Of his Lady's Old Age
Of his Lady's Old Age
Original Text
Andrew Lang, Ballads and Lyrics of Old France (London: Longmans, Green, 1913): 33. Internet Archive.
1When you are very old, at evening
2 You'll sit and spin beside the fire, and say,
3 Humming my songs, "Ah well, ah well-a-day!
4When I was young, of me did Ronsard sing."
5None of your maidens that doth hear the thing,
6 Albeit with her weary task foredone,
7 But wakens at my name, and calls you one
8Blest, to be held in long remembering.
9I shall be low beneath the earth, and laid
10On sleep, a phantom in the myrtle shade,
11 While you beside the fire, a grandame grey,
12My love, your pride, remember and regret;
13Ah, love me, love! we may be happy yet,
14 And gather roses, while 'tis called to-day.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
Digital editor: Ian Lancashire
Data entry: Sharine Leung
Lang, Andrew:
Of his Lady's Old Age
is a translation of
de Ronsard, Pierre :
Quand vous serez bien vieille
RPO Edition
2012
Rhyme
Form