Victor     (texte de Wystan Hugh Auden, traduction par Cochonfucius)

Victor was a little baby, Into this world he came; His father took him on his knee and said: 'Don't dishonour the family name.'		Bébé Victor naquit, se trouva parmi nous, Un jour son paternel le prit sur ses genoux En lui disant, aussi sérieux qu'on puisse l'être, 'Tu ne saliras pas le nom de tes ancêtres'.
Victor looked up at his father Looked up with big round eyes: His father said; 'Victor, my only son, Don't you ever ever tell lies.'		Victor, levant les yeux vers son auguste père, Les a ouverts tout grands, en muette prière, Le père poursuivit : 'Victor, toi, mon seul fils, Je voudrais que jamais, jamais tu ne mentisses.
Victor and his father went riding Out in a little dog-cart; His father took a Bible from his pocket and read: 'Blessed are the pure in heart.'		Victor, en voiture légère, Ecoute la voix de son père Disant ces mots de l'Ecriture : 'Heureux ceux qui ont le coeur pur'.
It was a frosty December, It wasn't the season for fruits; His father fell dead of heart disease While lacing up his boots.		En décembre et dans la froidure Que n'est aucune chose mûre, Le coeur du père eut un arrêt Quand il attachait ses lacets.
It was a frosty December When into the grave he sank; His uncle found Victor a post as cashier In the Midland Counties Bank.		En décembre, en un froid polaire, On l'a conduit au cimetière ; Un oncle alors a gratifié Victor d'un emploi de caissier.
It was a frosty December Victor was only eighteen, But his figures were neat and his margins straight And his cuffs were always clean.		En décembre où gèle la plaine, Il avait dix-huit ans à peine, Mais il écrivait proprement Et soignait bien ses vêtements.
He took a room at the Peveril, A respectable boarding-house; And Time watched Victor day after day As a cat will with a mouse.		Il prit un logis confortable Dans un endroit bien respectable ; Mais le Temps mit un oeil sur lui Comme un chat sur une souris.
The clerks slapped Victor on the shoulder; "Have you ever had a woman?" they said, "Come down town with us on Saturday night". Victor smiled and shook his head.		Ses collègues, de joyeux drilles, Ont voulu le mener aux filles, Samedi soir, pour s'amuser; Il a poliment refusé.
The manager sat in his office, Smoked a Corona cigar; Said: "Victor's a decent fellow but He's too mousey to go far".		Le directeur dans son bureau Fumait un cigare, et un gros. "Victor, dit-il, il est bien brave Mais sa timidité l'entrave".
Victor went up to his bedroom, Set the alarm bell; Climbed into his bed, took his Bible and read Of what happened to Jezebel.		Victor dans sa chambre est monté, Son réveil il a remonté, Au lit a relu dans sa Bible De Jézabel la fin horrible.
It was the First of April, Anna to the Peveril came; Her eyes, her lips, her breasts, her hips And her smile set men aflame.		Ce fut d'avril le premier jour, Survint Anne, son bel amour, Et tous les gars du voisinage Ont pris feu pour ce beau visage.
It was the Second of April, She was wearing a coat of fur; Victor met her upon the stairs And he fell in love with her.		Le deux avril, d'une fourrure La belle avait fait sa parure. Victor en montant l'escalier D'amour fut pieds et poings lié.
The first time he made his proposal, She laughed, said: "I'll never wed": The second time there was a pause; Then she smiled and shook her head.		D'abord quand il fit ses avances, Elle les crut sans importance. Et puis il a persévéré, Elle a souri d'un air gêné.
Anna looked into her mirror, Pouted and gave a frown; Said: "Victor's as dull as a wet afternoon But I've got the settle down."		Anne se voyant dans la glace Se dit avec une grimace : "Barbant comme pluie, ce Victor, Mais je me résigne à mon sort".
The third time he made his proposal, As they walked by the Reservoir, She gave him a kiss like a blow on the head, Said, "You are my heart's desire."		Quand ensemble ils se promenèrent, Il fit sa demande dernière, Elle l'assomma d'un baiser Disant "Oui, tu dois m'épouser".
They were married early in August, She said: "Kiss me, you funny boy"; Victor took her in his arms and said: "O my Helen of Troy."		Début août ce fut leur union, Elle a dit "Bisou, mon mignon" ; Dans ses bras il a pris sa reine Et la nomme Hélène troyenne.
It was the middle of September, Victor came to the office one day; He was wearing a flower in his buttonhole, He was late but he was gay.		Vers la mi-septembre suivante, Au travail Victor se présente A sa boutonnière une fleur, En retard, mais de bonne humeur.
The clerks were talking of Anna, The door was just ajar: One said: "Poor old Victor, but where ignorance Is bliss, etcetera."		Sur sa femme il voit qu'on disserte Auprès de la porte entr'ouverte : "Ce vieux Victor est le dernier, Déclarent-ils, à s'en méfier".
Victor stood still as a statue, The door was just ajar; One said: "God, what fun I had with her In that Baby Austin car."		Victor, immobile, en alerte Auprès de la porte entr'ouverte Entend un gars dire comment En voiture être un bon amant.
Victor walked out into the High Street, He walked to the edge of the town; He came to the allotments and the rubbish heap; And his tears came tumbling down.		Victor suit la rue du village, Puis il se perd dans ses parages ; Parvient aux sinistres faubourgs, Pleurant à grands flots son amour.
Victor looked up at the sunset As he stood there all alone; Cried: "Are you in Heaven, Father?", But the sky said "Address not known."		Victor, faisant face au couchant, Tout esseulé, va demandant : "Mon père, êtes-vous dans la nue ?" Le ciel dit "Adresse inconnue".
Victor looked up at the mountain, The mountains all covered with snow; Cried: "Are you pleased with me, Father?" And the answer came back, "No".		Victor regarde les sommets Que la neige orne d'un plumet : "Père, ai-je agi à votre guise ?" "Aucunement", répond la bise.
Victor came to the forest, Cried: "Father, will she ever be true?" And the oaks and the beeches shook their heads And they answered: "Not to you."		Victor arrive dans les bois : "Père, reviendra-t-elle à moi ?" Hêtres et chênes, de leur front Ont tremblé pour lui dire "Non".
Victor came to the meadow Where the wind went sweeping by: Cried: "O Father, I lover her so," But the wind said: "She must die".		Victor arrive au pâturage Où le vent produit son ramage : "Père, mon amour fut si grand." "Elle mourra", lui dit le vent.
Victor came to the river Running so deep and so still: Crying: "O Father, what shall I do?" And the river answered: "Kill".		Victor arrive à la rivière A l'eau si profonde et si claire : "Père, ne sais ce que je dois." "Tue-la", lui dit le ruisseau froid.
Anna was sitting at table, Drawing cards from a pack; Anna was sitting at table, Waiting for her husband to come back.		Anne à une table est assise, D'un jeu les cartes elle a prises, Anne à une table se tient, "Mon mari est là qui revient".
It wasn't the Jack of Diamonds Nor the Joker she drew at first; It wasn't the King or the Queen of Hearts But the Ace of Spades reversed.		Point n'a pris Valet de carreau Ni l'Excuse de son tarot, Ni Roi fou ni Dame perverse, Mais l'As de pique à la renverse.
Victor stood in the doorway, He didn't utter a word: She said: "What's the matter, darling?" He behaved as if he hadn't heard.		Victor se tenait à la porte, Il n'a dit mot d'aucune sorte. "Qu'avez-vous donc, mon cher époux ?" Il n'a parlé ni peu ni prou.
There was a voice in his left ear, There was a voice in his right, There was a voice at the base of his skull Saying: "She must die tonight."		A sa gauche une voix l'exhorte, A sa droite une autre voix forte, La voix troisième en son cerveau Disant "Envoie-la au tombeau".
Victor picked up a carving-knife, His features were set and drawn, Said: "Anna, it would have been better for you If you had not been born."		Victor prend le couteau à viande, Ses traits se figent et se tendent, "Anne, il eût mieux valu pour vous Ne jamais venir parmi nous".
Anna jumped up from the table, Anna started to scream, But Victor came slowly after her, Like a horror in a dream.		Très vite elle a quitté la table En poussant un cri pitoyable, Mais lentement la suit Victor, Comme un cauchemar quand on dort.
She dodged behind the sofa, She tore down a curtain rod. But Victor came slowly after her, Said "Prepare to meet Thy God."		Derrière un divan se cachant, D'une tringle à rideau s'armant, Ne peut fuir Victor qui la cite Devant Dieu à être traduite.
She managed to wrench the door open, She ran and she didn't stop. But Victor followed her up the stairs And he caught her at the top.		La porte elle ouvre avec violence, En une course elle se lance, Victor montant les escaliers La rejoint au dernier palier.
He stood there above the body, He stood there holding the knife; And the blood ran down the stairs and sang: "I am the Resurrection and the Life."		Le couteau au-dessus du corps, Il entendait chanter bien fort Le sang : "Je suis, marches rougies, La résurrection et la vie".
They tapped Victor on the shoulder, They took him away in a van; He sat as quiet as a lump of moss Saying: "I am the Son of Man."		Sur l'épaule on lui mit la main, L'hôpital au bout du chemin, Lui, tranquille comme Baptiste, Dit "Je suis Fils de l'Homme et Christ".
Victor sat in a corner Making a woman of clay, Saying: "I am Alpha and Omega, I shall come To judge the earth one day."		Victor a pétri une femme En argile, et ensuite il clame : « Je suis l'Alpha et l'Oméga, Celui qui tous vous jugera ».