Marlbrough S'en Va-t-en Guerre - Literal Translation

Literal Translation

As Longfellow's English translation above is far from literal, a more literal and universified translation of the French is provided below. The recurring refrain "mironton, mironton, mirontaine" ("rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat-tat") is omitted.

1. Marlborough has left for the war / Nobody knows when he will come back.
2. He will come back at Easter / Or on Trinity Sunday.
3. Trinity Sunday goes by. / Marlborough does not return.
4. My lady climbs up her tower / As high as she can climb.
5. She sees her page coming / All clothed in black.
6. "Good page, my good page / What news do you bring?"
7. "At the news that I bring / Your pretty eyes will start crying!
8. "Take off your pink clothing / and your embroidered satins!
9. "My lord Marlborough is dead; / he is dead and buried.
10. "I have seen him borne to the grave / by four officers.
11. "One of them carried his breastplate / another his shield.
12. "Another carried his great sabre / and the last carried nothing.
13. "On his tomb was planted / a beautiful flowering rosebush.
14. "When the ceremony was over / Everyone went to bed."