Gui de Bourgogne (G)

« Baron , dist l' emperere , je sui mult corociés

“Barons,” said the emperor, “I am much troubled

« Que jo ai tous enflés les jambes et les piés .

that my legs and feet are all swollen.

« Anuit sonjai .I. songe , je nel vous quier noier ,

Last night I dreamed a dream, I will not deny it to you:

« Que il m' estoit avis , foi que doi saint Richier ,

it seemed to me, by the faith I owe Saint Riquier,

« Que estïons en France , à Paris , el vergier .

that we were in France, at Paris, in the orchard.

« Une si bele gent an issi sans targier ,

Such a fair people came out from there without delay,

« Com se ce fuissent angre qui doivent flamboier .

as if they were angels, who must blaze with light.

« Trestuit communement me chaoient as piés ,

All of them together were falling at my feet,

« Et vos , par grant amor , les en releviés ;

and you, with great love, raised them up;

« Et puis revi la nue vers le ciel repairier .

and then I saw the cloud go back toward the sky.

« Après , si vi sor vos plovoir et gresillier ,

After that I saw it rain and hail upon you,

« Et à mult grans tropiaus la blanche noif negier .

and the white snow fall in great clumps;

« Desor vos en ot plus , à celer nel vous quier ,

there was more of it on you, I will not hide it from you,

« S' an féissiés grant part as barons chevaliers .

and you gave a great share of it to the barons, the knights.”

« Naimes , dist l' emperere , se Dieu plaist , ce ert biens . »

“Naimes,” said the emperor, “if it please God, this will be good.”

Après ce mot regarde les plains de Montiblier ,

After these words he looks at the plains of Montiblier;

Voit venir les enfans qui estoient chargié ,

he sees the young men coming, who were laden,

« Laissomes ce viellart qui tous est assotez ;

“Let us leave this old man, who has gone quite senile;

« A .Cm. dyables soit ses cors commandés ! »

may his body be given over to a hundred thousand devils!”

Atant es Ganelon et son compain Hardré ;

Then here come Ganelon and his companion Hardré,

Tebalt et Alori , Malvaisin et Mauré .

Thibaut and Alori, Malvaisin and Mauré.

Cil Sires les confonde qui an crois fu penés !

May the Lord who suffered on the cross confound them!

« Qu' encor puisse véoir Guion le bacheler ,

that I may yet see Gui, the young knight,

« Et le secors de France que tant puis desirer . »

and the help from France that I long for so much.”

Contremont vers le ciel an prist à regarder ,

Up toward the sky he began to look;

Vit entr'ovrir le ciel jusc' à la maïsté ,

he saw the sky open as far as the Majesty,

Et une crois saintisme qui gete grant clarté ;

and a most holy cross that gave out great brightness;

De toutes pars le tienent .IIII. angres anpené .

four winged angels hold it on every side.

Paor ot l' emperere , si s' est jus acliné .

The emperor was afraid, and bowed down low.

Saint Gabriel li angres s' est à lui devalé ;

Saint Gabriel the angel came down to him;

Il li dit en l' oreille coiement , à celé :

he speaks into his ear, quietly, in secret:

« Empereres de France , envers moi entendez :

“Emperor of France, listen to me:

« N' aies mie paor , tu es à sauveté ,

have no fear, you are in safety,

« Que cil te conduira qui t' a ci amené . »

for he who brought you here will lead you.”

L' empereres l' entent , si est resvigoré ;

The emperor hears him and takes heart again;

Vers le ciel anclina , errant s' an est tornez .

he bowed toward heaven, and at once turned away.

Tuit issent de la vile sens nesune arestée ;

They all go out of the town without any delay,

Et il si font tantost , qui ains ains , à huée .

and they do so at once, racing each other, with shouting.

Et Karles se coucha desor l' erbe en la prée ,

And Charlemagne lay down on the grass in the meadow,

S' a faite .I. orison bien faite et enparlée ,

and has made a prayer, well made and well spoken,

Que cele vile soit à tel fuer atornée

that the town be brought to such a state

Que de ceus ne d' autrui ne soit mès golosée .

that it would never again be coveted by these men or by anyone else.

Dont n' éussiés vos mie demie liue alée

Then you would not have gone half a league

Que la citez est toute en abysme coulée ,

before the city has all sunk into the abyss,

Et par desus les murs tote d' eve rasée ,

and it is all brimming with water up over the walls,

Si est assés plus noire que n' est pois destemprée ,

and it is a good deal blacker than melted pitch,

Et li mur sont vermeil comme rose esmerée ;

and the walls are red as a pure rose;

Encor le voient cil qui vont en la contrée .

those who go into that country see it still.

Quant ce voient li prince , merveilles lor agrée ;

When the princes see this, it pleases them marvellously;

Chascun contre Oriant a sa chiere tornée .

each has turned his face toward the East.