Poem (mock testament) · 1878

The Lesser Testament

Le Lais, translated by John Payne

by François Villon

Translated by John Payne (1878; Mosher edition, 1909)

Written at Christmas 1456, as Villon prepared to leave Paris, this is a comic will in which he bequeaths his imaginary property, and his scorn, to friends, enemies and officials of the city.

Contents · 5 parts

• Stanzas I–VIII64 lines
• Stanzas IX–XVI64 lines
• Stanzas XVII–XXIV64 lines
• Stanzas XXV–XXXII64 lines
• Stanzas XXXIII–XL64 lines

Read this work with the Codex →