| CANSO | I'M WISE OR FOOLISH ... |
| Raimbaut de Vaqueiras | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) |
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Savis e fols, humils et orgoilhos, cobes e larcs e volpils et arditz sui quan s'eschai, e gauzens e marritz, e sai esper plazens et enojos e vils e cars e vilans e cortes, avols e bos, e conosc mals e bes, et ai de totz bos aips cor e saber, e quand ren failh fatz o per non poder. En totz afars sui savis e gignos mas midonz am tant qu'ie·n sui enfolhitz, que·il sui humils on pieitz mi fai e·m ditz e n'ai orguoilh car sai qu'es bell' e pros, e sui cobes c'ab son bel cors jagues tant que plus larcs en sui e mieils apres, e sui volpils car no·n l'aus enquerer e trop arditz car tant ric joi esper. Belha dompna, tals gaugz mi ven de vos que marritz vauc car non vos sui aizitz, car per vos sui als pros tant abelhitz qu'enojant s'en li malvatz enojos; be·m tenrai vil s'ab vos no·m val merces, qu'ie·m tenc tant car per vos en totas res, que per vilan m'en fatz als crois tener e per cortes als pros tant sai valer. D'amor dis mal e mas autras chansos pel mal que·m fetz la belh' enganairitz, mas vos, dompna, ab totz bos aips complitz, mi faitz tans bes qu'esmenda m'es e dos, c'amors e vos m'avetz tal ren promes que val cen dos c'autra dompna·m fezes; tant valetz mais, per qu'ie·us vuoilh mais aver, e·us tem perdre e·us vuoilh mais conquerer. Jois e jovens et avinens faissos, dompn', e·l gens cors d'enseignamen noiritz vos ant pretz dat, qu'es pels meilhors auzitz, e, per ma fe, si m'aventura fos qu'ieu ni mos shans no m'amors vos plagues, lo mieils de pretz auri' en vos conques e de beutat, e puosc o dir en ver, que per auzir o sai e per vezer. E1 Bels cavalhiers, chausimens e merces e·il fin' amors e·il sobrebona fes quez eu vos port mi deuria valer endreg d'amor, c'autre joi non esper. E2 Na Biatritz, vostre bel cors cortes e·il grans beutatz e·l fins pretz qu'en vos es fai gent mon chan sobre·ls meilhors valer, car es dauratz del vostre ric pretz ver. |
I'm wise or foolish, humble or I'm proud, I'm greedy, generous, cowardly or bold, as need be, joyful or distraught; I can be pleasant and annoying too, a boor or courtly, and I'm cheap or dear; I know success and failure, ill and good, for all good qualities I have the sense, and if I fail, it's just through lack of means. In everything, I'm wise and clever too, but love of lady makes me out a fool: when I'm submissive, she is at her worst, but I am proud, for she is beautiful. I'm greedy for her beauty in the bed, so I'm more generous and courtly then: I'm cowardly, for I don't dare to ask, and bold because I hope for so much joy. Fair lady, so much joy I get from you, I am depressed because I can't come close. Through you, I'm so accepted by the great that the unpleasant ones are vexed by this: if you don't pity me I will be crushed because through you I'm proud in every way; and I can be a boor among the low and courtly when among nobility. I've spoken ill of love in other songs because the fair deceiver did me wrong; but you, my lady, with your qualities now grant such favors it's a boon to me and you and Love have promised greater things worth hundreds that another might give me: You're worth much more, so I desire you more and fear of losing makes me strive the more. My lady, Joy and youth and graciousness, your noble breeding and your learning too have given fame which all the best accept: and by my faith, if fortune has it so that I, my song, my love are pleasing you, it means I win in you the best of praise, and beauty that I see and say and hear about, and I may see down there as well. E1 Fair knight, the mercy and the pity too and perfect love and faith that is supreme which I can offer, should avail me much in love: I have no other hope of joy. E2 My Lady Beatrice, your courtly self, the beauty and repute that are with you, can make my song surpass the best of them for it is guided by your inner self. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2003