Ung advocat dist a sa femme
Sus mamye que iourons nous
Si ie gaigne ce dist la femme
vous le me ferez quatre coups
Quatre coups cest couche trop gros
comment seroit ieu sans pitie.
Non mon maistre tenez les tous
dist le clerc je suis de moytye.
French text
(modernized)
Un advocat dit à sa femme,
"Sus, m'amie que jouerons nous?"
"Si je gaigne ce", dit la dame,
"Vous le me ferez quatre coups".
"Quatre coups! c'est couché trop gros,
Comment serait jeu sans pitié".
"Non maître, tenez-le tout",
Dit le clerc, "je suis de moitié".
English translation
(Prose)
A lawyer says to his wife:
"Sukey, dear, what shall we play?"
"If I win it" says his wife
"you must bang me four times".
"Four times is too big a stake,
it will be a merciless game".
"No master, suck it all up" says the clerk,
"I'm on fifty per cent".
(trans. Timmi O'Danaos & Donna Ferrentes)
English translation
(Verse)
One day a lawyer said to his wife
“Say, dear, what bet shall we make today?”
“If I win,” said his gal with some life,
“Four times to me you’ll have to pay.”
“Four times!” said he, “There is no way,
How could I play such a merciless game?”
“No, no, master, go on and play”,
Said the clerk, “Take half – I’ll do the same.”
French text
English translation