15 quotes
But whatever may be said about the life of work,
There is no treasure quite like living at one's ease.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
The breasts all shrivelled up and gone;
The haunches like the paps withdrawn.
But where are the snows of bygone years?
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
Prince, I know all, in short,
I know pink cheeks from wan,
I know Death all-devouring,
I know all, save myself.
"In riding to the hounds, in falconry,
In love or war," as anyone will tell you,
"For one brief joy a hundred woes."
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
Brother men who after us live on,
Harden not your hearts against us.
Foolish love makes beasts of men:
It once caused Solomon to worship idols,
And Samson to lose his eyes.
That man is lucky who has nothing.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
In this faith I wish to live and die.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
But where are the snows of yester year?
Good talkers are only found in Paris.
Prince, give the prize for chatter
To Parisian women; whatever
May be said about Italians,
There is no tongue like one from Paris.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
We were two, but only had one heart.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
We have been rinsed and laundered by the rain,
And by the sunlight dried and blackened too.
Magpie and crow have plucked our eyeballs twain
And cropped our eyebrows and the beards we grew.
Ballade des pendus (1489)
My days are quickly spent.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)
It's true that I have loved,
And gladly would again;
But sad heart, and famished belly
Not even partly satisfied
Force me away from paths of love.
And so, let someone else take over
Who has tucked away more food –
Dancing is for men of nobler girth.
Le Grand Testament (The Great Testament) (1461)