[This is a new translation by a novice, any corrections welcome. Glossaries of Medieval French works by Pope and Lodge, and Paget Toynbee, along with Randall Cotgrave’s 16th Century Dictionary were used — thankfully put online by Greg Lindahl. Occasionally, modern French-English dictionaries were needed for words not appearing in the period dictionaries.

See the word by word definitions via tool-tip boxes and the specific glossary on, French text only for the text of this page of the book. For every word, in every form defined for the whole book, as well as the bibliography with full citations, see the final Glossary. — S. R.]






From the Chronicle of Du Guesclin, Collated upon the original Edition of the 15th Century and all the Manuscripts, with a Bibliographic Notice and from Notes, by M. Fr. Michel: Paris, Office of the Choice Library; 1830, pp. 29-32.




&





Du Chronique de Du Guesclin, Collationnée sur L’Edition originale du XVe Siècle, et sur tous les Manuscrits, avec une Notice Bibliographique et des Notes, par M. Fr. Michel: Paris, Bureau de La Bibliothèque Choisie; 1830, pp. 29-32.






29
Preface




In my mind often I may take delight in hearing books and counting the feats of the ancients through which, under the grace of Our Lord from whom all good deeds come, comprehension from Reasoning is given to each human.








29

Préface


En ma pensée souvent me delectoye en ouyr livres(1) et compter les faiz des anciens par lesquelz, soubz la grace de nostre Seigneur, duquel tous biens viennent, cognoissance de raison est donnée a tout humain.

And before any thing else by the deeds of chivalry and of the clergy which are the means and right guards of justice, although this may not be the point of such that ought to be dear to me.

Et devant toute rien au fait de chevalerie et de clergie qui de justice sont voyes et droictes gardes, jaçoit ce que ne soye point telle que en mon doyve estre chiere.

For the clerks and the knights in my youth I have wished willingly to associate with, and often, too, in the heart of me they formed character there.

Mais les clers et les chevaliers in ma jeunesse ay voulut hanter voulentiers, et souvent et le cueur de mon forment y trait.

And now for my 30 delight1 in order that by this means to forget worldly adversity amid a number of which the heart is distracted, I have taken some remedy from the comfort in order to elevate my thoughts, and I have put myself to treat and recount by means of the histories the deeds of Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the knight who by his doctrine2 and by his valor surpassed in prowess all other knights in his lifetime: and of him and of his valor went so much renown that the king Charles of France, who so much loved judgment and chivalry, retained him as the constable of his realm.

Et depuis pour mon 30 delit1 comme celluy qui par entroublier l’adversité mondaine par laquelle maint cueur est desvoyé, ay prins aulcun remède de confort pour ma pensée eslever, et me suis mis a traictier et racompter par histories les faiz de messire Bertrand du Guesclin, chevalier qui par sa doctrine2 et par sa vaillance surmonta en prouesse tous aultres chevaliers, en son vivant : et de luy et de sa vaillance ala tant la renommé que le roy Charles de France qui justice et chevalerie tant aimoit le retint connestable de son royaulme.

This man King Charles was a man of great worth and of a saintly life in his living, since 31 together with this afterwards he was held to be the most worthy man of his realm, he reigned by means of his judgement in such manner and power that well could one have said of him that which our Lord said in the mouth of Jeremiah his blessed prophet who, in the book of Lamentations, said:

Cestuy roy Charles feut preudhomme et de saincte vie en son vivant, car 31 avecques ce qu’il fut tenu le plus preudhomme de son royaulme, il regna par sa justice en telle maniere et puissance que bien povoit-on dire de luy ce que nostre Seigneur dit par la bouche de Jeremie son benoit prophete qui, au livre des Lamentations, dit: regnabit rex, sapiens erit et faciet judicium.

And certainly he governed himself well according to the words of king Charles: and well one will be able to know by this history which henceforth I will commence; but to all I humbly entreat that, if in some parts I speak falsely, since that often times reaches me, they would kindly supply and correct my faults.

Et certes bien se gouvernoit selon telles paroles le roy Charles : et bien devra chescun congnoistre par ceste hystoire laquelle doresnavant je veuil commencer ; mais a tous supplie humblement que, se en aulcuns lieux je fais ce que souventes fois me advient, ilz me veueillent mes faultes debonnairement suppleer et corriger.

32 [blank]





Footnotes




1  

1  Le mot roman n’ét

2  

2  












Ch. I











Copyright © by Susan Rhoads, Elfinspell 2008