Penelope

While the chimpanzees, the Penelopes of the forest are faithful to their nature, there has been a Poet-Chansonnier, who in a song questioned , in a mild way, the thruthfulness of the Penelopes of mankind.
George Brassens ,spiritual heir to the Poètes Maudites dedicated a chanson to all Penelopes .

Georges Brassens

crude translation:

Pénélope ................ (Toi l' épouse modèle...)

You, exemplary spouse, sweet cricket by the hearth
You , with no tear or crease in your wedding gown
You, irreproachable Pénélope,
While you follow your good husband of happiness,
Did you never cradle, all in honor and virtue,
Some little suspect pretty thoughts?
Some little suspect pretty thoughts?

For three couplets the poet muses about the faithful wife's little doubts , to conclude in the last couplet:

Have no fear that heaven won't pardon you,
There's really not much here to punish your heart
for taking that little sideway 's flight.
It's a common forgivable little sin,
The hidden side of honeymoon's face,
And the ransom to be payed by Pénélope,
And the ransom to be payed by Pénélope.

(not in for making a long thread, but to sympathize with the chimpanzees )


Last edited by BranShea; 05/19/07 08:16 AM.