Le quadrilogue invectif by Jean Chartier
Le quadrilogue invectif on the desolation of France in 1422:
Source:
Original French
Environ l'aube du jour, lors que la première clarté du soleil et nature contente du repos de la nuit nous rappellent aux mondains labours, n'a gaires me trouvay soudainement esveillié et, ainsi que a l'entendement | après repos se presente ce que l'en a plus a cuer, me vint en ymaginacion la douloureuse fortune et le piteux estât de la haulte seigneurie et glorieuse maison de France, qui entre destruction et ressource chancelle douloureusement soubz la main de Dieu, ainsi que la divine puissance l'a souffert. Et comme je Recueillisse en ma souvenance la puissance et diligence des ennemis, la dcsloiaulté de plusieurs subgiez et la perte des princes et chevallerie, dont Dieu, par maleureuse bataille, a laissié ce royaume desgarny, qui me fait durement ressongnier l'issue de ceste infortune, je contrepensoye et pensoye a l'encontre la grandeur et distance des parties de ce dit royaunîe dont les ennemis ne suftiroient garder le quart, le merveilleux nombre des nobles et gens deffensables qui trouver s'i poun'oient, les haultes richesses qui encores y abondent en pluseurs lieux, les subtilz engins, prudetjce etindustrie de gens de divers estaz qui y ont naissance, estât et vie. Après lesquelz partis ainsi debatuz a part moy, sembloit que faulte de donner et recevoir ordre, discipline et règle a mettre en oeuvre le povoir que Dieu nous a laissié, est cause de la longue durée de nostre persecucion. Si est a doubter que la verge de punicion divine soit sur nous pour noz pechiez, et que l'oscurté de noz vies el corrumpues meurs aveugle en nous le jugement de raison et noz parciaulx désirs refroident l'aftection publique, ainsi demourons nous en la descongnoisssance de nostre fortune advenir et a noz ennemis, par pusillanimité et failly couraige, donnons sur nous victoire plus que leur proesce ne leur en acquiert.
English
translation by ChatGPT
Around the break of day, when the first light of the sun and nature, content with the rest of the night, call us back to worldly labors, I found myself suddenly awakened; and just as, after rest, there presents itself to the understanding that which one holds most at heart, there came to my imagination the sorrowful fortune and pitiable condition of the high lordship and glorious house of France, which, between destruction and recovery, wavers grievously beneath the hand of God, as divine power has permitted it.
And as I gathered into my memory the power and diligence of the enemies, the disloyalty of many subjects, and the loss of princes and chivalry—by which God, through a disastrous battle, has left this realm stripped bare—which made me painfully ponder the outcome of this misfortune, I set myself to consider, and to think in opposition, the greatness and extent of the parts of this said kingdom, of which the enemies would not suffice to guard even a quarter; the wondrous number of nobles and men fit for defense that might be found there; the great riches which still abound there in many places; and the subtle devices, prudence, and industry of people of diverse estates who have their birth, condition, and life therein.
After these considerations thus debated privately within myself, it seemed that the failure to give and to receive order, discipline, and rule, so as to put into action the power which God has left to us, is the cause of the long duration of our persecution. Thus it is to be feared that the rod of divine punishment is upon us for our sins, and that the darkness of our lives and corrupted morals blinds within us the judgment of reason, and that our partial desires chill public concern; and thus we remain in ignorance of our future fortune, and to our enemies, through pusillanimity and failed courage, we grant victory over us more than their prowess could ever obtain for them.