The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169209   Message #4226738
Posted By: Monique
04-Aug-25 - 02:06 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Mudcat singaround songs NOT in English
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mudcat singaround songs NOT in English

LA MARQUISE EMPOISONNÉE

Quand le roi entra dans la cour
Pour saluer ces dames
La première qu'il salua,
Lui a ravi son âme.

Le roi demanda au marquis :
"À qui est cette dame ?"
Le marquis lui a répondu :
"Sire Roi, c'est ma femme."

-Marquis, t'es plus heureux qu'un roi,
D'avoir femme si belle.
Si tu voulais, j'aurais l'honneur
De coucher avec elle."

-Sire, vous avez tout pouvoir,
Tout pouvoir et puissance :
Mais si vous n'étiez pas le roi,
J'en aurais ma vengeance !

-Marquis, ne te fâche donc pas,
T'auras ta récompense :
Je te ferai dans mes armées
Beau maréchal de France !

-Adieu m'amie, adieu mon cœur,
Adieu mon espérance !
Puisqu'il te faut servir le Roi,
Séparons-nous d'ensemble."

Le roi l'a prise par la main,
L'a menée en sa chambre ;
La belle, en montant les degrés,
A voulu se défendre.

"Marquise ne pleurez pas tant !
Je vous ferai princesse,
De tout mon or et mon argent,
Vous serez la maîtresse."

Gardez votre or et votre argent !
N'appartient qu'à la reine
J'aimerais mieux mon doux marquis
Que toutes vos richesses.

La reine lui fit un bouquet
De toutes fleurs jolies,
Et la senteur de ce bouquet
Fit mourir la marquise.

Le roi lui fit faire un tombeau,
Tout en fer de Venise ;
Sur sa tombe mit un écrit :
"Adieu, belle Marquise !"
THE POISONED MARCHIONESS

When the king entered the courtyard
To greet these ladies
The first one he greeted
Stole his soul.

The king asked the marquis:
"Whose lady is this?"
The marquis replied:
"Sire King, she is my wife."

"Marquis, you are happier than a king
To have such a beautiful wife."
If you wished, I would have the honor
of sleeping with her."

-Sire, you have all power,
All power and might:
But if you were not the king,
I would have my revenge!

-Marquis, do not be angry,
You will have your reward:
I will make you in my armies
A fine marshal of France!

-Farewell, my love, farewell my heart,
Farewell my hope!
Since you must serve the king,
Let us part from each other."

The king took her by the hand,
He lead her to his bedroom;
The beauty, climbing the stairs,
Wanted to defend herself.

"Marchioness, don't cry so much!
I'll make you a princess,
Of all my gold and silver
You will be the mistress."

Keep your gold and silver!
It belongs only to the queen
I would prefer my sweet marquis
Than all your riches.

The queen had a bouquet made for her,
Of all the most beautiful flowers,
And the scent of this bouquet
Caused the marchioness to die.

The king had a tomb made for her,
All in Venetian iron;
On her tomb he put a writing:
"Farewell, beautiful marchioness!"
"Le roi a fait battre tambour" is a French folk song thought to have been composed in the early 17th century. This folk song was not recorded in writing until the 19th century, so "only conjectures can be made about it."
The historical event that probably inspired this song is the death of Gabrielle d'Estrées, who died on the morning of April 10, 1599, although she had been the favorite of King Henry IV since 1591. Her death seemed suspicious due to the proceedings initiated by the king to annul his marriage to Marguerite de Valois, who was targeted, as well as Marie de Medici, accused of having her poisoned….
The song has remained part of the French folk song repertoire, to the point that there are at least fifty-five versions of the tune. Its distribution reached all the provinces of France, as far away as Canada, but it was only recorded in writing by collectors in the 19th century.
Translated by Google Translate from French Wiki -Score and midi included

Recording by Anne Sylvestre in "Anthologie de la chanson française". (Slightly different and shorter version)
Recording by Édith Piaf
Le roi a fait battre tambour YouTube page

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