Poetry

I: in Motreff

1. The young man declared one day
As his house he was leaving
- I will go round to Motreff,
It will be entertaining:

For I am going on my way
To pass where Sweetheart should stay.
My heart pounds and my thoughts stray
At her silver glances! (twice)

2. - Good day, good day, my sweetheart
Good day to you I'm saying
I have seen your door afar,
That I cannot help cheering.

- Sir, you carry along with you,
Loads of compliments, you do!
Pretty speech is a thing to
Which I never object! (twice)

3. - When I was staying at home
I did visit you daily.
More faithful than I was none
But you would make fun of me.

I was as faithful to you as
Is the nightingale that has
Its perch on the branch of haw-
Thorn and sings its ditty. (twice)

4. - Chaffinch, and nightingale
Are birds that stay most freely
Amongst the leaves of mount and dale,
Each of them a homebody,

But if you care to have a look
At all the birds in a book,
No one as seriously took,
As the dove, loyalty. (twice)

5. For no one is half as faith-
ful, as the turtledove is
Who, when of its mate bereft,
At short notice deceases.

- O, this is the way I would fare
Most certainly in despair,
Should once my sweetheart so fair
Break my heart to pieces (twice)

6. - How could it be, say, young man
That with me you were angry?
Would you not come to Melan,
To Melan to be with me?

- To Melan, for sure, I would go,
But not to tell you "hello!"
Since, my lass, so far I know,
We shall never marry. (twice)

7. - What grounds, tell me, have you got
For such foolish assumption?
No reason why you should not
Come and see me in Melan.

- I'll go to Melan, certainly
But I shall return quickly
You may choose anybody
To be your companion. - (twice)

II: in Caraix

8. 'T was on Nativity day
Of the Virgin Saint Mary;
To the Pardon on my way
I saw her quite abruptly,

I edged my way to her side
I had no reason to hide,
And whatever might betide,
We were to speak frankly. (twice)

9. - What a surprise, our young man
Made up his mind to see me!
That you did bother to come
About that I'm uneasy:

Because I am not allowed to
Marry this year, so that you,
In case you had come to woo
Should give up the idea. (twice)

10. - Why should I give up an i-
dea that's but your own notion;
Chains of love that used to tie
My heart to yours are broken.

That's why I have come back again
For a walk in your domain:
Just a lily shall remain
There, and it's you, maiden! -(twice)

11. First time when I said "adieu"
To a lass, was in Carhaix.
Down her cheeks tiny tears flew,
Lost joy in darkest array,

The time for parting had come now,
For regret did not allow.
Which the lass refused to know
Before I flew away.


Translated from the Breton