Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.
The Marquis de Carabas
By Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780–1857)Y
A conquered race, he thinks, are we.
His steed has brought him home,
Once more amongst us has he come.
To his old château
Only see him go:
How the noble lord
Wears his bloodless sword!
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
Castellans, villeins, great and small;
Through me, through me alone,
The king was set upon his throne.
If he should neglect,
All the deep respect
Which I claim, to pay,
Then the deuce I ’ll play.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
My name, they of a miller prate;
My lineage I trace
To one of Little Pepin’s race;
By my arms I know
There is none can show
Such a pedigree,
Not his Majesty.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
My lady has the tabouret,
My younger son is sure
At court a mitre to procure;
Then my noble heir,
Who a cross would wear,
Three at least shall have,
Though not over brave.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
Let none a hint of taxes give;
A gentleman, we know,
Can nothing to his country owe.
Snug in my castle, I
Shall all the world defy;
The prefect soon will find
That I can speak my mind.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
And so in equity we ought
Your tithes with you to share;
The burden let the people bear.
To us belongs the chace.
The vile plebeian race
For nothing else is fit,
But simply to submit.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!
To me with incense homage pay;
Ye lackeys do your best,
And see the rabble’s jackets dressed.
My great forefathers gave
The privilege I have,
And e’en my latest heirs
Shall boast that it is theirs.”
Chapeau bas! chapeau bas!
Hail to the Marquis of Carabas!