Quand je fus pris au pavillon
De ma dame, trèsgente et belle,
Je me brulai à la chandelle,
Ainsi que fait le papillon.
Je rougis comme vermillon,
Àla clarté d'une étincelle,
Quand je fus pris au pavillon.
Si j'eusse été émerillon
Ou que j'eusse eu aussi bonne aile,
Je me fusse gardé de celle
Qui me bailla de l'aiguillon
Quand je fus pris au pavillon!
When I was caught at the pavilion
of my very gentle and beautiful lady,
I burnt myself at the candle
as a butterfly does.
I blushed like vermilion,
at the brightness of a spark,
when I was caught at the pavilion.
Had I been a merlin
or had I had as good a wing,
I would have guarded myself against her
who struck me with the sting
when I was caught at the pavilion!
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
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