Good King Dagobert
Has put his trousers on backwards;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Is badly dressed.
That's true, said the king,
I'll put them on the right way.

As he was putting them on
And he was a little exposed;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
You have skin
Blacker than a crow.
Bah, bah, said the king,
The queen's is even blacker than mine.

Good King Dagobert
Went to put on his beautiful green suit;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your adorned suit
Is torn at the elbow.
That's true, said the king,
Yours is good, lend it to me.

Of good King Dagobert
The stockings were eaten by worms;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your two junior stockings
Show your calves.
That's true, said the king,
Yours are new, give them to me.

Good King Dagobert
Didn't shave much in winter;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
You need soap
For your chin.
That's true, said the king,
Do you have two pennies? Lend them to me.

Of good King Dagobert
The wig was askew;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
The wig maker
Has styled you badly!
That's true, said the king,
I'll take your hair for myself.

Good King Dagobert
Wore a short coat in winter;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Is quite shortened.
That's true, said the king,
Make it longer by two fingers.

Of good King Dagobert
The hat was worn like a deer;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
The horn in the middle
Would suit you much better.
That's true, said the king,
I had taken you as a model.

The king was writing verses
But he was writing them crooked;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Leave the geese
To make songs.
Well, said the king,
You will make them for me.

Good King Dagobert
Hunted in the plain of Antwerp;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Is quite out of breath.
That's true, said the king,
A rabbit was running after me.

Good King Dagobert
Went hunting for the woodpecker;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Hunting cuckoos
Would be better for you.
Well, said the king,
I'm going to shoot, watch out for yourself.

Good King Dagobert
Had a large iron saber;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Could hurt yourself.
That's true, said the king,
Give me a wooden saber.

Dagobert's dogs
Were covered in mange;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
To clean them
You would have to drown them.
Well, said the king,
Go and drown them with you.

Good King Dagobert
Fought haphazardly;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Will get killed.
That's true, said the king,
Quickly get in front of me.

Good King Dagobert
Wanted to conquer the universe;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Traveling so far
Gives a headache.
That's true, said the king,
It would be better to stay at home.

The king was at war
But he was doing it in winter;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Will freeze.
That's true, said the king,
I'm going back home.

Good King Dagobert
Wanted to set sail for the sea;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Will drown.
That's true, said the king,
They will be able to shout: "The King drinks!".

Good King Dagobert
Had an old iron armchair;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your old armchair
Hit me in the eye.
Well, said the king,
Quickly take it to your house.

Queen Dagobert
Cherished a rather green gallant;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
You are cuckolded,
I am convinced.
That's good, said the king,
My father was before me.

Good King Dagobert
Ate dessert gluttonously;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
You are greedy,
Don't eat so much.
Bah, bah, said the king,
I'm not as much as you.

Good King Dagobert
Having drunk, was walking crooked;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Your Majesty
Is going sideways.
Well, said the king,
When you are drunk, do you walk straight?

To Saint Eloi, it is said
Dagobert offered a turkey.
A turkey for me!
Said Saint Eloi,
Your Majesty
Is too kind.
Take it, said the king,
It's to remember me.

Good King Dagobert
Feared going to hell;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
I believe, indeed
That you will go straight there.
That's true, said the king,
Don't you want to pray for me?

When Dagobert died,
The devil immediately rushed in;
The great Saint Eloi
Said to him: Oh my king!
Satan is coming,
You must confess.
Alas, said the king,
Couldn't you die for me?

CONSULTER LES PAROLES ORIGINALES