse metter frenoWith cats, their enemies of old,
A’ Gatti, loro mortali Inimici,How cats might finally be controlled
E Indugij non ponendo più a’l Parlare.To put an end to the ancient spat;
Diss’uno allora, osando questo arguire:A logical mouse at once made bold:
Chi mai al Gatto appenderà ‘l Sonaglio?“Which of us will bell the cat?”
  
Tale consil fu preso e resoluto:The question seemed resolved: straightway
E di commune Accordo si partirno.They took their leave, greatly consoled.
Però li incoccia un Sorcio della PianaBut a flatland mouse that came that way
E séguita per via a dimandar loroWanted to chat, and buttonholed
Ciò che si fece; quegli rispondonoEach one: “What’s up?” The plans unfold:
Che il lor Nimico messo a repentaglioWith a bell to tell where he was at
Sarà dal Suono al collo del Pendaglio.They’d have the foe in a stranglehold:
Ma chi mai al Gatto appenderà ‘l Sonaglio?“Which of us will bell the cat?”
  
Ma Egli è ‘l più forte, dice saviamente- Ay, there’s the rub”, said a rat in gray.
Un Sorcio grigio; dimandaThe mouse, with wisdom manifold,
Chi è che tale Facto havrà a compire.Kept asking which would save the day.
Ma ‘e non vi fue nissuno che s’offrisse.The response to this was rather cold;
E allor filaron tutti tra le scuse:They all backed off, not overbold:
La lor impresa, ahimé!, rimase vana.Their enterprise, of course, fell flat.
Gran ciance sì, ma in fine de ‘l parlareBig talk, but then when all is told,
Chi mai al Gatto appenderà ‘l Sonaglio?Which of us will bell the cat?
  
Congedo
Envoi
Prence, sì spesso si tiene ConsiglioPrince, advice comes thousandfold,
Però dirsi si puote, come ‘l Sorcio,But one might say, like the gray rat,
De’ Consilij che niuno manterrà:Of counsels no one dares uphold:
Chi mai al Gatto appenderà ‘l Sonaglio?“Which of us will bell the cat?”


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