William Phipps & Frontenac

 © 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?