PER FAR ESBAUDIR MOS
VEZIS ...		 TO MAKE MY NEIGHBORS ALL
REJOICE ...
Peire Rogiertrans. James H.Donalson
Per far esbaudir mos vezis,
que·s fan irat quar ieu no chan,
no mudarai deserenan,
qu'ieu no despley
un so novelh que·ls esbaudey;
e chant mais per mon Tort-n'avetz,
quar trop dechai
tot quan vey sai,
mas lai ab lieys creys joys e pretz,
por que·l sieus conortz m'es plus bos
que tot quan vey sai entre nos.

De midons ai lo guap e·l ris,
e suy fols, s'ieu plus deman,
ans dey aver gran joy d'aitan;
a Dieu m'autrey;
non ai donc pro car sol la vey?
Del vezer suy ieu bautz e letz;
plus no m'eschai,
que ben o say,
mas d'aitan n'ai ieu joy e pretz
e m'en fauc ricautz a sazos
a guiza de paubr'ergulhos.

De totz drutz suy ieu lo plus fis,
qu'a midons no dic re ni man
ni·l quier gen fait ni bel semblan;
cum qu'ilh m'estey,
sos drutz suy et ab lieys dompney
totz cubertz e celatz e quetz,
qu'ilh no sap lay
lo ben quem fai,
ni cum ai per lieys joy e pretz;
ni·s tanh que ia·l sapch'enoios,
qu'ieu suy sai sos drutz a rescos.

Anc ieu ni autre no·lh o dis,
ni elha non saup mon talan,
mas a celat l'am atretan -
fe qu' ieu li dey -
cum s'agues fait son drut de mey;
re no·m qual, que ia l'am eis setz. -
Doncs amarai
so qu'ieu non ai? -
Oc, qu'eyssamen n'ai joy e pretz
e son alcrres e joyos,
quant res non es, cum si vers fos.

Per s'amor viv, e se·n moris,
qu'om disses qu'ieu fos mortz aman,
fait m'agr'amors honor tan gran,
qu'ieu sai e crey
qu'anc a mulh drut mais tal non fey;
vos jugatz, dompn', e destrenhetz
Car s' ieu m'esmay
e si mal tray
ni muer per vos, joys m'es e pretz:
de vos m'es totz mals bes, dans pros,
foldatz sens, tortz dregz e razos.

E1
Ieu mai que mai,
ma domn', ieu sai
que vos mi donatz joy e pretz;
e vuelh mais morir ad estros
ia·l sapcha negus hom mas vos.

E2
Bastart, tu vay
e porta·m lay
mon sonet a mon Tort-n'avetz;
e di·m a n'Aimeric lo tos
membre·lh dont es e sia pros.




 To make my neighbors all rejoice
since they are sad if I don't sing
and henceforth I won't change at all:
I don't display
a new song just to gladden them
I sing more for my Tort-n'avetz
for I melt down
when I see her,
but joy and worth grow when she's here
because her comfort's better yet
than all I see between us there.

My lady gives me jokes and laughs,
I'd be a fool to ask for more:
I should be glad to have so much;
so help me God,
is not just serving gain enough?
On seeing, I'm glad and content,
more doesn't suit,
as well I know;
beyond that I've no joy and worth.
At times I make a show of pride,
the way the poor but prideful do.

I'm the most faithful lover yet:
I don't give my lady commands,
I don't waht any pretty face
when I'm with her:
I am her love, and courting her
in secret, hiding, quietly:
she does not know
how good I feel
nor all the joy and worth she brings,
nor that it's fitting I'm annoyed,
nor that in secret I'm her love.

Not I nor anyone have said
nor has she guessed at my desire,
but I have hidden it as well:
I've promised her
if she will take me for her love
and nothing matters, save my love
so will I love
what I don't have?
Yes, as I don't have joy or worth
but I am joyful nonetheless,
what's not is as if it were true.

It's by her love I live, not die,
though told that loving I'd be dead.
Love honors me, and greatly, too,
for I believe
though many lovers don't do this:
you judge, my lady, you decide,
for if I'm wrong
and suffering,
yet I don't die, it is a joy:
you turn ills good, harm gain,
and folly sense and wrong to right.

E1
I've what I have,
my lady, I
know that you give me joy and worth
and I'd prefer a quicker death,
and I'll tell everyone, and you.

E2
Now, Bastard, go
and take away
my song to my fair Tort-n'avetz:
tell young Sir Aimery for me;
remember whose it is ... Be good!


the appellation "Tort-n'avetz" translates as
"Can't-do-wrong".
Trans. copyright © James H.Donalson 2004 






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