Le temps a laissé son manteau by Charles d’Orleans

Translated from the French

by Thomas Banks (January 2021)

Weiden in Spring, Christian Rohlfs, 1904

Time has at last put off his coat
Of wind and winter cold and rain,
And puts on the embroidery
Of sun to bring in spring again.

Now swells again the glad refrain
Of beast and bird from every throat
“Time has at last put off his coat.”

River and tarn and stream and moat
Shine in a brighter livery
Of gold and silver finery;
All is made new, and sounds the note
“Time has at last put off his coat.”

***

Le temps a laissié son manteau
De vent, de froidure et de pluye,
Et s’est vestu de brouderie,
De soleil luyant, cler et beau.

Il n’y a beste ne oyseau,
Qu’en son jargon ne chante ou crie ;
Le temps a laissié son manteau.

Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau
Portent, en livree jolie,
Gouttes d’argent d’orfaverie,
Chascun s’abille de nouveau :
Le temps a laissié son manteau.

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Thomas Banks has taught literature and Latin for many years in Idaho, Montana, and North Carolina, where he currently lives. Other writings of his have appeared in First Things and the St. Austin Review.

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