Translation of the song Franciscae meae laudes artist Charles Baudelaire
Franciscae meae laudes
Praises of My Francisca
Novis te cantabo chordis,
Upon new chords of you I sing.
O novelletum quod ludis
And the new-born bud you bring
In solitudine cordis.
From solitude, the pure heart's Spring.
Esto sertis implicata,
Your brows should be with garlands twined
O femina delicata,
Woman of delightful mind,
Per quam solvuntur peccata!
Who our trespasses unbind.
Sicut beneficum Lethe,
As the wondrous balm of Lethe,
Hauriam oscula de te,
Through thy kisses, I will breathe thee.
Quae imbuta es magnete.
All are magnetised who see thee.
Quum vitiorum tempestas
When my vices, wild and stormy,
Turbabat omnes semitas,
From my wonted courses bore me
Apparuisti, Deitas,
It was You appeared before me,
Velut stella salutaris
Star of Oceans! you that alter
In naufragiis amaris …
Courses, when the pilots falter —
Suspendam cor tuis aris!
Take my heart upon your altar.
Piscina plena virtutis,
Cistern full of virtuous ruth,
Fons æternæ juventutis,
Fountain of eternal youth,
Labris vocem redde mutis!
Give to dumbness speech and truth!
Quod erat spurcum, cremasti;
What was dirty, you cremated,
Quod rudius, exaequasti;
What uneven — you equated,
Quod debile, confirmasti.
What was weak you re-created.
In fame mea taberna,
Inn, on the hungry roads I tramp,
In nocte mea lucerna,
And, in the dark, a guiding lamp
Recte me semper guberna.
To steer the lost one back to camp.
Adde nunc vires viribus,
To my strength add strength, O sweet
Dulce balneum suavibus
Bath, where scents and unguents meet!
Unguentatum odoribus!
Anoint me for some peerless feat!
Meos circa lumbos mica,
Holy water most seraphic,
O castitatis lorica,
On the lusts in which I traffic
Aqua tincta seraphica;
Flash your chastity ecstatic.
Patera gemmis corusca,
Bowl of gems where radiance dances.
Panis salsus, mollis esca,
Salt that the holy bread enhances,
Divinum vinum, Francisca!
And sacred wine — your name is Frances!