La Complainte du Templier (The Templar's Lament) is a French crusader song popularized by the military choir Chœur de Saint-Cyr.
The song is sung from the point of view of a Templar knight, who recalls his life and how he served the Church in war with disinterest, purity and generosity. He recalls first the day he was knighted, the happiest day of his life and the day he embraced his vocation. He recalls how he received the cape with the red cross, and how the grandmaster of the Knights Templar spoke words of wisdom and counsel: be faithful and worthy of the name of Templar.
Since his knighting, the Crusader recalls how he fought on land and sea defending the Church and Christendom against the Muslim Saracens, making himself known to them through ardent battles across the Holy Land. As he recalls these memories, the song reveals that he is departing the land of the living, lying on fresh straw and listening to the chanting of the
Office for the Dead at his own funeral.
As he approaches his judgment, he reminds Our Lord how he served Him with purity, never having in his heart room for another, having loved Him exclusively. He then makes a prayer, asking Our Lord to protect this Holy Land where He trod and prevent it from falling into the hands of the impious, so that His sacrifice may not have been in vain. As he makes his way to his personal judgment, he asks the intercession of his patron Saints, St. George and St. Maurice, and finally, asks Our Lady, to whom the Templars are dedicated, for the grace to enter Paradise.
VERSES
1. C'était au mois de mai que je fus adoubé
En la commanderie de Montigny l'Allier
En ce clair jour ma joie ne se put comparer
Qu'à celle des amants qui ont le cœur comblé.
2. Quand je reçus de l'Ordre la cape immaculée
Marquée de la croix rouge, à l'épaule brodée
Le Grand Maître, céans, a daigné me parler
« Sois fidèle et ardent car tu es Templier ! »
3. Depuis sur terre et mer nous avons guerroyé
Partout dans le désert sous le ciel mordoré
Des sarrasins maudits je me suis fait connaître
Comme un vrai chevalier seul mérite de l'être.
4. Combien de missions menées jusqu'à leur terme
Combien d'engagements qui l'ennemi consternent
Par le fer de la lance au baucéant sacré,
De Syrie en Provence, j'ai servi Chrétienté !
5. Ô lointaine Champagne pays de mes aïeux
Ton ciel ennuagé m'a bien manqué un peu
Sous le firmament bleu et le ciel étoilé
Qu'on voit toute l'année au Crack des Chevaliers.
6. Or aujourd'hui enfin me voici allongé
Dans de la paille fraîche où j'entends psalmodier
Là-haut, dans la chapelle, c'est l'office des morts
Courage, Dieu t'appelle, tu arrives au port.
7. Sur mon honneur, Seigneur, j'ai Votre foi jurée,
Je Vous rends mon cœur pur et mon épée sans tâche
J'ai combattu pour Vous sans repos ni relâche,
Je Vous rends mon épée avec son baudrier.
8. Sire Dieu protégez ce pays qui est Vôtre
Vous y marchiez jadis suivi de Vos Apôtres
J'ai parcouru ses routes et suivi ses sentiers
J'ai chevauché sans doute où Vous posiez le pied.
9. La route qui s'achève mène au Paradis
Saints et Saintes de Dieu, aidez-moi en ce jour
St. Georges et St. Maurice qu'il ne soit jamais dit
Que vous m'avez laissé privé du Dieu d'amour.
10. Sire Dieu de Merci, Sire Dieu de Bonté
Dans mon cœur pour un autre il n'y eut jamais place
Grâce ô Agneau de Dieu qui toute faute efface
Grâce Dame Marie à qui l'Ordre est voué.
English Translation
VERSES
1. It was in the month of May that I was knighted
In the commandery of Montigny l'Allier
On that clear day, my joy could be compared
Only to that of lovers whose hearts are fulfilled
2. When I received the immaculate cape from the Order
Marked with the red cross, embroidered on the shoulder
The Grand Master here deigned to speak to me
"Be faithful and ardent for you are a Templar!"
3. Since then, on land and sea, we have waged war
All over the desert under the golden sky
I have made myself known to the accursed Saracens
As only a true knight deserves to be so.
4. How many missions have I carried out to their end
How many engagements have dismayed the enemy
By the iron of the spear at the sacred war flag,
From Syria to Provence, I have served Christendom!
5. Oh distant Champagne, land of my ancestors
I've missed your cloudy sky a little
Under the blue firmament and the starry sky
Which one sees all year round at the Crack des Chevaliers.
6. Now then, today, finally, here I am lying down
In fresh straw where I hear chanting the Psalms
Up there, in the chapel, it's the service for the dead
Courage, God calls you, you're arriving at the port
7. On my honor, Lord, I have sworn Your faith,
I return to You my pure heart and my spotless sword
I have fought for You without rest or respite,
I return to You my sword with its belt.
8. Lord God, protect this land which is Yours
You once walked there followed by Your Apostles
I have traveled its roads and followed its paths
I have doubtless ridden where You set foot.
9. The road that ends leads to Paradise
Saints of God, help me this day
St. George and St. Maurice, may it never be said
That you left me deprived of the God of love.
10. Lord God of Mercy, Lord God of Goodness
In my heart there was never room for another
Grace, O Lamb of God, who erases all sin
Grace, Lady Mary, to whom the Order is dedicated.
Battle outside the walls of Antioch (23 June 1098) between the Crusaders, Commanded by
Bohemond, and the Army of Kerbogha. Painting by Henri Frédéric Schopin (1804-1880). Source:
Wikimedia Commons.
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