Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.
Louis the Eleventh
By Pierre-Jean de Béranger (17801857)
H
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
Whose name we scarcely dare to breathe aloud,
Would try at times, when spring puts forth fresh flowers,
If he can smile upon our festive crowd.
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
Stern Louis keeps himself a prisoner there:
He fears the high, the low, nay, God above;
But beyond all he fears his hapless heir.
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
Beneath our sunny heaven, so soft and clear!
And whilst the guards their watchful challenge cry,
Grates not the clang of bolts upon thine ear?
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
This king, alas! with envy might regard.
Like some sepulchral phantom, see’st thou not
His form, behind those windows thickly barred?
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
Imaged before us with attractions rare!
What! for the sceptre a weak, trembling hand!
What! for the crown a brow opprest with care!
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
’T is but the clock that sounds the passing hour;
Yet ever thus ’t is taken by our king
For the alarum from his signal-tower.
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!
Alas! our joy can ne’er his gloom beguile!
Fearing his hate, “Our Sire,” ’t were well to say,
“Hath on his children kindly deigned to smile.”
Happy villagers, dance around!
Lads and lasses, gayly bound!
Rejoice, rejoice,
O pipe and voice,
In a mingled, merry sound!