BALLADE DE MERCY François Villon A Chartreux et a Celestins, A Mendïans et a Devoctes, A musars et clacque patins, A servans et filles mignoctes Portans seurcoz et justes coctes, A cuidereaux d'amour transsiz Chauçans sans mehain fauves boctes, Je crye a toutes gens mercys.
A fillectes monstrans tetins Pour avoir plus largement hostes, A ribleurs, menneurs de hutins, A batelleurs, trayans mermoctes, A folz, folles, a sotz, a soctes, Qui s'en vont cyfflant six a six, A vecyes et marïotes, Je crye a toutes gens mercys.
Synon aux traitres chiens matins Qui m'ont fait ronger dures crostes, Macher mains soirs et mains matins, Que ores je ne crains trois croctes. Je feisse pour eulx petz et roctes; Je ne puis, car je suis assiz. Auffort, pour esviter rïoctes, Je crye a toutes gens mercys.
C'on leur froisse les quinze costes De groz mailletz, fors et massiz, De plombees et telz peloctes! Je crye a toutes gens mercys. BALADE OF PARDON tr. Peter Dean
To Carthusians and Celestines; to wandering friars and devotees; to dawdlers and fops whose pins drum in the streets; to tarts like these whose skirts and topcoats show their knees; to fancy lovers, taking a bow in boots of tan leather which strangely please: I must of all ask pardon now.
To whores who let their tits hang out to boost their clients’ interest; to bouncers, roisterers who shout; to jugglers showing their chits the best of tricks; the mad, the soaks, the rest who, six-strong, stroll about - and how! to monkeys, dolls, dressed or undressed - I must of all ask pardon now.
But not the thuggish treacherous dogs who gave me but the odd stale scrap of rock-hard bread on which to dine, so that not three turds could I crap. A fart or belch would fill the gap but, seated, I can’t anyhow! OK - a riot I won’t tap. I must of all ask pardon now.
I hope they get their ribs well-bruised with hefty mallet, heads to bow, with lead shot knocked about and used. I must of all ask pardon now.