© David Watts
Edmonton 7/04/2003
Sir William Phipps of Boston sailed up upon Quebec
A privateer with men of war, munitions on the deck
“Yield up your fort and live,” he wrote, “I have it in my sights
I offer you an hour to surrender or to fight.
I offer you an hour, I offer you an hour
I offer you an hour to surrender or to fight.
Louis, Comte de Frontenac, refused to write a word
In answer to the arrogance before him read and heard
“I’ll not keep your master waiting to wonder what or why—
By the mouths of my cannons shall be my reply!”
By the mouths of my cannons, by the mouths of my cannons
By the mouths of my cannons shall be my reply
Phipps went back to Boston, returned to stem the flow
Of women cursed by Salem, waiting on death row:
Refused to sign the warrants—“No more” he said “will die
Their Majesties’ pardon shall be my reply.”
Their Majesties’ pardon, Their Majesties‘ pardon
Their Majesties’ pardon shall be my reply.
Louis, Comte de Frontenac, sailed southward for a meet
With Iroquois chieftains spoiling for a French defeat
His engineers put up a fort, provisioned in a day
He then sat down to parley, and held the foe at bay.
He then sat down to parley; he then sat down to partly
He then sat down to parley, and held the foe at bay.
William Phipps and Frontenac two men of another time
But bravado and clemency still reach across the line
When the eagle unleashed, in his talons holds on high
The arrows and the olive branch, to which shall we reply?
By the mouths, of my cannons, Their Majesties’ pardon
The arrows or the olive branch, by which shall we reply?
WILLIAM PHIPPS & FRONTENAC © David Watts
Edmonton 7/04/2003
(traduction en progrès)
Sir William Phipps le bostonnais, ses talons et so bec
Ses metelôts et munitions tous visés à Québec
“Cédez le fort´écriva-t-il,” “je l’ai au point de mir
Le merci ou la mort, j’offre une heure pour chosir …
Le merci ou la mort, le merci ou la mort
Le merci ou la mort, j’offre une heure pour chosir.”
Louis, Comte de Frontenac, refused to write a word
In answer to the arrogance before him read and heard
“Dis ceci à ton mmaître: je ne le tiendrai en suspense—
Par les bouches de mes cannons, ce sera ma défense!
Par les bouches de mes cannons, par les bouches de mes cannons
Par les bouches de mes cannons, ce sera ma défanse!”
Phipps went back to Boston, returned to stem the flow
Of women cursed by Salem, waiting on death row:
Refused to sign the warrants—“No more” he said “will die
Their Majesties’ pardon shall be my reply.”
Their Majesties’ pardon, Their Majesties‘ pardon
Their Majesties’ pardon shall be my reply.
Louis, Comte de Frontenac, sailed southward for a meet
With Iroquois chieftains spoiling for a French defeat
His engineers put up a fort, provisioned in a day
Puis il s’assit pour parler, and held the foe at bay.
Puis il s’assit pour parler; puis I’ s’assit pour parler
Puis il s’assit pour parler and held the foe at bay.
William Phipps et Frontenac deux hommes d’autrefois
Mais bravade and clemence toujours se mêlent dans la voie
Quand l’aigle déclenchie, en ses talons veut confondre
Les flèches ou la branche d’olive, à laquelle va nous répondre?
Par les bouches de mes cannons, la clémence royale
Les flèches ou la branche d’olive, à laquelle va nous répondre?