Alas
Alas
English Sonnet XXIII Alas! What avails me that so perfectly You once praised my golden tress, And the beauty of my eyes compared To two Suns, from which Love, skillfully, Drew the darts that caused his torment? Where are you now, tears of little span? And death, through whom should have been honored Your steadfast love and oft-repeated vow? So then, was it the goal of your malice To enslave me under the guise of service? Forgive me, Friend, this one time, Being overcome with both spite and anger; Yet I am sure, wherever you may be, That as much as I, you suffer martyrdom. | Fon Han kpɛvi XXIII Ée! Etɛ ka nyí lè nú mì bɔ un bló mɔ̌ mlɛ́mlɛ́ È kpa susu nú ɖa ce e è sɔ́ siká dó bló é hwe ɖokpó ɔ́, Bɔ ɖɛkpɛ nukún ce lɛ́ɛ tɔn jlɛ́ dó Hwe we lɛ nu, bɔ Wanyiyi nɔ gosin ye mɛ Dɔn nǔ e zɔ́n bɔ é jiya lɛ é à? Fítɛ́ a ɖe, ɖasin e nɔ wá yi é? Bɔ fítɛ́ mɛkúkú e jí wanyiyi towe maɖóblɔ̌ ɔ́ kpódó akpá e A dó azɔn mɔkpan é kpó ɖó ná ɖe sísí ná ɔ́ ka ɖe? Enɛ wu ɔ, linlin nyanya towe wɛ nyí ɖɔ a Ni sɔ́ mì dó kannumɔgbenu ɖò sinsɛnzɔ́ sín awu mɛ à? Sɔ́ hwɛ kɛ mì, Xɔ́ntɔn ce, hwe elɔ nu ɔ, Xomɛgle kpo xomɛsin kpo nɔ gɔ́ ayi mɛ nú mɛ; Amɔ̌, un nɔ na jiɖe nyiɖée ɖɔ, fí ɖebǔ e a na nɔ é ɔ, A na jiya ɖó kúɖiɖi tɔn wu lee un nɔ jiya gbɔn é. | French 1Sonnet II Las! Que me sert que si parfaitement Loua jadis ma tresse dorée, Et de mes yeux la beauté comparée A deux Soleils, dont Amour finement Tira les traits causes de son tourment? Où êtes-vous, pleurs de peu de durée? Et mort par qui devait être honorée Ta ferme amour et itéré serment? Doncques c’était le but de ta malice De m’asservir sous ombre de service ? Pardonne-moi, Ami, à cette fois, Étant outrée et de dépit et d’ire; Mais je m’assur’, quelque part que tu sois, Qu’autant que moi tu souffres de martyre. | Yoruba Orin Kekere XXIII Eh! Kini anfaani pe ni pipe bẹẹ O ti fi igba kan ri yin irun wura mi, Ati pe ẹwa oju mi sa fi we Si Orun meji, nibi Ife ni oye Fa ọfa rẹ ti o mu ipọnju rẹ wa? Ibo ni ẹyin wa, ẹyin omije, igba kuru? Ati iku nipasẹ ẹni ti a ba ti bọla fun Iduro sinsin ifẹ ati ẹjẹ rẹ ti o n fi igba gbogbo jẹ? Nitorina, eyi ni ilepa ikun sinu rẹ, Lati jẹ ki n ṣẹru labẹ ojiji iṣẹ rẹ? Dariji mi, Ore, fun igba kan yi, A bori mi pẹlu ikerora ati ibinu; Sibẹ odamiloju, ibikibi ti o wu ko wa, Pe bi emi pẹlu, iwọ naa n jẹ irora ijakadi. |
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By Louise Labé
David Achodo 