| TAN NO PLOU NI VENTA ... | IT NEVER BLOWS OR RAINS SO MUCH ... |
| Peire Rogier | trans. James H.Donalson |
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Tan no plou ni venta, qu'ieu de chan non cossire; frei'aura dolenta no·m tolh chantar ni rire, qu'amors me capdelh'e·m te mon cor en fin joy natural, e·m pais e·m quid'e·m soste, qu'ieu non suy alegres per al ni alres no·m fai vivre. Ma dompn'es manenta de so qu'ieu plus dezire; del donar m'es lenta, qu'anc no·n fuy may jauzire; ben sai que pauc l'en sove, e ges no·m part joc cominal, qu'ilh pensa petit de me, et ieu trac per lieys mal mortal, tal qu'a penas puesc vivre. No trop qui·m guirenta ni qui m'o auze dire q'un'autra tan genta e·l mon se li ni·s mire; ni d'autra non s'esdeve, mas qu'om digua que re no val, qu'elha ditz e fai tan be, q 'una contra lies no sap sal; tal domna fai a vivre. Si s'en fenhon trenta, ges per so no·m n'ahire; cuy que·s vol si·s menta, qu'a mi·s denh'escondire; qu'adonc sai ieu ben e cre q'us non a dompna tan cabal, quan quecx la lauza per se, que s'el n'avia un'aital ben pogra ses lieys vivre. Greu planh mal que·n senta drutz, quant es bos sufrire, qu'amors es valenta seluy que n'es jauzire; erguel no vol ni mante, ans qui lo·lh mostra, lieys non cal, que mais n'auri'ab merce en un jorn qu'en dos ans ab mal sel qu'ab erguelh vol vivre. Si uns s'i prezenta, que·l denh lonc se assire, ges no m'espaventa, qu'ab mi l'ai a devire que dona, quant en pretz ve, deu aver fin cor e leyal; e non crezatz que·s malme contra son bon amic coral las dias qu'au'a vivre. E s'il fai parventa que·l guinh ni·l huel lor vire, per so no·s guaimenta mos cors ni·s mand'aucire; que dompna fai manta re per que plass'a totz per engual, e quasqun cum li cove deu aculhir dins son ostal, s'ab gran bontat vol vivre. El Peir Rogier per bona fe tramet lo vers denant nadal a sidons que·l fai vivre. E2 Clama li per gran merce qu'aprendaܧ vers denant nadal, s'ab joy de lui vol vivre. |
It never blows or rains so much that I don't think about my song; a wind that's cold enough to ache won't take away my laugh and song: Love guides me and holds on to me with joy that's fine and natural; it feeds me, guides me and sustains: I have no other happiness and nothing else keeps me alive. My lady's rich and overflows with that which I want most of all: she's slow in giving it to me - as if I'd stop enjoying it; I know she can't remember much since I won't take up such a sport, she thinks that I am very small, and through her I have caught my death, so that I scarcely hold on life. I do not find a guarantee and no one dares to tell me that another one's as kind as she and the whole world reflects in her; it won't take place with other girls, though one may say her well-done deeds and sayings are quite valueless, yet none can please compared with her, and such a lady makes you live. Just for thirty make-believes, not for that would I get mad; but if the one I love should lie then she'd better hide from me because we'll know and believe no lady is so excellent, for all now praise her for herself and if there were another such then without her I'd surely live. It's hard to weep for ills one feels from love, when it is good to ail and love is useful to the ones who may be able to enjoy: pride won't wish and can't hold up but she who shows it doesn't count; what's more we'd have more mercy in a day than in two years with ill: the one who wants to live with pride. If someone will come forward who deigns to be seated, and for long, I will not be afraid of this, for he will have to share with me: a lady, when her worth is seen, should have a fine and loyal heart, and don't believe she'll misbehave against her good and cordial friend, for all the days that she may live. And if she keeps up a pretence that there are winking, turning eyes, for this my heart will not lament nor order me to kill someone, for ladies will do many things when they would please all equally; and everyone, as may befit, should welcome her to house and home if, with great goodness, he would live. El Peir Rogier, in his good faith sends this, before next Christmas Day: it's for the lady of his life. E2 He has a favor now to ask: learn this before next Christmas Day, so you will live with joy in him. |
Trans. copyright © James H.Donalson 2004