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UN DEN YAOUANK, SIWAZH! 1. Un den yaouank, siwazh! oa bet abañdonet Dre ma oa marv e dud, allas! gant ar c'hleñved. Ha dre ma oa yaouank, ne gredas klask netra Nemed an dud truezus a zigasas dezhañ. 2. Un den eus ar c'hanton, un den eus ar c'harter, A zeuas prim d'e weled o klevoud e vizer. Hag a laras d'e'añ dont d'e di da labourad, Med eñ a respontas: "N'am-eus ket a zilhad." 3. "A dra-zur e c'houzhon labourad an douar Med me zo 'r paour-kaezh den, n'am-eus na pal na marr." Pevar skoed a vañk din vit gelloud o frenañ. M'o roit din, davedoc'h, sur, yin vit ho paeañ." 4. Mont a ra davetañ evit ur pennad mat; Ur mevel 'n-doa kavet a ouie labourad. Un devezh, koulskoude, e voe lakaet nec'het O klask gouzout pelec'h oa ar mevel chomet. 5. 'N ul lochig a goste, war un dournad kolo, Ur penn'd diwezatoc'h e voe kavet maro Hag an tiek, siwazh, e galon didruez P'oa 'r c'horf vont achane d'an holl a lavare: 6. "Barzh an neñv ne yay ket ken n'en-do din paeet Ar pe'ar skoed, n'eus ket pell, am-eus dezhañ roet." [1] ' Benn un tri deiz goude, un den oa degouezet Da glask labour 'n ti-ze hag e voe de'añ roet. 7. 'Barzh ar park e labour kem'nd hag an tri gwellañ. Pa vez deut mare ar pred diouto e pella. Chom a reont souezhet hag e yeont d'e bediñ Da zont ganto d'an ti d'evañ ha da zebriñ. 8. Mond a ra a goste, 'vel o c'houzañv poanioù Hag 'n em strink d'an daoulin, kazi war e c'henoù. An tiek didruez, mantret-holl e galon, ' Ya da ga'out ar beleg: "Demad, Aotroù person!" [2] 9. "Du-mañ ez eus un den ' labour kement ha tri, Ar pezh am lak souezhet, heb evañ na debriñ." "It d'ar ger war ho kiz, na sonit grik ebed. 'Benn warc'hoaz, memez eur, me yelo d'ho kweled." 10. Antronoz ar beleg, dre berz 'n Aotroù Doue, En-devoa bet 'r galloud d'anaout oa un ene. "Petra a fell dit-te? Petra 'glaskez amañ? - Pe'ar skoed am-boa-me bet digant mestr an ti-mañ." 11. "Digant mestr an ti-mañ pevar skoed am-boa bet: D'o paeañ gant va labour, en-dro ez-on deuet. Ha n'am-eus ket ar gwir da vond d'ar joaioù Nem"d digant va ael mat 'teufe din ar c'heloù." [3] 12. Pa zeu 'n Aotroù person evit reiñ an arc'hant, Eo skoet an tiek fall 'n un doare dizamañt: Da gemer an arc'hañt e zorn 'n deus astennet. E vrec'h zehoù b'teg e skoaz d'an douar zo kouezet! 13. "Kenavo er joaioù, beleg trugarezus, Mil bennoz Doue d'eoc'h-c'hwi, bremañ e vin eürus. Paet ho-peus an tiek, netra de'añ ne rankan. 'Lec'h lar'd drouk diouzh an den, pedit Doue evitañ!" [4] |
UN HOMME JEUNE, HELAS! 1. Un homme jeune, hélas, était abandonné. Les siens la maladie les avait emportés Et comme il était jeune, il ne demandait rien. Des gens compatissants venaient lui porter soin. 2. Un homme du quartier, un homme du terroir Ayant eu vent de sa misère vint le voir Lui proposa de venir travailler chez lui, Mais l'autre fit savoir qu'il n'avait point d'habit. 3. "Je saurais travailler la terre assurément Mais je ne suis qu'un pauvre et n'ai point d'instruments." Pour me les procurer il me faut quatre écus. Prêtez-les moi. Sous peu je les aurai rendus." 4. Il s'engagea pour une fort longue durée. Il savait travailler: la chose est assurée. Mais un jour on a vu son maître très inquiet Se demander où pouvait être son valet. 5. Dans un bouge, à l'écart, et peu de temps après, Gisant mort sur un tas de paille on l'a trouvé. Et le propriétaire, au cœur plus dur que pierre, Disait, tandis qu'on l'emportait au cimetière: 6. "Il n'ira pas au Ciel qu'il n'ait payé son dû, Il a reçu de moi récemment quatre écus." [1] Trois jours après, un autre homme se présenta Pour chercher du travail et que l'on l'engagea. 7. Dans les champs il abat la tâche de trois hommes, Mais quand vient l'heure du repas, chacun s'étonne. On le prie de rester à table: il n'en fait rien. Il ne veut ni manger, ni boire. Il part au loin. 8. Il se rend à l'écart et l'on dirait qu'il geint Il se jette à genoux, la tête dans les mains. Et le maître au cœur dur que ce manège inquiète S'en va chez le recteur et consulte le prêtre: [2] 9. "Il y a chez moi quelqu'un travaillant comme trois, Mais que boire ou manger aucun témoin ne voit" "Ne vous inquiétez pas! Ne dites rien du tout! A cette heure demain, je me rendrai chez vous." 10. Le lendemain, le prêtre instruit par Dieu lui-même, Savait que c'était là quelque pauvre âme en peine. "Que te manque-t-il donc? Qu'es-tu venu chercher? - Quatre écus que le maître m'avait avancés." 11. "Quatre écus que la maître m'avait avancés Et que par mon travail je lui dois restituer. Je ne puis accéder à la paix éternelle Que quand mon ange m'en portera la nouvelle." [3] 12. Quand Monsieur le recteur s'en vint l'argent remettre, Un mal horrible s'empara du méchant maître: Il a tendu la main pour recevoir l'argent: Mais désséché son bras à terre était gisant! 13. "Prêtre compatissant, les joies du Ciel t'attendent - Dieu te bénisse! - et moi-même j'y puis prétendre. Mon Maître est payé. Mon endettement remis. Bien loin de l'accabler, il faut prier pour lui!" [4] Traduction: Christian Souchon (c) 2013 |
AN UNHAPPY YOUNG MAN 1. An unhappy young man, forsaken and alone Was by his parents' death left to live on his own; Now, since he was so young, go begging could he dare? Compassionate folks came and of him they took care. 2. A man in these parts heard of his destitution. Hastened to make the best of the situation. "That you work on my estate is what I propose;" The young man said "I can't. I have no working clothes" 3. "To be sure, I would be able to drive a plough, But I am so poor that I have no spade or hoe" And the four crowns they cost I never could afford. Lend them to me, I shall pay you back, on my word." 4. The farmer hired him on a very long term; A farmhand he had found, reliable and firm. Yet one day the lad failed to report to his boss, Leaving the latter to ponder over his loss. 5. Sometime later he was, upon a handful straw, Found dead in the far slum where he used to withdraw. His employer, alas, whose heart was hard as stone When the corpse was removed from there was heard to moan: 6. "To heaven he shan't go as long as I'm not paid, For he owes me four crowns I have lent him ahead." [1] And barely three days after, a young lad required Employment in this very farm and he was hired. 7. Upon the fields he worked as hard as the best three. But when lunch time was rung the young lad used to flee. The others wondered and did their best to retain Him, asking him to eat and drink with them. In vain. 8. He stayed out of the way, as if he was in pain, Threw himself on his knees, as in wait of being slain. And the cruel-hearted man, with disapproving frown, Went and asked for advice the parson of the town. [2] 9. "Over there is a man, as hard as three working, But curiously enough, with neither food nor drink." "Sir, you may return home, don't tell them that you came. I shall call tomorrow. The hour will be the same." 10. Overnight the divine was informed by God's grace, That it was a dead soul who was haunting the place. "What are you looking for? Say, what is your demand? - Four crowns I owe this man, I received from his hand." 11. "The master of this farm lent me once those four crowns: To pay them back in work now I have been sent down. And I won't be admitted to heaven's delight As long as my angel did not tell me I might." [3] 12. When the reverend priest came the four crowns to pay, The heartless man was punished in a dreadful way: When to seize the money he had proffered his hand, His whole right arm from the shoulder fell to the ground! 13. "In Heaven, both of us will meet again, parson, Of which I was made worthy by your compassion. The farmer you did pay and all is in good trim. Instead of casting blame, let's pray to God for him!" [4] Translation: Christian Souchon (c) 2013 |
[2] Les œuvres d'Anatole Le Braz, en particulier la "Légende de la mort" fourmillent d'histoire de prêtres qui ont commerce avec les trépassés et les revenants! Même un "homme au coeur cruel" pouvait faire appel à eux! [3] Le mot "ange" est pris ici dans son sens étymologique de "messager". L'auteur de ce poème pourrait bien être un écclésiastique ou un "cloarec" (un ancien séminariste). [4] Il semble que les Bretons du 19ème siècle croyaient encore en des principes immanents, comme l'obligation de s'acquitter de ses dettes, qui s'imposaient même à Dieu. C'est ainsi que la personnification de la mort, l'"Ankoù" se targue dans certains drames sacrés et certains contes d'imposer sa loi même à Dieu (qui mourut sur la croix). |
[2] The works of Anatole le Braz, in particular the "Legend of Death", are teeming with tales of priests who have dealings with dead souls and ghosts! Even a "cruel-hearted man" could resort to them! [3] The word "angel" is used here with its original Greek meaning: "messenger". The unknown author might have been a learned priest or a "Kloarek" (clerk, former seminarist). [4] Apparently the 19th century Bretons still believed in immanent principles, such as the need to pay one's debts, that God himself could not "bypass". For instance the personification of death, the “Ankou” is showed in some plays and tales boasting that God Himself was subjected to his law (Christ on the cross). |