The ballade of the hanged men

La ballade des pendus ( François villon)

 A translation in middle English .

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Human brethren liven while we ben no more.

Ne hardeneth your herte agaynste us .

For it ye shal mercy  on us.

God  shal erlier shewe mercy on thee

Ye see us bound here by five or sixe.

As for the flesshe we have ful wel  fedd.

It is now ete and roted .

And we ben but bones 

turnynge to aishe and duste .

Let no man mock our mishap .

 bu praye God wold us alle absolve !

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So brethren we plight ye not  to dispise us 

Albeit by right we werren slain .

Ye knowen wel that all men be of gode

and halesome wit .

 Forgive us, for we ben in drede .

That the grace of the sone of the mayden Marie

who might us ,

spare us fram the thundrous fires of hell !

We ben did ,so none should us rebuke.

 but praye God wold us alle absoile !

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 The reyne hath dreint and wasshen us .

 The sun hath dried and blanched us ;

Pyes and crows have pecked at oure eyen .

And take off oure berd and browses .

 Ne ben we nevere sette ; 

hider and thider , as the wynd doth 

turne and sway .

At its wille ,it swingeth us in stouthen cease .

More pokked marked than thymbils .

So prythee ,join nat oure brotherherde .

 But praye God wold alle us absoile !

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Prince Jesus that ruleth over us alle ! 

Shielde us fram the Lordschipe of helle.

Ne have ne bysinesse nor dette with him .

Men, this not game for laughter ;

 But praye God wold alle us absoile !