Laurel · François Villon · The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris

The Lesser Testament of Master François Villon

François Villon (1431–c. 1463), translated by John Payne · 1892

iambic tetrameter · ABABBCBC · 320 lines · from The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris

THIS fourteen six and fiftieth year,I François Villon, clerk that be,Considering, with senses clear,Bit betwixt teeth and collar-free,That one must needs look orderlyUnto his works (as counsellethVegetius, wise Roman he),Or else amiss one reckoneth,—

In this year, as before I said,Hard by the dead of Christmas-time,When upon wind the wolves are fedAnd for the rigour of the rimeOne hugs the hearth from none to prime,Wish came to me to break the stressOf that most dolorous prison-climeWherein Love held me in duresse.

Unto this fashion am I bent,Seeing my lady, 'neath my eyes,To my undoing give consent,Sans gain to her in any wise :Whereof I plain me to the skies,Requiring vengeance (her desert)Of all the gods with whom it lies,And of Love, healing for my hurt.

If to my gree, alack, I readThose dulcet looks and semblants fairOf such deceitful goodlihead,That pierced me to the heart whilere,Now in the lurch they've left me bareAnd failed me at my utmost need :Fain must I plant it otherwhereAnd in fresh furrows strike my seed.

She that hath bound me with her eyes(Alack, how fierce and fell to me!),Without my fault in any wise,Wills and ordains that I should dreeDeath and leave life and liberty.Help see I none, save flight alone:She breaks the bonds betwixt her and meNor hearkens to my piteous moan.

To 'scape the ills that hem me round,It were the wiser to depart.Adieu! To Angers I am bound,Since she I love will nor impartHer grace nor any of her heart.I die—with body whole enough—For her; a martyr to Love's smart,Enrolled among the saints thereof.

Sore though it be to part from her,Needs must I go without delay.(How hard my poor sense is to stir!)Other than I with her's in play;Whence never Bullen herring ayeWas drouthier of case than I.A sorry business, wellaway,It is for me, God hear my cry!

And since (need being on me laid)I go and haply never mayAgain return, (not being madeOf steel or bronze or other wayThan other men : life but a dayLasteth and death knows no relent) ;For me, I journey far away;Wherefore I make this Testament.

First, in the name of God the Lord,The Son and eke the Holy Spright,And in her name by whose accordNo creature perisheth outright,To Master Villon, Guillaume hight,My fame I leave, that still doth swellIn his name's honour day and night,And eke my tents and pennoncel.

Item, to her, who, as I've said,So dourly banished me her sightThat all my gladness she forbadeAnd ousted me of all delight,I leave my heart in deposite,Piteous and pale and numb and dead.She brought me to this sorry plight:May God not wreak it on her head!

Item, my trenchant sword of steelI leave to Master YthierMarchant—to whom myself I feelNo little bounden—that he may,According to my will, defrayThe scot for which in pawn it lies(Six sols), and then the sword conveyTo Jehan le Cornu, free of price.

Item, I leave to Saint AmandThe Mule and eke the Charger White ;And to Blaru, my DiamondAnd Jibbing Ass with stripes bedight ;And the Decretal, too, that hightOmnis utrius—that, to wit,Known as the counter-Carmelite—Unto the priests I do commit.

To Jehan Tronne, butcher, I deviseThe Wether lusty and unpolledAnd Gad to whisk away the flies,With the Crowned Ox, that's to be sold,And Cow, whereon the churl hath hold,To hoist it on his back. If heTo keep the beast himself make bold,Trussed up and strangled let him be.

To Master Robert Vallée (who,Poor clerkling to the Parliament,Owns valley neither hill,) I doWill first, by this my Testament,My hose be giv'n incontinent,Which on the clothes-pegs hang, that heMay tire withal, 'tis my intent,His mistress Jehanne more decently.

But since he is of good extract,Needs must he better guerdoned be(For God His Law doth so enact)Though featherbrained withal is he;They shall, I have bethoughten me,Since in his pate he hath no sense,Give him the Art of Memory,To be ta'en up from Misprepense.

And thirdly, for the livelihoodOf Master Robert aforesaid(My kin, for God's sake, hold it good!)Be money of my hauberk madeAnd (or most part thereof) outlaid,Ere Easter pass, in purchasing(Hard by St. Jacques) a shop and tradeFor the poor witless lawyerling.

Item, my gloves and silken hoodMy friend Jacques Cardon, I declare,Shall have in fair free gift for good ;Also the acorns willows bearAnd every day a capon fairOr goose ; likewise a tenfold vatOf chalk-white wine, besides a pairOf lawsuits, lest he wax too fat.

Item, a leash of dogs I giveTo young René de Montigny;And let Jehan Raguyer receiveOne hundred francs, shall levied beOn all my goods. But soft; to meScant gain therefrom I apprehend :One should not strip one's own, perdie,Nor over-ask it of one's friend.

Item, to Baron de GrignyThe ward and keeping of Nygeon,With six dogs more than Montigny,And Bicêtre, castle and donjon;And to that scurvy knave Changon,A spy that holds him still in strife,Three strokes of withy well laid onAnd prison-lodging all his life.

Item, I leave Jacques RaguyerThe ' Puppet' Cistern, peach and pear,Perch, chickens, custards, night and day,At the Great Figtree choice of fareAnd eke the Fircone Tavern, whereHe may sit, cloaked in cloth of frieze,Feet to the fire and back to chair,And let the world wag at his ease.

Item, to John the foul of faceAnd Peter Tanner I devise,By way of gift, that baron's graceThat punishes all felonies ;To Fournier, my proctor wise,Leather cut out for caps and shoes,That now at the cordwainer's lies,For him these frosty days to use.

The Captain of the Watch, also,Shall have the Helmet, in full right;And to the crimps, that cat-foot go,A-fumbling in the stalls by night,I leave two rubies, clear and bright,The Lantern of La Pierre au Lait.'Deed, the Three Lilies have I might,Haled they me to the Châtelet.

To Pernet Marchand, eke, in fee,(Bastard of Bar by sobriquet)For that a good-cheap man is he,I give three sheaves of straw or hay,Upon the naked floor to layAnd so the amorous trade to ply,For that he knows no other wayOr art to get his living by.

Item, to Chollet I bequeathAnd Loup, a duck, once in a wayCaught as of old the walls beneathUpon the moat, towards end of day;And each a friar's gown of gray—Such as fall down beneath the knees—My boots with uppers worn away,And charcoal, wood, bacon and peas.

Item, this trust I do declareFor three poor children named below :Three little orphans lone and bare,That hungry and unshodden goAnd naked to all winds that blow ;That they may be provided forAnd sheltered from the rain and snow,At least until this winter's o'er.

To Colin Laurens, Jehan MoreauAnd Girard Gossain, having ne'erA farthing's worth of substance, no,Nor kith nor kindred anywhere,I leave, at option, each a shareOf goods or else four blanks once told.Full merrily they thus shall fare,Poor silly souls, when they are old.

Item, my right of nominationHolden of the University,I leave, by way of resignation,To rescue from adversityPoor clerks that of this city be,—Hereunder named, for very ruthThat thereunto incited me,Seeing them naked all as Truth.

Their names are Thibault de VitryAnd Gaillaume Cotin—peaceablePoor wights, that humble scholars be.Latin they featly speak and spellAnd at the lectern sing right well.I do devise to them in fee(Till better fortune with them dwell)A rent-charge on the pillory.

Item, the Crozier of the streetOf St. Antoine I do ordain,Also a cue wherewith folk beatAnd every day full pot of SeineTo those that in the trap are ta'en,Bound hand and foot in close duresse;My mirror eke and grace to gainThe favours of the gaoleress.

Item, I leave the hospitalsMy curtains spun the spiders by;And to the lodgers 'neath the stallsEach one a buffet on the eyeAnd leave to tremble, as they lie,Bruised, frozen, drenched, unshorn and lean,With hose shrunk half way up the thigh,Gowns all to-clipt and woeful mien.

Unto my barber I deviseThe ends and clippings of my hair;Item, on charitable wise,I leave my old boots, every pair,Unto the cobbler and declareMy clothes the broker's, so these twoMay when I'm dead my leavings share,For less than what they cost when new.

Unto the begging Orders four,The nuns and sisters (tidbits theyDainty and prime) I leave and storeOf flawns, poults, capons, so they mayBreak bread with both hands night and dayAnd eke the Fifteen Signs declare :Monks ride our neighbours' wives, folk say,But that is none of my affair.

To John o' Guard, that grocer hight,The Golden Mortar I make o'er,To grind his mustard in aright;Also a pestle from St. Maur;And unto him that goes before,To lay one by the legs in quod,St. Anthony roast him full sore!I'll leave him nothing else, by God.

Item, to Mairebeuf, as wellAs Nicholas de Louvieux,Each one I leave a whole eggshellFull of old crowns and francs, and toThe seneschal of Gouvieux,Peter de Ronseville, no less;Such crowns I mean, to tell you true,As the prince giveth for largesse.

Finally, being here aloneTo-night and in good trim to write,I heard the clock of the Sorbonne,That aye at nine o'clock of nightIs wont the Angelus to smite:Then I my task did intermit,That to our Lady mild I mightDo suit and service, as is fit.

This done, I half forgot myself,What while I felt Dame MemoryTake in and lay upon her shelf(The wit, as 'twere, being bound in me,Though not for wine-bibbing, perdie),Her faculties collateral,Th' opinative in each degreeAnd others intellectual.

And on likewise th' estimative,-Whereby prosperity we gain,—Similative and formative,By whose disorder folk remainOft lunatic, to wit, insane,From month to month ; which aforesaidI mind me often and againIn Aristotle to have read.

Then did the sensitive upleapAnd gave the cue to fantasy,That roused the organs all from sleep,But held the sovereign facultyStill in suspense for lethargyAnd pressure of oblivion,Which had dispread itself in me,To show the senses' union.

Then, when my senses in due courseGrew calm and understanding clear,I thought to finish my discourse,But found my inkpot frozen sheerAnd candle out, nor far nor nearFire might I find, so must of need,All muffled up for warmer cheer,Get me to sleep and end my rede.

Done at the season aforesaidOf the right well-renowned Villon,Who eats nor white nor oaten bread,Black as a malkin, shrunk and wan.Tents and pavilions every oneHe's left to one or t'other friend;All but a little pewter's gone,That will, ere long, come to an end.

Words in this poem 87

clerk n.: A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr. Gr. Clergy.]
betwixt prep.: In the space which separates; between. [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS. betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two. See Between.]
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
rigour n.: Rigidity; stiffness. [L. See Rigor., below.]
rime n.: A rent or long aperture; a chink; a fissure; a crack. Sir T. [L. rima.]
dolorous a.: Full of grief; sad; sorrowful; doleful; dismal; as, a dolorous object; dolorous discourses. [L. dolorosus, from dolor: cf. F. douloureux. See Dolor.]
undoing n.: The reversal of what has been done.
sans prep.: Without; deprived or destitute of. Rarely used as an English word. [F., from L. sine without.]
whereof adv.: Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.
gree n.: Good will; favor; pleasure; satisfaction; -- used esp. in such phrases as: to take in gree; to accept in gree; that is, to take favorably. [F. gré. See Grateful, and cf. Agree.]
alack interj.: An exclamation expressive of sorrow. [Prob. from ah! lack! OE. lak loss, failure, misfortune. See Lack.]
dulcet a.: Sweet to the taste; luscious. [OF. doucet, dim. of dous sweet, F. doux, L. dulcis; akin to Gr. Doucet.]
whilere adv.: A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile. [While + ere]
lurch v. t.: To leave in the lurch; to cheat.
fain v. t.: To be glad ; to wish or desire.
otherwhere adv.: In or to some other place, or places; elsewhere.
dree v. i.: To be able to do or endure.
depart v. i.: To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
haply adv.: By hap, chance, luck, or accident; perhaps; it may be.
relent v. i.: To become less rigid or hard; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to deliquesce. [F. ralentir, fr. L. pref. re- re- + ad to + lentus pliant, flexible, slow. See Lithe.]
wherefore adv.: For which reason; so; -- used relatively. [Where + for.]
spright n.: Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [See Sprite.]
outright adv.: Immediately; without delay; at once; as, he was killed outright.
hight v. t.: To be called or named. [OE. heiten, highten, haten, hoten; also hight, hatte, hette, is called, was called, AS. hatan to call, name, be called, to command, promise; also hatte is calle]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
plight v. t.: To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.]
wreak v. i.: To reck; to care.
trenchant a.: Fitted to trench or cut; gutting; sharp. [OF. trenchant, F. tranchant, p. pr. See Trench, v. t.]
bounden a.: Bound; fastened by bonds. [Old. p. p. of bind.]
defray v. t.: To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc. [F. défrayer; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + frais expense, fr. LL. fredum, fridum, expense, fine by which an offender obtained peace from his sovereign, or more li]
cornu n.: A horn, or anything shaped like or resembling a horn. [L.]
charger n.: One who, or that which charges.
bedight v. t.: To bedeck; to array or equip; to adorn.
decretal a.: Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle. Ayliffe. [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.]
wether n.: A castrated ram. [OE. wether, AS. we; akin to OS. wethar, withar, a ram, D. weder, G. widder, OHG. widar, Icel. ver, Sw. vädur, Dan. vædder, Goth. wiprus a lamb, L. vitulus calf,]
unpolled a.: Not polled. Specifically: (a) Not enumerated or registered; as, an unpolled vote or voter.
whereon adv.: On which; -- used relatively; as, the earth whereon we live.
parliament n.: A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [OE. parlement, F. parlement, fr. parler to speak; cf. LL. parlamentum, parliamentum. See Parley.]
withal adv.: With this; with that. [With + all.]
enact n.: Purpose; determination.
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
pate n.: A pie. See Patty. [F. pâté.]
thirdly adv.: In the third place.
witless a.: Destitute of wit or understanding; wanting thought; hence, indiscreet; not under the guidance of judgment.
capon n.: A castrated cock, esp. when fattened; a male chicken gelded to improve his flesh for the table. [OE. capon, chapoun, AS. cap (cf. F. chapon), L. capo, fr. Gr. skopiti to casrate. CF. Comma.]
donjon n.: The chief tower, also called the keep; a massive tower in ancient castles, forming the strongest part of the fortifications. [See Dungeon.]
knave n.: A boy; especially, a boy servant. Wyclif. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
withy n.: The osier willow (Salix viminalis). See Osier, n. (a). [OE. withe, wipi, AS. wi a willow, willow twig; akin to G. weide willow, OHG. wida, Icel. vi, a withy, Sw. vide a willow twig, Dan. vidie a willow, osier, Gr. vi]
tanner n.: One whose occupation is to tan hides, or convert them into leather by the use of tan.
sobriquet n.: An assumed name; a fanciful epithet or appellation; a nickname. [F. sobriquet, OF. soubzbriquet, soubriquet, a chuck under the chin, hence, an affront, a nickname; of uncertain origin; cf. It. sottobecco a chuck under the chi]
bequeath v. t.: To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property. [OE. biquethen, AS. becwe to say, affirm, bequeath; pref. be- + cwe to say, speak. See Quoth.]
lone n.: A lane. See Loanin.
colin n.: The American quail or bobwhite. The name is also applied to other related species. See Bobwhite. [F. colin; prop. a dim. of Colas, contr. fr. Nicolas Nicholas.]
kith n.: Acquaintance; kindred. [OE. kith, cu, AS. cc known. Uncouth, Can, and cf. Kythe.]
option n.: The power of choosing; the right of choice or election; an alternative. [L. optio; akin to optare to choose, wish, optimus best, and perh. to E. apt: cf. F. option.]
nomination n.: The act of naming or nominating; designation of a person as a candidate for office; the power of nominating; the state of being nominated. [L. nominatio: cf. F. nomination.]
university n.: The universe; the whole. Dr. H. More. [OE. universite, L. universitas all together, the whole, the universe, a number of persons associated into one body, a society, corporation, fr. universus all to]
resignation n.: The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or comission. [F. résignation. See Resign.]
adversity n.: Opposition; contrariety. Wyclif. [OE. adversite, F. adversité, fr. L. adversitas.]
ruth n.: Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness. [From Rue, v.: cf. Icel. hryggedh, hrygedh.]
thereunto adv.: Unto that or this; thereto; besides.
peaceable a.: Begin in or at peace; tranquil; quiet; free from, or not disposed to, war, disorder, or excitement; not quarrelsome. [OE. peisible, F. paisible.]
featly adv.: Neatly; dexterously; nimbly. [From Feat, a.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
wherewith adv.: With which; -- used relatively.
folk n.: In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
buffet n.: A cupboard or set of shelves, either movable or fixed at one side of a room, for the display of plate, china, etc., a sideboard. [F. buffet, LL. bufetum; of uncertain origin; perh. fr. the same source as E. buffet a blow, the root meaning to puff, hence (cf. puffed up) the idea of ostentat]
barber n.: One whose occupation it is to shave or trim the beard, and to cut and dress the hair of his patrons. Barber's itch. See under Itch. [OE. barbour, OF. barbeor, F. barbier, as if fr. an assumed L. barbator, fr. barba beard. See 1st Barb.]
leavings n.: Things left; remnants; relics.
dainty n.: Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity.]
grocer n.: A trader who deals in tea, sugar, spices, coffee, fruits, and various other commodities. Grocer's itch (Med.), a disease of the akin, caused by handling sugar and treacle. [Formerly written grosser, orig., one who sells by the gross, or deals by wholesale, fr. F. grossier, marchand grossier, fr. gros large, great. See Gross.]
aright adv.: Rightly; correctly; in a right way or form; without mistake or crime; as, to worship God aright. [Pref. a- + right.]
quod v.: Quoth; said. See Quoth.
largesse n.: Liberality; generosity; bounty. [F. largesse, fr. large. See Large, a.]
intermit v. t.: To cause to cease for a time, or at intervals; to interrupt; to suspend. [L. intermittere; inter between + mittere, missum, to send: cf. OE. entremeten to busy (one's self) with, F. s'entremettre. See Missile.]
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
opinative a.: Obstinate in holding opinions; opinionated. -- O*pin"a*tive*ly, adv. Burton. Sir T. More.
estimative a.: Inclined, or able, to estimate; serving for, or capable of being used in, estimating. [Cf. F. estimatif.]
similative a.: Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance.
fantasy n.: Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice; humor. [See Fancy.]
lethargy n.: Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked. [F. léthargie, L. letgargia, Gr. Lethe.]
oblivion n.: The act of forgetting, or the state of being forgotten; cessation of remembrance; forgetfulness. [L. oblivio, akin to oblivisci to forget: cf. OF. oblivion.]
dispread v. t.: To spread abroad, or different ways; to spread apart; to open; as, the sun dispreads his beams. [Pref. dis- + spread.]
rede v. t.: To advise or counsel. [See Read, v. t.]
oaten a.: Consisting of an oat straw or stem; as, an oaten pipe.
malkin n.: Originally, a kitchenmaid; a slattern. [Dim. of Maud, the proper name. Cf. Grimalkin.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

The Lesser Testament of Master François Villon is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris, now first done into English verse, in the original forms, with a biographical and critical introduction, by John Payne, Internet Archive, the John Payne translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: François Villon, The Lesser Testament of Master François Villon, in The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris (1892), text of Internet Archive, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/villon-poems/the-lesser-testament.html, id L27062.

Form and metre

The Lesser Testament of Master François Villon is 320 lines in 40 stanzas of 8 lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, complete in 33 of its 40 stanzas. The metre is iambic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 87%).

See other poems in iambic tetrameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABABBCBC year^A · be^B · clear^A · free^B · orderly^B · counselleth^C · he^B · reckoneth^C
2 ABABBCBC said^A · time^B · fed^A · rime^B · prime^B · stress^C · clime^B · duresse^C
3 ABABBCBC bent^A · eyes^B · consent^A · wise^B · skies^B · desert^C · lies^B · hurt^C
4 ABABBCBC read^A · fair^B · goodlihead^A · whilere^B · bare^B · need^C · otherwhere^B · seed^C
5 ABABBCBC eyes^A · me^B · wise^A · dree^B · liberty^B · alone^C · me^B · moan^C
6 ABABBCBC round^A · depart^B · bound^A · impart^B · heart^B · enough^C · smart^B · thereof^C
7 ABABCC-C her^A · delay^B · stir^A · play^B · aye^C · i^C · wellaway · cry^C
8 ABABBCBC laid^A · may^B · made^A · way^B · day^B · relent^C · away^B · testament^C
9 ABABBCBC lord^A · spright^B · accord^A · outright^B · hight^B · swell^C · night^B · pennoncel^C
10 AB-B-ABA said^A · sight^B · forbade · delight^B · deposite · dead^A · plight^B · head^A
11 ABABBCBC steel^A · ythier^B · feel^A · may^B · defray^B · lies^C · convey^B · price^C
12 ABABBCBC amand^A · white^B · diamond^A · bedight^B · hight^B · wit^C · carmelite^B · commit^C
13 ABABBCBC devise^A · unpolled^B · flies^A · sold^B · hold^B · he^C · bold^B · be^C
14 ABABBCBC who^A · parliament^B · do^A · testament^B · incontinent^B · he^C · intent^B · decently^C
15 ABABBCBC extract^A · be^B · enact^A · he^B · me^B · sense^C · memory^B · misprepense^C
16 ABABBCBC livelihood^A · aforesaid^B · good^A · made^B · outlaid^B · purchasing^C · trade^B · lawyerling^C
17 ABABBCBC hood^A · declare^B · good^A · bear^B · fair^B · vat^C · pair^B · fat^C
18 ABABBCBC give^A · montigny^B · receive^A · be^B · me^B · apprehend^C · perdie^B · friend^C
19 ABABBCBC grigny^A · nygeon^B · montigny^A · donjon^B · changon^B · strife^C · on^B · life^C
20 ABABBCBC raguyer^A · pear^B · day^A · fare^B · where^B · frieze^C · chair^B · ease^C
21 ABABBCBC face^A · devise^B · grace^A · felonies^B · wise^B · shoes^C · lies^B · use^C
22 ABABBCBC also^A · right^B · go^A · night^B · bright^B · lait^C · might^B · châtelet^C
23 ABABBCBC fee^A · sobriquet^B · he^A · hay^B · lay^B · ply^C · way^B · by^C
24 ABABBCBC bequeath^A · way^B · beneath^A · day^B · gray^B · knees^C · away^B · peas^C
25 ABABBCBC declare^A · below^B · bare^A · go^B · blow^B · for^C · snow^B · o'er^C
26 ABABBCBC moreau^A · ne'er^B · no^A · anywhere^B · share^B · told^C · fare^B · old^C
27 ABABBCBC nomination^A · university^B · resignation^A · adversity^B · be^B · ruth^C · me^B · truth^C
28 -ABAABA- vitry · peaceable^A · be^B · spell^A · well^A · fee^B · dwell^A · pillory
29 ABA--CBC street^A · ordain^B · beat^A · seine · ta'en · duresse^C · gain^B · gaoleress^C
30 ABABBCBC hospitals^A · by^B · stalls^A · eye^B · lie^B · lean^C · thigh^B · mien^C
31 ABABBCBC devise^A · hair^B · wise^A · pair^B · declare^B · two^C · share^B · new^C
32 ABABBCBC four^A · they^B · store^A · may^B · day^B · declare^C · say^B · affair^C
33 ABABBCBC hight^A · o'er^B · aright^A · maur^B · before^B · quod^C · sore^B · god^C
34 ABACBDCD well^A · louvieux^B · eggshell^A · to^C · gouvieux^B · less^D · true^C · largesse^D
35 -A-AAAA- alone · write^A · sorbonne · night^A · smite^A · intermit^A · might^A · fit
36 ABABBCBC myself^A · memory^B · shelf^A · me^B · perdie^B · collateral^C · degree^B · intellectual^C
37 ABABBCBC estimative^A · gain^B · formative^A · remain^B · insane^B · aforesaid^C · again^B · read^C
38 A-A----- upleap^A · fantasy · sleep^A · faculty · lethargy · oblivion · me · union
39 ABABBCBC course^A · clear^B · discourse^A · sheer^B · near^B · need^C · cheer^B · rede^C
40 ABABBCBC aforesaid^A · villon^B · bread^A · wan^B · one^B · friend^C · gone^B · end^C

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic tetrameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
THIS fourteen six and fiftieth year,	8	·//··/˘·
I François Villon, clerk that be,	8	········
Considering, with senses clear,	8	˘/˘˘·/˘·
Bit betwixt teeth and collar-free,	8	·˘/··/˘·
That one must needs look orderly	8	·····/˘˘
Unto his works (as counselleth	8	·····/˘˘
Vegetius, wise Roman he),	7	····/˘·
Or else amiss one reckoneth,—	8	··˘/·/˘˘
In this year, as before I said,	8	········
Hard by the dead of Christmas-time,	8	·····/˘·
When upon wind the wolves are fed	8	········
And for the rigour of the rime	8	···/˘···
One hugs the hearth from none to prime,	8	········
Wish came to me to break the stress	8	········
Of that most dolorous prison-clime	9	···/˘˘/˘·
Wherein Love held me in duresse.	8	········
Unto this fashion am I bent,	8	···/˘···
Seeing my lady, 'neath my eyes,	8	/˘·/˘···
To my undoing give consent,	8	··˘/˘·˘/
Sans gain to her in any wise :	8	·····/˘·
Whereof I plain me to the skies,	8	········
Requiring vengeance (her desert)	9	˘/˘˘/˘·/˘
Of all the gods with whom it lies,	8	········
And of Love, healing for my hurt.	8	···/˘···
If to my gree, alack, I read	8	····˘/··
Those dulcet looks and semblants fair	8	·/˘·····
Of such deceitful goodlihead,	8	··˘/˘···
That pierced me to the heart whilere,	8	········
Now in the lurch they've left me bare	8	········
And failed me at my utmost need :	8	·····/··
Fain must I plant it otherwhere	8	·····/˘˘
And in fresh furrows strike my seed.	8	···/˘···
She that hath bound me with her eyes	8	········
(Alack, how fierce and fell to me!),	8	˘/······
Without my fault in any wise,	8	·····/˘·
Wills and ordains that I should dree	8	··˘/····
Death and leave life and liberty.	8	·····/˘˘
Help see I none, save flight alone:	8	······˘/
She breaks the bonds betwixt her and me	9	····˘/···
Nor hearkens to my piteous moan.	9	·/˘··/˘˘·
To 'scape the ills that hem me round,	8	········
It were the wiser to depart.	8	···/˘·˘/
Adieu! To Angers I am bound,	8	˘/·/˘···
Since she I love will nor impart	8	······˘/
Her grace nor any of her heart.	8	···/˘···
I die—with body whole enough—	8	···/˘·˘/
For her; a martyr to Love's smart,	8	···/˘···
Enrolled among the saints thereof.	8	˘/······
Sore though it be to part from her,	8	········
Needs must I go without delay.	8	······˘/
(How hard my poor sense is to stir!)	8	········
Other than I with her's in play;	8	/˘······
Whence never Bullen herring aye	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
Was drouthier of case than I.	7	·······
A sorry business, wellaway,	8	·/˘/˘···
It is for me, God hear my cry!	8	········
And since (need being on me laid)	8	···/˘···
I go and haply never may	8	···/˘/˘·
Again return, (not being made	8	˘/˘/·/˘·
Of steel or bronze or other way	8	·····/˘·
Than other men : life but a day	8	·/˘·····
Lasteth and death knows no relent) ;	8	/˘····˘/
For me, I journey far away;	8	···/˘·˘/
Wherefore I make this Testament.	8	/˘···/˘˘
First, in the name of God the Lord,	8	········
The Son and eke the Holy Spright,	8	·····/˘·
And in her name by whose accord	8	······˘/
No creature perisheth outright,	8	·/˘/˘˘//
To Master Villon, Guillaume hight,	8	·/˘···/·
My fame I leave, that still doth swell	8	········
In his name's honour day and night,	8	···/˘···
And eke my tents and pennoncel.	8	········
Item, to her, who, as I've said,	8	/˘······
So dourly banished me her sight	8	···/˘···
That all my gladness she forbade	8	···/˘·˘/
And ousted me of all delight,	8	·/˘···˘/
I leave my heart in deposite,	8	········
Piteous and pale and numb and dead.	9	/˘˘······
She brought me to this sorry plight:	8	·····/˘·
May God not wreak it on her head!	8	········
Item, my trenchant sword of steel	8	/˘·/˘···
I leave to Master Ythier	7	···/˘··
Marchant—to whom myself I feel	8	/˘···/··
No little bounden—that he may,	8	·/˘/˘···
According to my will, defray	8	˘/˘···˘/
The scot for which in pawn it lies	8	········
(Six sols), and then the sword convey	8	······˘/
To Jehan le Cornu, free of price.	9	····/˘···
Item, I leave to Saint Amand	8	/˘······
The Mule and eke the Charger White ;	8	·····/˘·
And to Blaru, my Diamond	7	·····/˘
And Jibbing Ass with stripes bedight ;	8	·/˘···˘/
And the Decretal, too, that hight	8	··˘/˘···
Omnis utrius—that, to wit,	7	/˘·····
Known as the counter-Carmelite—	8	···/˘/˘·
Unto the priests I do commit.	8	······˘/
To Jehan Tronne, butcher, I devise	9	····/˘·˘/
The Wether lusty and unpolled	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
And Gad to whisk away the flies,	8	····˘/··
With the Crowned Ox, that's to be sold,	8	········
And Cow, whereon the churl hath hold,	8	··˘/····
To hoist it on his back. If he	8	········
To keep the beast himself make bold,	8	····˘/··
Trussed up and strangled let him be.	8	···/˘···
To Master Robert Vallée (who,	7	·/˘/˘··
Poor clerkling to the Parliament,	8	·····/˘˘
Owns valley neither hill,) I do	8	·/˘/˘···
Will first, by this my Testament,	8	·····/˘˘
My hose be giv'n incontinent,	8	····˘/˘˘
Which on the clothes-pegs hang, that he	8	········
May tire withal, 'tis my intent,	8	·/˘/··˘/
His mistress Jehanne more decently.	9	·/˘···/˘˘
But since he is of good extract,	8	······˘/
Needs must he better guerdoned be	8	···/˘···
(For God His Law doth so enact)	8	······˘/
Though featherbrained withal is he;	8	·/˘˘˘/··
They shall, I have bethoughten me,	8	········
Since in his pate he hath no sense,	8	········
Give him the Art of Memory,	8	·····/˘˘
To be ta'en up from Misprepense.	8	········
And thirdly, for the livelihood	8	·/˘··/˘·
Of Master Robert aforesaid	8	·/˘/˘˘/·
(My kin, for God's sake, hold it good!)	8	········
Be money of my hauberk made	8	·/˘··/˘·
And (or most part thereof) outlaid,	8	········
Ere Easter pass, in purchasing	8	·/˘··/˘˘
(Hard by St. Jacques) a shop and trade	8	········
For the poor witless lawyerling.	8	···/˘···
Item, my gloves and silken hood	8	/˘···/˘·
My friend Jacques Cardon, I declare,	8	···˘/·˘/
Shall have in fair free gift for good ;	8	········
Also the acorns willows bear	8	/˘·/˘/··
And every day a capon fair	8	·/˘··/··
Or goose ; likewise a tenfold vat	8	··/··/··
Of chalk-white wine, besides a pair	8	····˘/··
Of lawsuits, lest he wax too fat.	8	·/······
Item, a leash of dogs I give	8	/˘······
To young René de Montigny;	7	·······
And let Jehan Raguyer receive	8	······˘/
One hundred francs, shall levied be	8	·/˘··/˘·
On all my goods. But soft; to me	8	········
Scant gain therefrom I apprehend :	8	··˘/··˘/
One should not strip one's own, perdie,	8	······˘/
Nor over-ask it of one's friend.	8	········
Item, to Baron de Grigny	8	/˘·/˘···
The ward and keeping of Nygeon,	8	···/˘···
With six dogs more than Montigny,	8	········
And Bicêtre, castle and donjon;	8	···/˘·/˘
And to that scurvy knave Changon,	8	···/˘···
A spy that holds him still in strife,	8	········
Three strokes of withy well laid on	8	···/˘···
And prison-lodging all his life.	8	·/˘/˘···
Item, I leave Jacques Raguyer	7	/˘·····
The ' Puppet' Cistern, peach and pear,	8	·/˘/˘···
Perch, chickens, custards, night and day,	8	·/˘/˘···
At the Great Figtree choice of fare	8	········
And eke the Fircone Tavern, where	8	·····/˘·
He may sit, cloaked in cloth of frieze,	8	········
Feet to the fire and back to chair,	8	···/····
And let the world wag at his ease.	8	········
Item, to John the foul of face	8	/˘······
And Peter Tanner I devise,	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
By way of gift, that baron's grace	8	·····/˘·
That punishes all felonies ;	8	·/˘˘·/˘˘
To Fournier, my proctor wise,	8	·/˘˘·/˘·
Leather cut out for caps and shoes,	8	/˘······
That now at the cordwainer's lies,	8	········
For him these frosty days to use.	8	···/˘···
The Captain of the Watch, also,	8	·/˘···/˘
Shall have the Helmet, in full right;	8	···/˘···
And to the crimps, that cat-foot go,	8	········
A-fumbling in the stalls by night,	8	·/˘·····
I leave two rubies, clear and bright,	8	···/˘···
The Lantern of La Pierre au Lait.	9	·/˘··˘/··
'Deed, the Three Lilies have I might,	8	···/˘···
Haled they me to the Châtelet.	8	········
To Pernet Marchand, eke, in fee,	8	···˘/···
(Bastard of Bar by sobriquet)	8	/˘···/˘·
For that a good-cheap man is he,	8	········
I give three sheaves of straw or hay,	8	········
Upon the naked floor to lay	8	···/˘···
And so the amorous trade to ply,	8	···/˘···
For that he knows no other way	8	·····/˘·
Or art to get his living by.	8	·····/˘·
Item, to Chollet I bequeath	8	/˘····˘/
And Loup, a duck, once in a way	8	········
Caught as of old the walls beneath	8	········
Upon the moat, towards end of day;	8	········
And each a friar's gown of gray—	8	···/˘···
Such as fall down beneath the knees—	8	········
My boots with uppers worn away,	8	···/˘·˘/
And charcoal, wood, bacon and peas.	8	·/··/˘··
Item, this trust I do declare	8	/˘····˘/
For three poor children named below :	8	···/˘···
Three little orphans lone and bare,	8	·/˘/˘···
That hungry and unshodden go	8	·/˘·····
And naked to all winds that blow ;	8	·/˘·····
That they may be provided for	8	····˘/˘·
And sheltered from the rain and snow,	8	·/˘·····
At least until this winter's o'er.	8	·····/˘·
To Colin Laurens, Jehan Moreau	9	·/˘/˘··˘/
And Girard Gossain, having ne'er	8	·˘/··/˘·
A farthing's worth of substance, no,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Nor kith nor kindred anywhere,	8	···/˘/˘·
I leave, at option, each a share	8	···/˘···
Of goods or else four blanks once told.	8	········
Full merrily they thus shall fare,	8	·/˘˘····
Poor silly souls, when they are old.	8	·/˘·····
Item, my right of nomination	9	/˘····˘/˘
Holden of the University,	9	/˘···˘/˘˘
I leave, by way of resignation,	9	······˘/˘
To rescue from adversity	8	·/˘·˘/˘˘
Poor clerks that of this city be,—	8	·····/˘·
Hereunder named, for very ruth	8	·····/˘·
That thereunto incited me,	8	····˘/˘·
Seeing them naked all as Truth.	8	/˘·/˘···
Their names are Thibault de Vitry	8	···˘/·/˘
And Gaillaume Cotin—peaceable	8	·····/˘˘
Poor wights, that humble scholars be.	8	···/˘/˘·
Latin they featly speak and spell	8	/˘·/˘···
And at the lectern sing right well.	8	···/˘···
I do devise to them in fee	8	··˘/····
(Till better fortune with them dwell)	8	·/˘/˘···
A rent-charge on the pillory.	8	·····/˘˘
Item, the Crozier of the street	8	/˘·/˘···
Of St. Antoine I do ordain,	8	··˘/··˘/
Also a cue wherewith folk beat	8	/˘··˘/··
And every day full pot of Seine	9	·/˘····/˘
To those that in the trap are ta'en,	8	········
Bound hand and foot in close duresse;	8	········
My mirror eke and grace to gain	8	·/˘·····
The favours of the gaoleress.	8	·/˘·····
Item, I leave the hospitals	8	/˘···/·˘
My curtains spun the spiders by;	8	·/˘··/˘·
And to the lodgers 'neath the stalls	8	········
Each one a buffet on the eye	8	···/˘···
And leave to tremble, as they lie,	8	···/˘···
Bruised, frozen, drenched, unshorn and lean,	8	·/˘·····
With hose shrunk half way up the thigh,	8	········
Gowns all to-clipt and woeful mien.	8	·····/˘·
Unto my barber I devise	8	···/˘·˘/
The ends and clippings of my hair;	8	···/˘···
Item, on charitable wise,	8	/˘·/˘˘˘·
I leave my old boots, every pair,	8	·····/˘·
Unto the cobbler and declare	8	···/˘·˘/
My clothes the broker's, so these two	8	···/˘···
May when I'm dead my leavings share,	8	·····/˘·
For less than what they cost when new.	8	········
Unto the begging Orders four,	8	···/˘/˘·
The nuns and sisters (tidbits they	8	···/˘/˘·
Dainty and prime) I leave and store	8	/˘······
Of flawns, poults, capons, so they may	8	···/····
Break bread with both hands night and day	8	········
And eke the Fifteen Signs declare :	8	···//·˘/
Monks ride our neighbours' wives, folk say,	8	··/·····
But that is none of my affair.	8	······˘/
To John o' Guard, that grocer hight,	8	·····/˘·
The Golden Mortar I make o'er,	8	·/˘/˘···
To grind his mustard in aright;	8	···/˘·˘/
Also a pestle from St. Maur;	8	/˘·/˘···
And unto him that goes before,	8	········
To lay one by the legs in quod,	8	········
St. Anthony roast him full sore!	8	·/˘˘····
I'll leave him nothing else, by God.	8	···/˘···
Item, to Mairebeuf, as well	8	/˘······
As Nicholas de Louvieux,	7	·/˘˘···
Each one I leave a whole eggshell	8	······/·
Full of old crowns and francs, and to	8	········
The seneschal of Gouvieux,	7	·/˘˘···
Peter de Ronseville, no less;	9	/˘·······
Such crowns I mean, to tell you true,	8	········
As the prince giveth for largesse.	8	···/˘·˘/
Finally, being here alone	8	/˘˘/˘·˘/
To-night and in good trim to write,	8	········
I heard the clock of the Sorbonne,	8	······˘/
That aye at nine o'clock of night	8	····˘/··
Is wont the Angelus to smite:	8	···/˘˘··
Then I my task did intermit,	8	········
That to our Lady mild I might	8	··//˘···
Do suit and service, as is fit.	8	···/˘···
This done, I half forgot myself,	8	····˘/·/
What while I felt Dame Memory	8	·····/˘˘
Take in and lay upon her shelf	8	········
(The wit, as 'twere, being bound in me,	8	····/···
Though not for wine-bibbing, perdie),	8	····/˘˘/
Her faculties collateral,	8	·/˘˘˘/˘˘
Th' opinative in each degree	8	˘/˘˘··˘/
And others intellectual.	8	·/˘·˘/˘˘
And on likewise th' estimative,	8	··/·/˘˘˘
-Whereby prosperity we gain,—	8	··˘/˘˘··
Similative and formative,	8	/˘˘˘·/˘˘
By whose disorder folk remain	8	··˘/˘·˘/
Oft lunatic, to wit, insane,	8	·/˘···˘/
From month to month ; which aforesaid	8	·····˘/·
I mind me often and again	8	···/˘·˘/
In Aristotle to have read.	8	·/˘·˘···
Then did the sensitive upleap	8	···/˘˘··
And gave the cue to fantasy,	8	·····/˘˘
That roused the organs all from sleep,	8	···/˘···
But held the sovereign faculty	8	···/˘/˘˘
Still in suspense for lethargy	8	··˘/·/˘˘
And pressure of oblivion,	8	·/˘·˘/˘˘
Which had dispread itself in me,	8	··˘/˘/··
To show the senses' union.	7	···/˘/˘
Then, when my senses in due course	8	···/˘···
Grew calm and understanding clear,	8	····˘/˘·
I thought to finish my discourse,	8	···/˘·/˘
But found my inkpot frozen sheer	8	·····/˘·
And candle out, nor far nor near	8	·/˘·····
Fire might I find, so must of need,	8	/·······
All muffled up for warmer cheer,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Get me to sleep and end my rede.	8	········
Done at the season aforesaid	8	···/˘˘/·
Of the right well-renowned Villon,	8	····˘/··
Who eats nor white nor oaten bread,	8	·····/˘·
Black as a malkin, shrunk and wan.	8	···/˘···
Tents and pavilions every one	8	··˘/˘/˘·
He's left to one or t'other friend;	9	·····˘/˘·
All but a little pewter's gone,	8	···/˘/˘·
That will, ere long, come to an end.	8	········

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by François Villon

The Poems of Master François Villon of Paris