Les Regrets/17

XVI. 'Who’ll search out Odysseus’ root for me? '

Les Regrets ~ XVII written by Joachim Du Bellay translated by A. S. Kline

XVIII. 'What shall we say, Melin, of this court'

Les Regrets - XVII. ‘En mille crespillons les cheveux se friser’.

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XVII

"The hair frizzed, a thousand curls in place"
 
The hair frizzed, a thousand curls in place,
Plucked eyebrows, choice scents above, below,
Perfume her tainted flesh from top to toe,
With white and crimson hiding her whole face:
 
To go masked at night, masked speech embrace,
Feign to be seized by love at every throw,
Hiss all night through from jealousy so,
And taken by one man, show another grace:
 
To dance, to sing, to play, to romp in bed,
Two tongues in the mouth, it’s often said,
Here the courtesans are common game.
 
But what need have I to teach you this?
If you want to know such, Gordes, and wish
To know still more, then ask La Chassaigne.

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