Les archers du roi

Albert Santoni

Originale	Versione inglese del coro Sea Green Singers di Oxford.
LES ARCHERS DU ROI	THE ARCHERS OF THE KING
Ils ont commencé la saison En fauchant les moissons Avec les sabots de leurs coursiers Ils sont venus à la maison Ils ont pris les garçons Sans demander permission ! Je les ai vu courber l’échine Sous les coups de fouet qui pleuvaient Cordes d’acier bardées d’épines Qui les mordaient, les saignaient.	The season started when the harvest was trampled under the hooves of the king's royal men They came to the house They took away the boys All without a bye your leave I saw them bend their spines under the whip lashes which fell like rain Steel ropes laced with thorns Bit into them and made them bleed
Non, ne me demandez pas De saluer les archers du Roi	No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers
Et tout là-haut sur la colline, la potence est dressée Pour pendre ceux qu’on a condamnés On y accroche au matin Le mendiant qui a faim, le bandit de grands chemins, Celui qui, dans sa misère, Voulut maudire le nom du Roi Parce qu’il lui avait pris sa terre, Son blé, sa réserve de bois.	For on the hill over there stands the gallows pole To hang those who've been condemned They hang up the hungry beggar in the morning The thief from off the road Those who in their anger want to speak out against the King Because he has taken away their land Stolen their wheat, burnt their roofs
Non, ne me demandez pas De saluer les archers du Roi	No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers
Derrière chez moi il y avait une fille que j’aimais et qui m’avait donné ses printemps. Mais un jour on l’a emmenée Pour aller assister A la noce d’un archer ! J’ai vu des tours tomber la pierre J’ai entendu les gens hurler Son corps fut jeté sans prières Sur le bas-côté d’un fossé.	In my village there was a boy who I loved And I gave him my spring time But they came to find him And because he resisted they killed my lover I saw towers fall, my Pierre I heard people howling His body was thrown out without a prayer Never, never, will I be able to forget
Non, ne me demandez pas De saluer les archers du Roi	No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers No, don't ask me to salute the King's Archers