Now have you heard a truthful lay,

How with rich priests the bishops play;

And Rutebœuf the moral draws

That, spite of kings’ and bishops’ laws,

No evil times has he to dread

Who still has silver at his need.

Rutebœuf.

A BALLADE OF OLD-TIME LADIES

(Translated by John Payne.)

TELL me, where, in what land of shade,