5 10 15 20

18. Balade: «A Dalida, Jhezabel, et Thays» Se Lucresce, la tresvaillant Rommaine, Ou la bonne Troyenne, Hecuba, Ou Hilie, qui fu de tel bien plaine Qu’en voulenté chastement se garda, Revenoient or en vie, Au jour d’ui est tant de mal et d’envie Qu’on les compareroit, ce m’est avis, A Dalida, Jhezabel, et Thays. Si seroit ce comparoison vilaine Et contre droit, mais le monde ainsi va, Car au jour d’ui, li plusieurs mestent paine De controuver ce que ja ne sera Sur ceulx qui ne pensent mie Fors qu’a honnour et bien et courtoisie, Et leur donnent le los que fu jadis A Dalida, Jhezabel, et Thays. Le doulce Yseut, qui fu a la fontaine, Ne tu Tristan, Jason, et Medea, Ne tu, Paris, avec ta belle Helaine: Ne venez plus pour amer par de ça. Ce seroit trop grant folie. L’en vous diroit autant de vilonnie Comme on fist onques, en nul pays, A Dalida, Jhezabel, et Thays.

18. Ballade: “To Delilah, Jezebel, and Thaïs” If Lucrece, the very worthy Roman, Or the virtuous Trojan, Hecuba, Or Elie, who was of such quality That willingly did she keep herself chaste, Were now to come back to life again, Today there is so much malice and envy That one would compare them, it seems to me, To Delilah, Jezebel, and Thaïs. This would be a villainous comparison And against what’s right, but so goes the world, For today, many make an effort To make up things that will never be About those who never think at all About anything but honor, good, and courtesy, And they give them the praise that once was given To Delilah, Jezebel, and Thaïs. Oh sweet Isolde, who was at the fountain, And you, Tristan, Jason, and Medea, And you, Paris, with your beautiful Helen: Do not pass this way again in order to love. That would be too great a folly. They would say to you as much villainy As they did once, in whatever country, To Delilah, Jezebel, and Thaïs.

(see note) (see note) (see note)