Of the Fair Breast

 

Of the Fair Breast

by Clement Marot (1496-1544)

Translated by Norman R. Shapiro

 

Breast, whiter than an egg, and quite

As smooth as satin, fresh and white;

Breast that would shame the rose; plump Breast,

Of all things known, the loveliest;

Firm Breast; indeed, not Breast at all;

Rather, a small, round ivory ball,

And in the middle, a cherry placed,

Or berry, and with such beauty graced

That, though I neither touch nor see

It bare, I vow such must it be.

Breast red-tipped; Breast taut, and that never

Waggles about, whithersoever,

Coming or going, running, leaping;

Left Breast—coy, sweet—your distance keeping,

Properly, from your mate, discreet.

Breast that reflects, from top to teat,

The body whole of your possessor!

Ah! Were I but her breast-caresser!

Many’s the man that, when he sees you,

Tingles with lust to hold and squeeze you;

But he must rein his appetite,

Never draw near lest soon he might

Burn with a fire quite otherwise!

 

O Breast of perfect shape and size,

Alluring Breast, who, night and day,

Cry: ‘‘Find me a husband, quick, I pray!’’

Breast swelling full and comely; Breast

Quick to add inches to her chest;

Ah! Right the man who says that he

Is blest who fills you generously

With milk, to turn you, ma petite,

From virgin’s Breast to Breast complete.

 

Epigrammes, I, lxxix

 

ma petite means my baby or my sweetheart

 

Clement Marot (1496-1544) is a French Poet considered by many to be a bridge between the medieval and renaissance periods. Renaissance poets drew from classical Greek and Latin traditions and attempted to innovate within those confines. 

 

Among Shapiro's translations of Marot's poetry are two contrasting poems, "Of the Fair Breast" and "Of the Ugly Breast." None of Marot's sharp satirical humor is lost in Shapiro's versions. I have posted below the first poem.

 

Shapiro, who has been a professor at Wesleyan for the past 40 years, has translated this poem effortlessly just as it flows from the pen.

 

 Painting by Titian Vecellio (1477-1576)

 

Source :, Norman Shapiro - Lyrics of the French Renaissance_ Marot, Du Bellay, Ronsard : Yale University Press (2002)