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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BALLAD, by FRANCOIS VILLON Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: I die of thirst beside the fountain's brim Alternate Author Name(s): Montcorbier, Francois De | |||
I die of thirst beside the fountain's brim, As hot as fire, with my teeth chattering, In my own land a stranger, a pilgrim; Beside a brazier I stand shivering, Bare as a worm, in rich appareling; I laugh in tears, while waiting hopeless here And taking comfort of my sad despair; Rejoicing, although pleasure I have none, Powerful, with nothing that I can or dare Welcomed by all, and he whom all men shun. Nothing is sure to me except a whim, Obscure, except the clear and obvious thing, Only in certainties my faith is dim, And knowledge has an adventitious ring; I am the loser, gaining everything; At dawn I bid good evening, and I fear, While lying prone, lest I should fall from there; I'm rich, and have no coin beneath the sun, Expect a legacy, though no man's heir, Welcomed by all, and he whom all men shun. I care for nothing; taking care to trim My course for profit, claim no single thing; The man who flatters most, I'm vexed with him; Who speaks most true is most dissembling; He is my friend who has me crediting Of each white swan that it's a raven here; Who thinks to help me brings disaster near; Jesting and truth, to me they are all one. Remembering all, I yet see nothing clear Welcomed by all, and he whom all men shun. Kind prince, I pray you that it please you hear That I know much, yet have no sense to spare, Am partisan, yet all laws bear me down. What then? Make me once more your pensioner- Welcomed by all, and he whom all men shun. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLAD MADE AT THE REQUEST OF HIS MOTHER .. PRAY TO OUR LADY by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLAD OF THE GIBBET by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLAD OF THE LORDS OF OLD TIME by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLADE AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF FRANCE by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLADE MADE FOR HIS MOTHER THAT SHE MIGHTE PRAYE by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLADE OF DEAD LADIES by FRANCOIS VILLON BALLADE OF WENCHES by FRANCOIS VILLON EPISTLE IN FORM OF A BALLAD TO HIS FRIENDS by FRANCOIS VILLON EPITAPH IN BALLADE FORM by FRANCOIS VILLON FRAGMENT ON DEATH by FRANCOIS VILLON FROM THE GREATER TESTAMENT (XXII, XXIII, AND XXVI) by FRANCOIS VILLON |
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