'The Ballad Of The Proverbs' by François Villon
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So rough the goat will scratch, it cannot sleep.
So often goes the pot to the well that it breaks.
So long you heat iron, it will glow;
so heavily you hammer it, it shatters.
So good is the man as his praise;
so far he will go, and he's forgotten;
so bad he behaves, and he's despised.
So loud you cry Christmas, it comes.So glib you talk, you end up in contradictions.
So good is your credit as the favors you got.
So much you promise that you will back out.
So doggedly you beg that your wish is granted;
so high climbs the price when you want a thing;
so much you want it that you pay the price;
so familiar it gets to you, you want it no more.
So loud you cry Christmas, it comes.So, you love a dog.Then feed it!
So long a song will run that people learn it.
So long you keep the fruit, it will rot.
So hot the struggle for a spot that it is won;
so cool you keep your act that your spirit freezes;
so hurriedly you act that you run into bad luck;
so tight you embrace that your catch slips away.
So loud you cry Christmas, it comes.So you scoff and laugh, and the fun is gone.
So you crave and spend, and lose your shirt.
So candid you are, no blow can be too low.
So good as a gift should a promise be.
So, if you love God, you obey the Church.
So, when you give much, you borrow much.
So, shifting winds turn to storm.
So loud you cry Christmas, it comes.Prince, so long as a fool persists, he grows wiser;
so, round the world he goes, but return he will,
so humbled and beaten back into servility.
So loud you cry Christmas, it is here.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad Of The Proverbs: A Masterpiece of Irony and Paradox
If there is a poem that embodies the spirit of the Middle Ages in France, it is François Villon's "Ballad of the Proverbs." Written in the late 15th century, during a period of political and social turmoil, this poem is a masterpiece of irony and paradox, a witty critique of the hypocrisy and corruption of the powerful, and a celebration of the resilience and humor of the common people.
At first glance, the poem seems like a simple collection of proverbs, a kind of medieval version of "Aesop's Fables" or "Mother Goose rhymes." But on closer inspection, it reveals itself as a complex and layered work of art, full of allusions, ambiguities, and contradictions. In this essay, I will explore some of the key themes and techniques of "The Ballad of the Proverbs" and try to shed light on its enduring appeal and relevance.
The Structure and Tone of the Poem
The poem consists of ten stanzas, each containing four lines, with a rhyme scheme of abab. The first three lines of each stanza are proverbs, while the fourth line is a refrain that ties them together. The proverbs are arranged in pairs, with each pair expressing a contrast or paradox. For example:
"Of all things done beneath the sun, The greatest is to love someone. But he who loves too well, alas! May find himself a cuckold's ass."
The first proverb praises love as the most important and noble human activity, while the second warns of the dangers of excessive passion and the risk of betrayal. This contrast between idealism and cynicism, between hope and despair, runs throughout the poem and gives it a bittersweet flavor.
The tone of the poem is ironic and humorous, but also melancholic and resigned. Villon uses the proverbs as a kind of mask, hiding his true feelings and intentions behind the guise of conventional wisdom. He plays with the reader's expectations, subverting and twisting the proverbs in unexpected ways. For example:
"Life is a game of dice, they say, And all must throw their chance away. But who will lose, and who will win? The luck of fools is to begin."
Here, Villon starts with the familiar idea that life is a game of chance and that we are all at the mercy of fate. But then he adds a twist: the luck of fools is to begin, implying that it is better to be ignorant and innocent than to be wise and jaded. This paradoxical reversal of values is a hallmark of Villon's style and philosophy.
The Themes of the Poem
One of the main themes of the poem is the contrast between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. Villon was himself a member of the lower classes, an orphan and a vagabond who lived by his wits and his poetry. He knew firsthand the harsh realities of poverty and injustice, and he used his art to express his anger and his compassion for his fellow outcasts. In "The Ballad of the Proverbs," he mocks the pretensions and the follies of the aristocracy and the clergy, while celebrating the virtues and the humor of the common people.
For example:
"The rich man in his castle hall May feast and drink and have a ball. But when he dies, what does he gain? He takes with him his soul and pain."
Here, Villon challenges the notion that wealth and status are the keys to happiness and salvation. He suggests that the rich man's pleasures are hollow and fleeting, and that his ultimate fate is the same as that of the poor and the humble. This egalitarian message is a powerful critique of the social order of Villon's time, and it resonates with our own struggles for economic and social justice.
Another theme of the poem is the transience and fragility of human life. Villon was writing in the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War, a devastating conflict that had left France in ruins and had killed millions of people. He saw death and suffering all around him, and he knew that his own life was precarious and unpredictable. In "The Ballad of the Proverbs," he reminds us of our mortality and urges us to enjoy the present moment while we can.
For example:
"The grave is dark and deep and wide, And none can tell what waits inside. So let us eat and drink and sing, And make the most of everything."
Here, Villon echoes the stoic philosophy of the ancient Romans, who believed in the value of carpe diem, or "seize the day." He is not advocating hedonism or nihilism, but rather a kind of existentialism that acknowledges the reality of death and the need to find meaning and joy in the face of it. This message is as relevant today as it was in Villon's time, as we struggle with the existential threats of climate change, pandemics, and political instability.
The Techniques of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of "The Ballad of the Proverbs" is its use of irony and paradox. Villon takes the familiar and the conventional and turns it on its head, creating unexpected and often humorous effects. He also uses repetition and variation to create a sense of rhythm and unity. The refrain "But where are the snows of yesteryear?" appears at the end of each stanza, reminding us of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Another technique that Villon employs is allusion and intertextuality. He draws on a wide range of literary and cultural sources, from the Bible to classical mythology to popular songs and ballads. For example, the line "The world is a wheel that turns around" echoes the Buddhist concept of samsara, while the line "Weeping willows by the water's edge" evokes the pastoral imagery of medieval romances. These allusions enrich the poem's meaning and add to its richness and complexity.
Villon also uses imagery and metaphor to create vivid and memorable scenes. For example, in the stanza that begins "The drum of Time is never still," he describes the passing of the seasons and the cycles of nature in vivid terms:
"The wind may blow, the rain may fall, The leaves may wither, one and all. But Time goes on, and never stops, Till all is dust, and all is drops."
Here, the drum of Time is a powerful and relentless force, like a marching band or an army on the move. The imagery of the wind, the rain, and the withered leaves creates a sense of decay and melancholy, while the repetition of "all" and "drops" emphasizes the finality and the universality of death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Ballad of the Proverbs" is a masterpiece of medieval poetry, full of wit, irony, and paradox. It is a powerful critique of the social and political order of Villon's time, and a celebration of the resilience and humor of the common people. It is also a timeless meditation on the transience and fragility of human life, and a call to enjoy the present moment while we can. Villon's use of irony, paradox, allusion, and imagery creates a rich and complex work of art that continues to inspire and challenge readers today. As Villon himself might say, "Where are the poets of yesteryear?" Fortunately, we still have his work to guide and inspire us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of the Proverbs by François Villon is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This ballad is a masterpiece that has been celebrated for its wit, humor, and wisdom. It is a poem that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it has been studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for centuries.
The Ballad of the Proverbs is a poem that is made up of a series of proverbs. Each proverb is presented in a couplet, and the poem is structured in such a way that each couplet builds on the previous one. The poem is written in the form of a ballad, which is a type of narrative poem that is meant to be sung or recited.
The poem begins with the speaker asking the question, "Where are the snows of yesteryear?" This question is a metaphor for the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The speaker is asking where the things that were once important to us have gone, and he is reminding us that everything is fleeting and temporary.
The first proverb in the poem is "I die of thirst beside the fountain's brink." This proverb is a reminder that sometimes we are so close to what we want that we can't see it. We are so focused on what we don't have that we fail to appreciate what we do have.
The second proverb is "I see the better and approve it too, but I follow the worse." This proverb is a commentary on human nature and our tendency to make bad choices even when we know better. We are often our own worst enemies, and we sabotage ourselves even when we know what we should do.
The third proverb is "I know the way, but cannot follow it." This proverb is a reminder that knowledge is not enough. We may know what we should do, but we don't always have the willpower or the courage to do it.
The fourth proverb is "I have the wheat, but not the flour." This proverb is a reminder that having something is not enough. We need to know how to use what we have in order to make it useful.
The fifth proverb is "I have the flour, but not the oven." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have the tools we need, we still need to know how to use them. Having the ingredients is not enough if we don't know how to cook.
The sixth proverb is "I have the oven, but not the dough." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have the tools and the ingredients, we still need to put in the work. We need to make the effort to create something.
The seventh proverb is "I have the dough, but not the salt." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to pay attention to the details. We need to make sure that we have everything we need in order to create something that is truly great.
The eighth proverb is "I have the salt, but not the meat." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to have a goal. We need to know what we are working towards in order to create something that is truly meaningful.
The ninth proverb is "I have the meat, but not the guests." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to share it with others. We need to have people in our lives who can appreciate what we have created.
The final proverb in the poem is "I have the guests, but not the table." This proverb is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to create a space for it. We need to make sure that we have a place where we can share what we have created with others.
The Ballad of the Proverbs is a poem that is full of wisdom and insight. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we need to make the most of the time that we have. It is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to put in the work in order to create something that is truly great. And it is a reminder that even if we have everything we need, we still need to share it with others in order to truly appreciate it.
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