The Song of Joan of Arc
By Christine de Pisan
Stanza 58
To avoid the killing and destruction
he delays as long as he possibly can.
For the spilling of blood grieves him
and is never his desire or plan.
But, alas, if some will not hand over
with good grace what is his right,
then he is perfectly justified
in using the full force of his might.
Original in French
Et qu'i[l] ne soit occision
Faite, retarde tant qu'il puet,
Ne sur char d'omme incision,
Car de sang espandre se deult.
Mais, au fort, qui rendre ne veult
Par bel et doulceur ce qu'est sien,
Se par force en effusion
De sang le recouvre, il fait bien.1
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1 French from original fifteenth century manuscript referenced as Berne 205 and contained in: Pisan, Christine de, Ditié de Jeanne d'Arc, ed. A. J. Kennedy and K. Varty, Oxford: Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature, 1977.
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