"He instinctively can find the shining greatness of our American culture and does a good job of highlighting it (although he also does have those rare lapses when he writes about hockey, but that is something caused by impurities in the Eastern waters or something)." Erik Keilholtz
Under the patronage of St. Tammany
Mark C. N. Sullivan is an editor at a Massachusetts university. He is married and the father of three children. Email
Couplet I Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!
Refrain Aux armes, citoyens, Formez vos batallions, Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons!
Couplet II Que veut cette horde d'esclaves De traîtres, de rois conjurés? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? (bis) Français, pour nous, ah! quel outrage Quels transports il doit exciter? C'est nous qu'on ose méditer De rendre à l'antique esclavage!
Refrain
Couplet III Quoi ces cohortes étrangères! Feraient la loi dans nos foyers! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fils guerriers! (bis) Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres des destinées.
Refrain
Couplet IV Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L'opprobre de tous les partis Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros La France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre
Refrain
Couplet V Français, en guerriers magnanimes Portez ou retenez vos coups! Épargnez ces tristes victimes A regret s'armant contre nous (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié Déchirent le sein de leur mère!
Refrain
Couplet VI Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents, Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Refrain
Couplet VII Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus, Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre!
Refrain
English translation:
Verse I Arise children of our fatherland, [For] the day of glory has arrived! Against us, tyranny, Has raised its bloody flag, Do you hear in the fields The howling of these fearsome soldiers? They are coming into your midst To slit the throats of your sons and wives!
Chorus To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! March, march! Let impure blood Soak the furrows [of our fields]
Verse II What does this horde of slaves want, Of traitors and conspiratorial kings? For whom these vile chains These long-prepared irons? Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage What methods must be taken? It is us they dare plan To return to the old slavery!
Chorus
Verse III What! These foreign cohorts! They would make laws in our courts! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would cut down our warrior sons Good Lord! By chained hands Our brow would yield under the yoke The vile despots would have themselves be The masters of destiny
Chorus
Verse IV Tremble, tyrants and traitors The shame of all good men Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will receive their just reward Against you we are all soldiers If they fall, our young heroes France will bear new ones Ready to join the fight against you
Chorus
Verse V Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors Bear or hold back your blows Spare these sad victims That they regret taking up arms against us But not these bloody despots These accomplices of Bouillé All these tigers who mercilessly Ripped out their mothers' wombs
Chorus
Verse VI Sacred patriotic love Lead [and] support our avenging arms Liberty, cherished liberty Fight [back] with your defenders Under our flags, let victory Hurry to your manly tone So that your enemies, in their last breath [before death] See your triumph and our glory!
Chorus
Verse VII We shall enter into the excavation When our elders will no longer be there There we shall find their ashes [lit. dust] And the mark of their virtues [We are] Much less jealous of surviving them Than of sharing their coffins [For] We shall have the sublime pride Of avenging or joining [lit. following] them
UPDATE: More on the bloody lyrics of "La Marseillaise," with a bit of Burke thrown in, from last year at Matthew Yglesias * The annual Bastille Day block party returns to Marlborough Street in Boston on Friday night * A reprise of last year's Lafayette Escadrille tribute
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