povb4023

ARA SAI EU DE PRETZ QUALS
L'A PLUS GRAN ...

NOW I KNOW WHO DESERVES THE
GREATEST FAME ...

Bertrans de Born

trans. James H. Donalson
(from Provençal)

Ara sai eu de pretz quals l'a plus gran
De totz aquels que·s leveron mati:
Messers Conratz l'a plus fi sens enjan
Que·s defen lai a Sur d'en Saladi

E de sa maisnada croia.

Socora·l Deus, quel socors vai tardan:
So·ls aural pretz, que sols sofre l'afan.

Senher Conratz, a Jesu vos coman,
Qu'eu fora lai a Sur, so vos afi,
Mas laissei m'en quar s'anavan tardan
Li comte e·lh duc e·lh rei e li princi;

Pois vi mi donz bela e bloia

Per que s'anet mos cors afeblejan,
Qu'eu fora lai be a passat un an.

Senher Conratz, eu sai dos reis qu'estan
D'ajudar vos; aras entendatz qui:
Lo reis Felips es l'us, quar vai doptan
Lo rei Richart, e cel lui dopta aissi.

Ar fos usquecs d'els en boia

D'en Saladi, pois van Deu galian,
Quar son crozat e d'anar mot no fan.

Senher Conratz, tot per votre amor chan
Ni ges noi gart amic ni enami,
Mas per sol fatz que·ls crozatz vauc reptan
Del passatge qu'an si mes en obli.

No cuidon qu'a Deu enoia,

Qu'il se paisson e se van sojornan
E·us endurat fam, set, e il estan.

Senher Conratz, la rodas vai viran
En aquest mon, pur en mal a la fi,
Quar paucs en sai que no s'anen penan
Com enganen vezi e no-vezi;

Mas cel qui pert, nolh par joia.

Don sapchan be cil qu'eu dic qu'aisso fan
Que Deus escriu so que dit e fait an.

Senher Conratz, lo reis Richartz vai tan,
(Sitot quan volh, de lui gran mal m'en di)
Qu'el passara ab tal esfortz ojan
Com far poira, so aug dir tot de fi;

El reis Felips en mar poia

Ab autres reis, qu'ab tal esfortz venran
Que part l'Arbre Sec irem conquistan.

E1

Bels Papiols, ves Savoia

Te ton chami e ves Branditz brochan,
E passa·l mar, qu'al.rei Conrat ti man.

E2

Quan seras lai, no t'enoia:

Tu li diras que s'ar no·lh val ab bran,
Eu·lh valrai tost, si·lh rei no·m van bauzan.

E3
Mas be es ver qu'a tal domna·m coman,
Si·l passatges no·lh platz, no crei quei an.

Now I know who deserves the greatest fame
of all those who got out of bed this morn:
Lord Conrad is the best, and without tricks,
defending, down in Tyre, from Saladin,

and from his evil company.

God help him, for his succor is delayed,
his all the fame, for his is all the zeal.

Lord Conrad, I commend you to Jesu,
would I were there in Tyre and pledged with you,
but I held back when I saw the delay
by count and duke and king and prince,

and then I saw my beauteous blonde

for whom my heart turns weaker by the hour
or I'd be there before the year is out.

Lord Conrad, I know of the kings who'll go
to help you, and now you'll hear who they are:
King Philip is the one, because he fears
King Richard, and the latter fears the first.

Each one of then now gives support

to Saladin, as they are cheating God,
for they are pledged, but they don't make a move.

Lord Conrad, all my song's for love of you,
I won't hold back, for friend or enemy,
but just, for fools, I blame those sworn to go
because they've put the passage out of mind;

they don't think God's annoyed,

for they may eat and rest when they may please,
and you are hungry, thirsty, while they wait.

Lord Conrad, see the wheel of fortune turn:
in this world fortune will reverse at last,
for I know few who don't repent a lot
deceiving neighbors and those who are not;

but losing doesn't seem a joy

when you know well that they are doing this:
that God wrote that which they have said and done.

Lord Conrad, our King Richard's going there
(but when he wants: I've heard great ill of this).
He'll cross the sea with all his power this year,
as he can do, for those who know tell me;

King Philip on the sea supports

the other kings who, making efforts, come,
so we'll take everything to Arbor Sec.

El

Fair Papiol, on to Savoy,

Hold to your course, spur on to Brindisi
and overseas to King Conrad you'll go.

E2

While there, do not become annoyed:

tell him that now his sword won't help,
but I will help, unless the king tricks me.

E3
But I prefer my lady to command:
if she dislikes the sea, I think I'll stay.

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