This is another of Ronsard’s poems to be recited by two singers, alternately; or rather, as he specifies, two ‘players of the lyre’.
I Le Soleil et nostre Roy Sont semblables de puissance, L’un gouverne dessous soy Le Ciel et l’autre la France. II L’un du Ciel tient le milieu, Des Astres clairté premiere ; Et l’autre comme un grand Dieu Aux terres donne lumiere. I L’un n’est jamais offensé D’orages ny de tempeste : L’obscur est tousjours percé Des beaux rayons de sa teste. II L’autre a tousjours combatu Les guerres et les envies Et fait sentir sa vertu Aux puissances ennemies. I L’un est autheur de la paix Chassant le discord du monde, Illustrant de ses beaux rais La terre, le ciel et l’onde. II Et l’autre ayant du discord La puissance rencontrée, A mis les guerres à mort, Et la paix en sa contrée. I Tout Astre prend du Soleil Sa lumiere tant soit haute : Car c’est l’Astre nompareil Liberal sans avoir faute. II Du Roy vient force et vigueur Honneur et grandeur royale, Et tout homme de bon cœur Cognoist sa main liberale. I Le Soleil est couronné De feux qu’en terre il nous darde : Et tout Astre bien tourné Nostre bon Prince regarde II De nostre Roy la grandeur Pareil au Soleil ressemble, Qui jette plus de splendeur Que les estoiles ensemble. I Bref le Soleil esclairant Par tout, qui point ne repose, De Charles n’est differant Seulement que d’une chose. II C’est que le Soleil mourra Apres quelque temps d’espace, Et Charles au Ciel ira Du Soleil prendre la place. | The Sun and our King Are similar in power, The one governs beneath himself The Heavens, and the other France. The one has the midst of heaven, The brightest of the stars, And the other like a great god Gives light to the earth. The one is never struck By storms or tempests, The darkness is always pierced By the fair rays of his head; The other has always fought War and Envy And made his virtue known To hostile powers. The one is author of peace, Chasing discord from the world, Brightening with his fair rays Earth, heaven and sea; And the other, having encountered The power of discord, Has put wars to death And peace in his country. Every star takes from the Sun His light, however bright it is, For he is the unequalled Star, Liberal without fault; From the King comes force and strength, Honour and royal grandeur, And every man with a good heart Knows his liberal hand. The Sun is crowned With fires which he darts at us on earth, And every finely-turned Star Watches our good Prince; The greatness of our King Seems equal to the Sun Who casts more splendour Than the stars together In short, the Sun shining its light Everywhere, and never resting, Is no different from Charles Except only in one thing: Which is, that the Sun will die After some time of space, And Charles will go to Heaven To take the Sun’s place. |