The Song of Joan of Arc
By Christine de Pisan
Stanza 40
You thought France was conquered
and would always belong to you.
No, all has turned around despite
your treachery and all you tried to do.
So go beat your drums elsewhere
unless you want to taste death in the
same way your comrades are found,
food for wolves, buried in the ground.
Original in French
Ja cuidiés France avoir gaingnée,
Et qu'elle vous deust demourer.
Autrement va, faulse mesgnié[e]!
Vous irés ailleurs tabourer,
Se ne voulez assavourer
La mort, comme voz compaignons,
Que loups pevent bien devourer,
Car mors gisent par les sillons!1
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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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