AL PAREYSSEN DE LAS
FLORS ...
ON THE APPEARANCE OF THE
FLOWERS ...
Peire Rogiertrans. James H.Donalson
Al pareyssen de las flors,
quan l'albre·s cargon de fuelh,
e·l temps gens'ab la verdura
per l'erba que creys e nays;
doncx es a selhs bon'amors,
qui l'an em-patz ses rancura,
q'us ves l'autre non s'erguelha.

Bos drutz non deu creir'auctors
ni so que veiran sey huelh
de neguna forfaitura,
don sap que sa dona·l trays;
so que dis qu'a fait alhors
creza, si nonca lo jura,
e sso que·n vi dezacuelha.

Qu'ieu vey de totz los melhors
qui senpr'en devenon fuelh,
qu'enqueron tan lur dreytura
tro que lur dompna·s n'irays.
E·l ris torna·ls pueys en plors;
e·l folhs per mal'aventura
vai queren lo mal que·l duelha.

Qu'amors vol tals amadors,
que sapchon sufrir erguelh
en patz e gran desmezura;
si tot lor dompna·ls sostrays,
paucs plagz lur en si'honors,
quar si·l sap mal ni s'atura,
ylh querra tost qui l'acuelha.

Per aquest sen suy ieu sors,
et ai d'amor tan quan vuelh,
quar s'elha·m fay gran laidura,
quant autre·s planh, ieu m'apays.
Si tot s'es grans ma dolors,
sofier tro qu'elha·m melhura
ab un plazer qual que·s vuelha.

Mais vuelh trenta dezonors
q'un'onor, si lieys mi tuelh,
q'ieu suy hom d'aital natura,
no vuelh l'onor que·l pro lays.
Ni ges no·m laissa·l paors,
don mos cors non s'asegura,
qu'ades cug qu'autre la·m tuelha.

De mon dan prec mos senhors,
mas l'amor de midons vuelh,
e que·l prenda de mi cura,
que trop es grans mos esmays.
Molt mi fera gran secors,
s'una vetz per aventura
mi mezes lai o·s despuelha.

E
Peir Rogier li quier secors,
e si·l mals longuas li dura,
pauc vivra qu'ades rauguelha.
On the appearance of the flowers
when all the trees are decked with leaves,
and milder weather brings the green
by grass that grows and springs,
it's then that any love who's good,
and without rancor stays at peace
and isn't proud before his love.

Good lovers don't heed witnesses
nor even what their eyes have seen,
or not of any wrong, at least,
that says his lady betrayed him:
that which she says she's done elsewhere
believe, if she will swear to it
rejecting that which she has seen.

For I've seen all the best of them,
and always they turn foolish too,
insisting so upon their rights,
so much their ladies go away:
their smile will then be turned to tears,
and how unfortunate the fool
who's seeking out what hurts him most.

Love wishes to have lovers who
are able to put up with pride
in peace, despite injustices,
and if his lady strays from him
the honor doesn't please her much
or savors ill and it persists:
she'll want a welcome, right away.

This feeling has me lifted up,
and I have all the love I want,
for she has done me injury:
while others weep, I am appeased;
and while my grief is really great,
till she improves for me I'll wait,
with pleasure such as she may wish.

Far better thirty dishonors
than honor she will take away;
for that's the sort of man I am,
I don't want honor that's for her,
but I'm not even left in fear
which my heart won't assure me of,
for someone else could take that too.

So, of my harm, my lord may ask,
and still I want my lady's love,
and one to take care of my cure
for my dismay is very great,
so it would help me very much
then, if by fortune, just one time
she'd just put me where she disrobes.

E
It's Peir Rogier who's seeking help,
and if his trouble lasts for long
he won't live, for he rattles now.

Trans. copyright © James H.Donalson 2004

VCB19 next
VCB19 index
Other index