| SIRVENTES | SIRVENTES |
| King Richard I (Lionheart) | trans. James H.Donalson |
|
Dalfin, fe·us voilh deresnier, Vos e le comte Guion, Que an en ceste seison Vos feïstes bon guerrier, E vos jurastes en moi: Et me·n portastes tiel foi Com en Aenqris a Rainart: E sembles dou poil liart. Vos me laïstes aidier Por treive de quierdon: E car savies qu'a Chinon Non a argent ni denier; Et roi voletz, riche roi, Bon d'armes, qui vos port foi; Et je suis chiché, coart, Si vos viretz de l'autre part. Encor vos voilh demandier D'Ussoire, s'il vous siet bon: Ni s'in prendetz vanjaison, Ni lonaretz soudadier. Mas una rien vos outroi Si be·us faussastes la loi, Bon guerrier a l'estendart Trovaretz le roi Richart. Ie vos vi, au comencier, Large, de grande mession; Mes puis troves ochoison Que per forts chastels levier, Laissastes don et denoi Et cors et segre tornoi: Mes n'est qu'a avoir regart Que François sont Longobart. E Vai, sirventes: ie t'envoi A Avernhe, et di moi As deus comtes, de ma part, S'ui mes funt pes, Diex les gart! Que chaut si garz ment sa foi, Que escuiers n'a point de loi! Mes des or avant se gart Que n'ait en pejor sa part. |
Dauphin, I would like to ask you and Guy the Count, as well, who heretofore have always been of the best of fighting men: you swore your fealty to me and you demonstrated faith: Isenqrim's faith to Renard - are you made of rabbit-skins? Now you've left off helping me fearing there'll be no reward, for you know that at Chinon there's no copper, much less gold, and you want a king who's rich: good at arms, inspiring you, while I'm petty, cowardly, so you turn the other way. Once aqain, I have to ask, if you think about Issoire: if you'll take revenge down there; if you'll raise your soldiers up, but there's one thíng I must grant: though you're false to honor's law you will find a fighter still when King Richard takes the flag. At the first, I thought you were generous and noble men, but you found occasion then to deliver strongholds while dropping gifts and courtly words, horns and secret tournaments, but just look around and see that the French are Lombards now. E Sirventes, I'll send you now to Auvergne, to the two counts: can tell them then, for me, if unjustly they make peace, God help them! For I don't care: if a lawless knave should lie, but they should take care henceforth not to take a lower place. |