[!@#$%!]

hm, i tried some voltaire translations--

from candide--

Il y avait en Westphalie, dans le château de M. le baron de Thunder-ten-tronckh, un jeune garçon à qui la nature avait donné les moeurs les plus douces. =
There was in Westphalia, in the castle of Mr. the baron de Thunder-ten-tronckh, a young boy to whom it natural had given the softest manners.

("it natural"? but it's comprehensible for the most part...)

however when it comes to poetry it fucks up royally-- behold:

Vous m'ordonnez de célébrer des saints :
Ma voix est faible, et même un peu profane.
Il faut pourtant vous chanter cette Jeanne
Qui fit, dit-on, des prodiges divins.
Elle affermit, de ses pucelles mains,
Des fleurs de lys la tige gallicane,
Sauva son roi de la rage anglicane,
Et le fit oindre au maître-autel de Reims.

You order to me to celebrate saints: My voice is weak, and even a little layman. You however should be sung this Jeanne Who made, says one, of the divine wonders. It strengthens, of its virgins hands, Flowers of lily the stem gallicane, Saved its king of the rage Anglican, And oindre with the high altar of Rheims did it.

sounds like yoda, or nostradamus... but it conveys some ideas...