Ballade en vieil langage françoys

He therefore uses a language that his contemporaries no longer practiced, and that he himself knew only poorly (See François Villon, Œuvres, par Louis Thuasne, Tome II: Commentaire et notes, Éditeur: Auguste Picard, 1923, p. 164, "Other ballad" section).

Using the octosyllable, it obeys the following rules of composition : Here is the text,[3] its transcription in modern French[3] and in English :[4] D'aubes vestuz, d'amys coeffez, Qui ne saint fors saintes estolles Dont par le col prent ly mauffez, De mal talant tout eschauffez, Aussi bien meurt que cilz servans, De ceste vie cy brassez : Autant en emporte ly vens !

fitted with haloes, loved by all, whose virtues by no evil taints could be dragged out of them, nor fall into whatever kind of sin - like serving lads they have their day, torn from the only life they’re in: they’re carried by the wind away.

It no more matters if they be gold-fingered Emperors of Constantinople or of all kings of France the apogee, the one most honoured and most noble, who built, to show his love of Heaven, convent and church in which to pray, so that his age worshipped him even: they’re carried by the wind away.

Or be it Dauphins of Vienne or of Grenoble, mighty, venerable, Dijon, Salines and Doles, great men, fathers and elder sons, all able; or it may be their private staff - heralds, flutes, those who trumpets play: haven’t they fed well, had much to quaff ?