(Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer) (Ca. 1343~1400)
(Modern English translation by ~RJ~) (2007)
Truth
Flee from the throng and live in truth.
Be satisfied with what you have, even if it isn’t much;
For greed entails hate and social climbing uncertainty,
The crowd is envious and blinded by wealth.
Take pleasure in that which shall benefit you;
Restrain yourself from giving advice to others;
And have no fear, the truth shall deliver you.
Don’t torment yourself to remedy all deceit,
Trust in her* that turns like a ball.
Much joy is spent on trivial matters;
Beware therefore of being obstinate;
Strive not as a pot on the boil.
Restrain yourself from controlling other’s deeds;
And have no fear, the truth shall deliver you.
What is sent you, receive in obedience;
The struggle for worldly gain requires you to lie.
Here is no home, here is nothing but wilderness.
Away Pilgrim, away! Cast off any advantages of your lie!
Know yourself! Look up! Thank God of all!
Take the high road and let your spirit be led;
And have no fear, the truth shall deliver you.
[The Envoy]
Therefore, you cow, leave your old wretchedness;
Unto the world, leave to be a servent.
Cry Him mercy, who’s high goodness
Made you of nothing and especially
Draw unto Him and pray in general
For your and also for other’s heavenly reward;
And have no fear, the truth shall deliver you.
* sometimes translated as ‘fortune spinning a wheel’ but I suspect that Chaucer might have meant the world, i.e. ‘trust in the world’ or more figuratively ‘in the order of things’.
(Original Poem)
Truth
Fle fro the pres, and dwelle with sothefastnesse,
Suffise thin owen thing, thei it be smal;
For hord hath hate, and clymbyng tykelnesse,
Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
Savour no more thanne the byhove schal;
Reule weel thiself, that other folk canst reede;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
Tempest the nought al croked to redresse,
In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal.
Myche wele stant in litel besynesse;
Bywar therfore to spurne ayeyns an al;
Stryve not as doth the crokke with the wal.
Daunte thiself, that dauntest otheres dede;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
That the is sent, receyve in buxumnesse;
The wrestlyng for the worlde axeth a fal.
Here is non home, here nys but wyldernesse.
Forth, pylgryme, forth! forth, beste, out of thi stal!
Know thi contré! loke up! thonk God of al!
Hold the heye weye, and lat thi gost the lede;
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
[L'envoy.]
Therfore, thou Vache, leve thine olde wrechednesse;
Unto the world leve now to be thral.
Crie hym mercy, that of hys hie godnesse
Made the of nought, and in espec{.i}al
Draw unto hym, and pray in general
For the, and eke for other, hevenelyche mede;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
Author notes
I didn’t like other translations of this ‘balade‘ I’ve read. So I decided to do it myself. I didn’t try to preserve the rhyme or meter, rather I’ve posted the original so that you can enjoy the poem as it was meant to be read.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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very thought provoking and awakening to the heart and mind. i applaud this
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that's rhyme royal right?
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Powerful,
You have captured the great meaning of this piece perfectly in my eye's view. I thank you for sharing something so worthy enough to delve into and leave away with greater wisdom then before. You are truly amazing, and I wish you nothing but the best life and love have to offer.
Much love bro, your friend, and fan, Timothy aka poeticweaver~
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~A Beautifully Penned Work of Genius~
RJ~
Your poem is sheer brilliance and beautifully penned.. This is surely a feat of supreme talent and mega brainpower. How I love to read and lavish in the grace, beauty, and wisdom of Geoffrey Chaucer. I hope you bring us all more of this ancient yet biblical poetry filled with proverbs. I especially want to learn about “gnomic verse.” The times have changed and we need all the heavenly melodies that lead us on the path of goodness and Truth for all. Bravo RJ~ This could be compared to quickly untangling the rebux cube. I am humbled and thrilled in your genius. And from the angels up above, I bid you peace joy and love. ~Namaste Blessed Be Sharon~
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The more I think about this the more I see the focus you had to maintain.
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My goodness this takes a ton of work and brain power...two strikes against me already, lol.
Well I'd certainly have never read this without your translation so I certainly thank you for that. I read some of The Canterbury Tales ages ago...read enough to know I never wanted to try and read more.
I think I read somewhere this was written to encourage a friend who had lost a job or something? You've made it useful to current readers.
Lots of work, you must be pleased with the outcome, you should be!
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The more I read the original version, the more it looks like a foreigner language to me. I guess it's because the way the words sound in my mind. I noticed he used a word in French, vache.
I like more your version of it. I know you went through a lot of work to translate that poem, and I admire your perseverance.
Hugs, Mari
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This was very interesting. I enjoyed it.
Hugs, Me -
Or "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND". And remember your self worth in all matters,rising like the cream to top off the obscure milky fog brought about by material gains of others.I see what a labor of love decifering this must of been for you.Nice work my astute friend.
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