| CANSO | IF LOVE HAD NOTHING ELSE TO OFFER US ... |
| Raimbaut de Vaqueiras | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) |
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Si ja amors autre pro non tengues mas car om n'es plus gais e plus cortes e miels parlanz e de meilhor solatz e·n conois miels los pros entre·ls malvatz et enten miels qu'es mensonja ni ver e tri' enanz qu'es enueg ni plazer, pos amors sap tan ric guizardon rendre neguna res no·s deu d'amor defendre. Donc, ma domna; vostre franc cors, so·m pes, mas amors es flors e frugz de totz bes, se·us conseilha paratges ni beutatz que non ametz, mal s'es acosseilhatz: com mais vos fa Dieus e valors valer vos devetz mais d'humilitat aver. Mas tant m'es aut c'ap re no·i puesc atendre, ni·l vostre pretz non vol tan bas descendre. E car eu am la plus avinen res c'anc dels oils vis, degra trobar merces, oc, se·l plagues, car lai on es juvatz de totz bos aibs, aten c'umilitatz li entr' el cor tan que·m do ses querer lo joi qu'eu ja per querrer non esper, que·m vueilh totz temps, car aus en leis entendre, de malvestat escondir e defendre. Tant m'a amors e jois lassat e pres et sieu fin cor gai e cortes, on es plazers e jovenz e beutatz, e·l sieus cars pretz qu'es flors dels plus prezatz, que·l gaugz qu'eu n'ai non pot en mi caber. Gardatz si·m fezes amors nulh plazer si·m fiera gaug, qu'era per sol l'entendre n'ai tals mil gaugz que rics seria·l mendre. A vos, per cui pretz viu e nais et es et a cobrat som briu en totas res, belha donna, contessa de Burlatz, ren ma chanzon, car ades meilhuratz; qu'ont que vivatz ja non pot dechazer pretz ni jovenz ni solatz ni plazer, c'aissi co·l venz fa lueng la flam' escendre vei vostre pretz sobre·ls meilhors estendre. E1 A Mon Segur, chanzon, te fai saber, e digas li, e semblara plazer, c'on miels de leis no sap dir ni entendre ni miels chantar, mas trop poignh' ad apendre. E2 Plus Avinen, si be·us vau tart vezer, mais res mas vos e mi non a poder, ni fas chanzo per donar ni per vendre, mas sol per vos, si la degnatz apendre. E3 Los lauzengiers, bels amics, vei empendre, que·us sonon gent e·us blasmo de seguendre. |
If Love had nothing else to offer us than greater joy and greater courtliness, more eloquence and social grace besides, more power to tell the noble from the vile, and better tell the falsehood from the truth, and, in advance, what pleases or annoys, since Love bestows such rich rewards on us, let nothing, therefore, bar the way to Love. Therefore, my lady, it appears to me love is the flower and fruit of any good, if beauty and nobility advise you not to love, they they advise you wrong: the more that God and worth increase deserts the more humility you must needs have, but you are higher than I hope to reach and you're unable to descend to me. Because my love's for the most gracious one I've ever seen, then she should pity me; yes, if she please, for she's assisted by all good things, so I hope humility will let her heart afford me all unasked the joy that I, by asking, can't expect; and, since I dare aspire to her, I wish forever to reject unseemliness. Now love and joy have trapped and caught me up, ensnared me in her light and courteous heart wherein lie pleasure, beauty, youthfulness, and her dear worth, the flower most highly praised; my happiness can't be contained in me: take heed what pleasure love could bring me then, if it gave joy, for just by hearing her I have a thousand joys and outrank all. To you, fair lady, Countess of Burlatz, through whom all merit comes to be and is, and gains in strength in all its ways and lives; I dedicate my song, which you'll improve; for where you dwell, there merit, youth, delight and pleasure never will decline, and as the wind will spread the flame afar, I see your praise surpassing all the best. E1 Make yourself known in Montsegur, my song, and tell my lady, which I think will please, that no one's better, since she strives to learn, at understanding, speaking, or in song. E2 Most Gracious, though I'm slow to visit you, no one but you has power over me, nor do I make my song to give or sell, but, if you deign to learn it, just for you. E3 Fair friend, I see the flatterers approach, they sweetly speak but backbite afterwards. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2003