Harlem, by Aloysius Bertrand

My French training was primarily in high school, and it has rusted considerably since I left it. Nevertheless, I applied a little WD-40 to it and attempted to translate a prose poem by Aloysius Bertrand. If anyone out there has criticisms or suggestions for improvement, please let me know.

Harlem

Aloysius Bertrand

Quand d’Amsterdam le coq d’or chantera

La poule d’or de Harlem pondra.

Les Centuries de Nostradamus.¹

Harlem, cette admirable bambochade qui résume l’école flamande, Harlem peint par Jean Breughel, Peeter Neef, David Téniers et Paul Rembrandt;

Et le canal où l’eau bleue tremble, et l’église où le vitrage d’or flamboie, et le stoël où sèche le linge au soleil, et les toits, verts de houblon;

Et les cigognes qui battent des ailes autour de l’horloge de la ville, tendant le col du haut des airs et recevant dans leur bec les gouttes de pluie;

Et l’insouciant bourguemestre qui caresse de la main son menton double, et l’amoureux fleuriste qui maigrit, l’oeil attaché à une tulipe;

Et la bohémienne qui se pâme sur sa mandoline, et le vieillard qui joue du Rommelpot, et l’enfant qui enfle une vessie;

Et les buveurs qui fument dans l’estaminet borgne, et la servante de l’hôtellerie qui accroche à la fenêtre un faisan mort.
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When the Golden cock of Amsterdam sings

The golden hen of Harlem will lay.

The Centuries of Nostradamus

Harlem, that wonderful burlesque scene that starts the gaudy school again, Harlem painted by Jean Breughel, Peeter Neef, David Teniers, and Paul Rembrandt;
And the canal where the blue waters tremble, and the church where the golden windows flame, and the balcony where washing dries in the sun, and the roofs, green as hops;
And the storks that beat their wings about the city clock, tightening the collar of the upper air and receiving in their beaks the drops of rain.
And the alderman at ease who strokes his double chin, and the flower-girl in love who starves, eyes fixed on a flower;
And the Goth girl2 who swoons on her mandolin, and the old guy who plays on a rumble-pot3, and the child who blows on a bladder4;
And the drinkers who smoke in the dead-end café, and the hotel maid who hangs in the window a pheasant’s corpse.5

   
I especially worry whether the phrase "et les toits, verts de houblon" means "green with hops" as green as hops" or " the greens of hops."

1The Centuries is a book of rhyming quatrains published by Nostradamus from 1555 to 1558 that are supposed to be prophesies. His symbols and allusions, however, are matters of debate

2Non-conformists in dark clothing were once called Bohemians but are now called Goths.

3A rommelpot is a drum with a stick in its centre. The music is made by moving the stick.

4Used as part of a musical instrument.

5The French means literally “a dead pheasant,” but “mort” (dead) is the last word, and thus receives emphasis. “Corpse” is an attempt to get the same effect.