Voltaire Translations

This is my modern English translation of a French poem by Voltaire, one of my all-time favorite writers. The poem is followed by two translations of epigrams by Voltaire. Les Vous et Les Tu (“You, then and now”) by Voltaire loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Phyllis, whatever became of those days We spent riding in your carriage, Lacking both lackeys and trappings, Accompanied only by your graceful charms And content with a humble supper Which you (of course) transformed into ambrosia ... Days when you abandoned yourself in your folly To the happily deceived lover Who so earnestly pledged you his life? Heaven had bequeathed you, then, In lieu of prestige and riches, The enchanting enticements of youth: A tender heart, an adventurous mind, An alabaster breast and exquisite eyes. Well, with so many luring allurements, Ah! what girl would have not been mischievous? And so you were, graceful creature. And thus (and may Love forgive me!) You know I desired you all the more. Ah, Madame! How your life, So filled with honors today, Differs from those lost enchantments! This hulking guardian with the powdered hair Who lies incessantly at your door, Phyllis, is the very avatar of Time: See how he dismisses the escorts Of tender Love and Laughter; Those orphans no longer dare show their faces Beneath your magnificent paneled ceilings. Alas! in happier days I saw them Enter your home through a glassless window To frolic in your hovel. No, Madame, all these carpets Spun at the Savonnerie And so elegantly loomed by the Persians; And all your golden jewelry; And all this expensive porcelain Germain engraved with his divine hand; And all these cabinets in which Martin Surpassed the art of China; And all your white vases, Such fragile Japanese wonders!; And the twin chandeliers of diamonds Dangling from your ears; And your costly chokers and necklaces; And all this spellbinding pomp; Are not worth a single kiss You blessed me with when you were young. These are my modern English translations of two epigrams by Voltaire. Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Love is a canvas created by nature and completed by imagination. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Voltaire, France, French, English translation, you, Phyllis, youth, young, crush, love, lost love, kiss, time