| AI! LEMOZIS, FRANCHA TERRA CORTESA ... |
AH, LIMOUSIN! YOU FREE AND COURTLY LAND ... |
| Bertrans de Born | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) |
|
Ai! Lemozis, francha terra cortesa, Molt me sap bo quar tals onors vos creis, Que jois e pretz e deportz e gaiesa, Cortesia e solatz e domneis S'en ven a vos, el cors estei anceis; Be·s deu gardar qui a drutz se depeis Per quals obras deu domna esser quesa. Dos e servirs e garnirs e largesa Noiris amor, com fai l'aiga lo peis, Ensenhamens e valors e proesa, Armas e cortz e guerras e torneis; E qui pros es ni de proesas feis, Mal estara s'aoras no pareis, Pois na Guischarda nos es sai tramesa. |
Ah, Limousin! You free and courtly land, I'm greatly pleased such honor comes to you: that joy and value, ease and gaiety and courtliness, repose and gallantry, all come to us: forever may they stay. In lady-service one must well think out what works a lady may be courted by. By gifts and service, ornament, largesse, you nourish love as water does a fish or as instruction, valor, prowess do for arms and courts and war and tournament; and he who's brave and prowess is his boast will be at fault if he won't show up now that Dame Guiscarda has been sent to us. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2005