Unto Ashes founder and producer is Michael Laird who plays acoustic guitar, hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer, Persian saz, hurdy-gurdy, drums, percussion, bells.
A Sa Maîtresse
Unto Ashes Lyrics
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Qui ce matin avoir desclose
Sa robe de pourpre au Soleil,
A point perdu ceste vesprée
Les plis de sa robe pourprée,
Et son teint au vostre pareil.
Las! voyez comme en peu d'espace,
Las! las ses beautez laissé cheoir!
Ô vrayment marastre Nature,
Puis qu'une telle fleur ne dure
Que du matin jusques au soir!
Donc, si vous me croyez, mignonne,
Tandis que vostre âge fleuronne
En sa plus verte nouveauté,
Cueillez, cueillez vostre jeunesse:
Comme à ceste fleur la vieillesse
Fera ternir vostre beauté
The above lyrics are from Unto Ashes's song A Sa Maîtresse, which is a musical adaptation of the poem "Mignonne, allons voir si la rose" by Pierre de Ronsard. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and the transience of life. It speaks to the idea that life is fleeting, and one must seize the moment while they can, just as one would pluck a flower before its beauty fades.
The first stanza of the poem describes a rose that had bloomed in the morning, donning its purple robe in the sun. However, by evening, its purple raiment has wilted. This serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. The second stanza laments the short-lived beauty of the flower and states that nothing can last forever. The poem encourages the young to make the most of their fleeting youth and beauty, for it is a gift that fades quickly.
Unto Ashes's adaptation of the poem brings to life the themes of the original work beautifully. The music is haunting and melancholic, perfectly matching the bittersweet theme of the text. Despite being a centuries-old poem, the song remains relevant even today, serving as a reminder to treasure the beauty and youth we have for a short time.
Line by Line Meaning
Mignonne, allons voir si la rose
Let's go see if the rose, my dear
Qui ce matin avoir desclose
Who this morning opened up
Sa robe de pourpre au Soleil,
Its purple dress to the sun
A point perdu ceste vesprée
Lost all its purple folds by this evening
Les plis de sa robe pourprée,
The folds of its purple dress
Et son teint au vostre pareil.
And its complexion similar to yours.
Las! voyez comme en peu d'espace,
Alas! see how in a short time,
Mignonne, elle a dessus la place
My dear, it has on this spot
Las! las ses beautez laissé cheoir!
Alas! Its beauty has fallen away!
Ô vrayment marastre Nature,
Oh truly wicked Nature,
Puis qu'une telle fleur ne dure
Since such a flower doesn't last
Que du matin jusques au soir!
But from morning to evening!
Donc, si vous me croyez, mignonne,
So, if you believe me, my dear
Tandis que vostre âge fleuronne
While your age blooms
En sa plus verte nouveauté,
In its freshest novelty,
Cueillez, cueillez vostre jeunesse:
Gather, gather your youth
Comme à ceste fleur la vieillesse
For like this flower, old age
Fera ternir vostre beauté.
Will cause your beauty to fade.
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.