Que Suis-Je Hélas?

Setting of Mary Queen of Scots' final Sonnet, written at Fotheringhay Castle, on the eve of her execution, 8th February 1587. This piece is part of a collection of pieces: 'Sounding the PAges', inspired by the life of Mary Queen of Scots.

Image: Mary Queen OF SCOTS
by Braun & Co (Adolphe Braun) after François Clouet photograph of drawing (circa 1560)
NPG D21633
Reproduced by kind permission of the Rights and Images Department of the
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY 

Sonnet écrit au Chateau de Fotheringhay 

Que suis-je hélas? Et de quoi sert ma vie? 
Je ne suis fors qu'un corps privé de coeur, 
Une ombre vaine, un objet de malheur 
Qui n'a plus rien que de mourir en vie.
Plus ne me portez, O ennemis, d'envie 
A qui n'a plus l'esprit a la grandeur. 
J'ai consommé d'excessive douleur 
Votre ire en bref de voir assouvie. 
Et vous, amis, qui m'avez tenue chère, 
Souvenez-vous que sans coeur et sans santé 
Je ne saurais aucune bonne oeuvre faire,
Souhaitez donc fin de calamité 
Et que, ici-bas étant assez punie, 
J'aie ma part en la joie infinie.  

Sonnet written at Fotheringhay Castle

What am I alas? And what is my life for? 
I am only made of a body deprived of a heart, 
A vain shadow, an object of misfortune 
Who has nothing left but a living death. 
Do not carry for me anymore, O enemies, envy 
For one who no longer has the spirit of greatness.
I consumed excessive pain 
For your ire, in short, to see satisfied. 
And you my friends, who have held me so dear,
Remember that, without heart and without health 
I could not do any good work, 
Therefore wish an end to calamity 
And that, here below, being punished enough,
I have my share in the everlasting joy hereafter.  

Translation by Susie Vaughan


 

Listen to QUE SUIS-JE HÉLAS?

Que Suis-Je Hélas?

Susie Vaughan

Setting of Mary Queen of Scots' final Sonnet, written at Fotheringhay Castle, on the eve of her execution, 8th February 1587. This piece is part of a collection of pieces: 'Sounding the PAges', inspired by the life of Mary Queen of Scots.

Image: Mary Queen OF SCOTS by Braun & Co (Adolphe Braun) after François Clouet photograph of drawing

Setting of Mary Queen of Scots' final Sonnet, written at Fotheringhay Castle, on the eve of her execution, 8th February 1587. This piece is part of a collection of pieces: 'Sounding the PAges', inspired by the life of Mary Queen of Scots.

Image: Mary Queen OF SCOTS by Braun & Co (Adolphe Braun) after François Clouet photograph of drawing (circa 1560) NPG D21633
Reproduced by kind permission of the Rights and Images Department NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

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