The Song of Joan of Arc
By Christine de Pisan
Stanza 39
So, Englishmen lay down your arms
for your days of conquest are dated.
Forget about any further foolishness
in France for you are now check-mated.
Only a while ago, you looked so fierce,
and had no idea you would see this pain.
But then you were not yet on the path
where God casts down the vain.
Original in French
Si rabaissez, Anglois, voz cornes
Car jamais n'aurez beau gibier!
En France ne menez voz sornes!
Matez estes en l'eschiquier.
Vous ne [le] pensiez pas l'autrier,
Où tant vous monstriez perilleux;
Mais n'estiez encour ou santier,
Où Dieu abat les orguilleux.1
RETURN TO LIST OF CONTENTS CONTINUE TO NEXT CHAPTER
1 French from original fifteenth century manuscript referenced as Berne 205 and contained in: Pisan, Christine de, Ditié de Jeanne d'Arc, ed. A. J. Kennedy and K. Varty, Oxford: Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature, 1977.
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