Ballade Of The Ladyes Of Long Syne. — From the French of François Villon
TELL me wher, in what contree, is
Flora, the beautifulle Romaine?
Thais and Archipiadis,
Wher are they now, those cosins twaine?
And Echo, gretyng her love agein
By banke of river and marge of mere,
Whos beaute was fre fro mortall stayne?
Nay, wher are the snowes that fell last year?
Wher is the lerned Helowis,
For whom undon in celle did plaine
Pierre Abelard at Saint Denys?
For love’s reward he had this peine
Where is the quene who did ordeine
That Buridan shulde drift in fere
Sowed in a sacke adoun the Saine?
Nay, wher are the snowes that fell last year?
Quene Blanche, fayre as the floure-de-lys,
Who sang as swete as the meremaid strayne,
Alys too, Bertha, Bietris,
And Hermengarde, who halt the Mayne,
And Joan, the good may of Lorraine,
At Rouen brent by Englyshe fere,—
Wher are they, Virgine soveraine?
Nay, wher are the snowes that fell last year?
Envoy
PRINCE, for this sevennyght be not fain,
Nor this twelfmonthe to question wher
They be, withouten this refraine,
Nay, wher are the snowes that fell last year?
Stephen Temple.