Ezra Pound

Aus meinen grossen Schmerzen
Mach’ ich die kleinen Lieder.

THE GOOD Bellaires

Do not understand the conduct of this world’s affairs.

In fact they understood them so badly

That they have had to cross the channel.

Nine lawyers, four counsels, five judges and three proctors of the King,

Together with the respective wives, husbands, sisters and heterogeneous connections of the good Bellaires,

Met to discuss their affairs;

But the good Bellaires have so little understood their affairs

That now there is no one at all

Who can understand any affair of theirs. Yet

Fourteen hunters still eat in the stables of

The good Squire Bellaire;

But these may not suffer attainder,

For they may not belong to the good Squire Bellaire

But to his wife.

On the contrary, if they do not belong to his wife,

He will plead

A “freedom from attainder”

For twelve horses and also for twelve boarhounds

From Charles the Fourth;

And a further freedom for the remainder

Of horses, from Henry the Fourth.

But the judges,

Being free of mediaeval scholarship,

Will pay no attention to this,

And there will be only the more confusion,

Replevin, estoppel, espavin and what not.

Nine lawyers, four counsels, etc.,

Met to discuss their affairs,

But the sole result was bills

From lawyers to whom no one was indebted,

And even the lawyers

Were uncertain who was supposed to be indebted to them.

Wherefore the good Squire Bellaire

Resides now at Agde and Biaucaire.

To Carcassonne, Pui, and Alais

He fareth from day to day,

Or takes the sea air

Between Marseilles

And Beziers.

And for all this I have considerable regret,

For the good Bellaires

Are very charming people.