| EU M'ESCONDISC, DOMNA ... | YOUR PARDON, LADY ... | |
| Bertrans de Born | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) | |
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Eu m'escondisc, domna, que mal no mier, De so que·us an de mi dit lausengier. Per merce·us prec qu'om no poscha mesclar Lo vostre corps fi, leial, vertadier, Umil e franc, cortes e plazentier Ab mi, domna, per messonjas comtar. Al premier get perda eu mon esparvier, Que·l m'aucian el ponh falco lanier E porten l'en qu'eu·l lor veja plumar, S'eu non am mais de vos lo cossirier Que de nul'autra aver lo desirier Que·m don s'amor ni·m retenha al coljar. Autr'escondich vos farai plus sobrier E no mi posc orar plus d'encombrier: S'eu anc falhi ves vos, neis del pensar, Quan serem sol en chambra o dinz vergier, Falha·m poders deves mon companhier De tal guisa que no·m poscha ajudar. S'eu per jogar m'asset pres del taulier, Ja no·i poscha baratar un denier, Ni ab taula presa no poscha intrar, Anz get ades to reirazar derier S'autra domna mais deman ni enquier Mas vos, cui am e desir e tenc char. Senher sia eu de chastel parsonier E en la tor siam quatre parier, E l'us l'autre no·ns poscham ja amar, Anz m'aian ops totztemps arbalestier, Metg'e, sirven e gaitas e portier, S'eu anc aic cor d'autra domna amar. Ma domna·m lais per autre chavalier E pois no sapcha que m'aia mestier E falha·m vens quan serai sobre mar; En cort de rei mi batan li portier E en coita fassa·l fugir premier, Si no menti cel que·us anet comtar. Domna, s'eu ai mon austor anedier Bel e mudat, be prenden e manier, Que tot auzel poscha apoderar, Cinhe, grua e aigro blanc e nier, Volrai lo donc mal mudat, galinier, Gras, debaten, que no poscha volar? Escut al col chavalg·eu ab tempier E port sallat chapairo traversier E renhas breus qu'om no posc alonguar Et estreups loncs en chaval bas, trotier; Et a l'ostal trop irat l'ostalier, Si no·us menti qui·us o anet comtar. E Fals, envejos, fementit lausengier, Pois ab mi donz m'avetz mes destorbier, Be·us lauzera que·m laissessetz estar. |
Your pardon, lady, for I don't deserve the blame for what some slanderer has said: I beg you not to let them start a rift between your fine and loyal and true self, so humble, pleasant, free and courteous, and me, my lady, just by telling lies. On first throw, may I lose my sparrow-hawk, or may a falcon kill him on my glove and take him where I'll see him torn apart if I do not prefer to think of you to having the desire for someone else who'd give me love and take me to her bed. I'll make another plea and stronger still, and I can't pray to be encumbered more: if I should fail you, even in my thoughts, when we're alone in bedroom or outdoors, then may my powers fail in such a way that my companion cannot help me out. If I sit at the board so I can play, may I not win a single penny there, may I not enter, for the board is full, but may I throw the ultimate mistoss, if any other lady I seek out but you, whom I desire and I hold dear, May I be Lord of a divided tower and may there be four partners in the place and none of us be able to agree but always to have need of crossbowmen, of doctors, hired help, watchmen, porters too, if I should think of other lady-loves. My lady'd leave me for another knight, and I don't know what I'd have need of then, and may the wind fail when I'm out at sea, may porters beat me at the royal court, and may I be the first to flee a fight, if your informant didn't lie to you. My lady, I've a hawk for hunting ducks, well-moulted, handsome, good at work and tame, and who can overcome all other birds: white heron and the black, and swan and crane; would I then want unmoulted chicken-hawks now fat and stubborn, that can't even fly? Shield at my neck, may I ride in a storm and wear a crooked hat upon my head and shortened reins that I can't lengthen out and stirrups too long for my trotting horse, and find the host is angry at the inn, if your informant didn't lie to you. E False, envious, oath-breaking slanderers, since with my lady you've disturbed my case, I would advise you to let me alone. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2005