Maxims, Songs & Poems: Miscellaneous Notes in Renaissance Books

Translation of the songs:

The canons, old drunkards,
as much as their prelates
know how to keep their faces
among the jars and the platters.
Their big red noses
show that by this behaviour
in order to light up the church
they got enlightened.
The pope inside his robe -
were there any more godly place?
gladly suffers the one who burps
the exhalations of the wine
with great gusto,
in honour of his old men.
The wine that we drink in Rome
is better than this one.

I want to become a hermit
next to a cooking pot
Verily, I do like some good time
Poor and melancholic,
I think about the cask
more fervently than death
When I turn the spit
always I hang
some little lardon,
When I leave my belly
without giving it pittance
I ask for forgiveness

Author: Philippe de Commynes
Title: The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton [Translation of his Mémoires] (London, 1596)
Shelfmark: B.4.6 (catalogue record)

16th centuryB.4.6FrenchPhilippe de Commynesannotationsendpaperspoemsongs