'Ballade To Our Lady' by François Villon
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WRITTEN FOR HIS MOTHER
Dame du ciel, regents terrienne,
Emperiere des infemaux palus....
Lady of Heaven and earth, and therewithal
Crowned Empress of the nether clefts of Hell,—
I, thy poor Christian, on thy name do call,
Commending me to thee, with thee to dwell,
Albeit in nought I be commendable.
But all mine undeserving may not mar
Such mercies as thy sovereign mercies are;
Without the which (as true words testify)
No soul can reach thy Heaven so fair and far.
Even in this faith I choose to live and die.
Unto thy Son say thou that I am His,
And to me graceless make Him gracious.
Said Mary of Egypt lacked not of that bliss,
Nor yet the sorrowful clerk Theopbilus,
Whose bitter sins were set aside even thus
Though to the Fiend his bounden service was.
Oh help me, lest in vain for me should pass
(Sweet Virgin that shalt have no loss thereby!)
The blessed Host and sacring of the Mass
Even in this faith I choose to live and die.
A pitiful poor woman, shrunk and old,
I am, and nothing learn'd in letter-lore.
Within my parish-cloister I behold
A painted Heaven where harps and lutes adore,
And eke an Hell whose damned folk seethe full sore:
One bringeth fear, the other joy to me.
That joy, great Goddess, make thou mine to be,—
Thou of whom all must ask it even as I;
And that which faith desires, that let it see.
For in this faith I choose to live and die.
O excellent Virgin Princess! thou didst bear
King Jesus, the most excellent comforter,
Who even of this our weakness craved a share
And for our sake stooped to us from on high,
Offering to death His young life sweet and fair.
Such as He is, Our Lord, I Him declare,
And in this faith I choose to live and die.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, trans.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ballade To Our Lady - A Masterpiece by François Villon
When it comes to French poetry, the name François Villon is one that is revered and respected by scholars and enthusiasts alike. Villon was a poet who lived in France in the 15th century and was known for his unconventional style of writing. His works were often characterized by their gritty realism and frank portrayal of life in medieval France. One of his most famous works is the Ballade To Our Lady, a poem that has stood the test of time and remains popular even today. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece and explore the themes and motifs that are present in it.
Background
Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. François Villon was a poet who lived in France during the 15th century. He was known for his unconventional style of writing, which often involved the use of colloquial language and frank portrayals of life in medieval France. Villon was also known for his troubled life, which included being banished from Paris and spending time in prison. Despite these challenges, he continued to write and his works have become some of the most famous in French literature.
The Ballade To Our Lady was written in the late 15th century and is considered to be one of Villon's most famous works. The poem is addressed to the Virgin Mary and is written in the form of a ballade, a type of poem that was popular in medieval France. The ballade consists of three stanzas, each with the same rhyme scheme and a refrain that is repeated at the end of each stanza. The form of the ballade is important as it emphasizes the repetition and cyclical nature of the poem's themes.
Themes
One of the main themes of the Ballade To Our Lady is the concept of sin and redemption. Throughout the poem, Villon acknowledges his own sins and asks for forgiveness from the Virgin Mary. He recognizes that he has strayed from the path of righteousness and that he needs the help of the Virgin to find his way back. The poem is filled with religious imagery and references to the Bible, which emphasizes the importance of faith and salvation.
Another important theme in the poem is the concept of mortality. Villon acknowledges the fleeting nature of life and recognizes that death is inevitable. He reflects on the brevity of life and the fact that all things must come to an end. This theme is particularly poignant given the fact that Villon lived during a time when the Black Death was ravaging Europe and death was a constant presence.
The Ballade To Our Lady also touches on the theme of love and devotion. Villon expresses his love and devotion to the Virgin Mary and seeks her guidance and protection. This theme is particularly important given the fact that the Virgin Mary was a central figure in medieval Christianity and was often seen as a source of comfort and protection for the faithful.
Stylistic Devices
One of the things that makes the Ballade To Our Lady such a powerful poem is Villon's use of various stylistic devices. The poem is filled with imagery, metaphors, and allusions that help to convey the poem's themes and motifs.
One of the most striking stylistic devices in the poem is Villon's use of repetition. The refrain at the end of each stanza ("Lady of heaven and earth, and of hell, queen") emphasizes the cyclical nature of the poem's themes and underscores the importance of the Virgin Mary as a central figure in medieval Christianity.
Villon also makes use of allusions to the Bible and other religious texts. For example, he references the story of Adam and Eve in the second stanza of the poem, when he writes "Of Adam's tree and its fruit so sweet, / Which brought the death that all must meet." This reference serves to underscore the theme of sin and redemption that permeates the poem.
Finally, Villon makes use of vivid imagery throughout the poem. For example, in the first stanza, he writes "Beneath your mantle, covered with your grace, / Take pity on my infinite distress." This image of the Virgin Mary's mantle as a place of safety and protection reinforces the theme of love and devotion.
Interpretation
The Ballade To Our Lady is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition and the struggles that we all face in our lives. At its core, the poem is a reflection on the concept of sin and redemption, and the importance of faith and devotion in finding our way back to the path of righteousness. Villon's use of vivid imagery and allusions to the Bible help to underscore these themes and make the poem a powerful meditation on the nature of life and death.
Overall, the Ballade To Our Lady is a masterpiece of French literature and deserves its place in the canon of great works. It is a testament to Villon's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his writing. Whether read for its religious themes, its use of stylistic devices, or simply for the beauty of its language, the Ballade To Our Lady remains a timeless and enduring work that continues to captivate readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ballade To Our Lady: A Masterpiece of Medieval Poetry
François Villon, the French poet of the 15th century, is known for his witty and satirical verses that often dealt with the darker aspects of life. His Ballade To Our Lady, also known as Ballade des dames du temps jadis, is one of his most famous works, and it has been praised for its lyrical beauty, its nostalgic tone, and its profound insights into the human condition. In this article, we will explore the themes, the structure, and the language of this classic poem, and we will try to understand why it still resonates with readers today.
The poem begins with a simple invocation to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is often seen as a symbol of compassion, grace, and purity in Christian tradition. Villon addresses her as "noble and gracious queen," and he asks her to remember the great ladies of the past who were famous for their beauty, their wisdom, and their virtue. He then proceeds to name some of these ladies, starting with Eve, the first woman in the Bible, and continuing with other legendary figures such as Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, and Joan of Arc. Each of these women is described in a few lines that capture their essence and their fate, and each of them is presented as an example of the transience of human glory and the inevitability of death.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a series of variations on the same theme: the passing of time, the fragility of human achievements, and the power of memory. Villon uses the refrain "Mais où sont les neiges d'antan?" ("But where are the snows of yesteryear?") to emphasize the contrast between the present and the past, and to suggest that everything that was once beautiful and pure has now vanished, like snow that melts in the sun. This refrain is repeated at the end of each stanza, creating a sense of melancholy and nostalgia that pervades the whole poem.
The second stanza focuses on the theme of love, which is presented as a source of joy and pain, of hope and despair. Villon mentions several famous lovers, such as Tristan and Isolde, Pyramus and Thisbe, and Dido and Aeneas, and he describes their passion in vivid and sensual terms. However, he also reminds us that love is often doomed to failure, and that even the most intense feelings can be extinguished by time and fate. He concludes the stanza with a poignant image of a deserted garden, where the flowers of love have withered and died.
The third stanza deals with the theme of power, and it presents a series of kings, queens, and emperors who once ruled the world but are now forgotten or despised. Villon mentions Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Charlemagne, among others, and he shows how their glory has turned into dust and ashes. He also suggests that their power was often based on violence and oppression, and that their reigns were marked by cruelty and injustice. He ends the stanza with a bitter irony, saying that even the most powerful rulers are subject to the same fate as the lowliest beggars.
The fourth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, and it offers a reflection on the nature of memory and the role of poetry. Villon acknowledges that all the great ladies, lovers, and rulers he has mentioned are now dead and gone, and that their deeds and words have been forgotten by most people. However, he also suggests that their memory is still alive in the hearts of those who love poetry, and that their stories can still inspire and enlighten us. He ends the poem with a tribute to the power of language, saying that even though the snows of yesteryear have melted away, the words of the poets can still create a lasting beauty that transcends time and space.
The structure of Ballade To Our Lady is a classic example of the ballade form, which was popular in medieval France and consisted of three stanzas of eight or ten lines each, followed by a shorter envoy or conclusion. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, with the same rhyme used in the refrain. This strict form gives the poem a sense of elegance and symmetry, and it also allows Villon to explore different themes and images in a coherent and balanced way. The language of the poem is also notable for its simplicity and directness, which contrasts with the ornate and artificial style of many medieval poets. Villon uses everyday words and expressions, and he avoids elaborate metaphors or allusions, preferring to speak directly to his readers in a language they can understand.
In conclusion, Ballade To Our Lady is a masterpiece of medieval poetry that still speaks to us today with its timeless themes and its lyrical beauty. Villon's skillful use of the ballade form, his poignant imagery, and his profound insights into the human condition make this poem a classic of French literature, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of life. Whether we read it as a tribute to the past, a meditation on the present, or a celebration of the beauty of language, Ballade To Our Lady remains a work of art that can inspire and move us, just as it did for generations of readers before us.
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