NO SAI DON CHANT ... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SING ...
Peire Rogiertrans. James H.Donalson
No sai don chant, e chantars plagra·m fort,
si saubes don, mas de re no·m sent be,
et es greus chans, quant hom non sap de que.
Mas adoncx par qu'om a natural sen,
quan sap son dan ab gen passar suffrir,
quar no·s deu hom per ben trop esjauzir,
ni ia per mal hom trop no·s dezesper. -

Mas tot quant es s'aclina vas la mort:
que prezas tu tot quan fas? Ieu non re. -
Mas so ditz hom, qu'avols es qui·s recre,
per qu'om deu far tot bel captenemen,
que no·l puesc hom mal dir ni escarnir;
aisso dic ieu que no's deu hom giquir
aissi del tot qui·l segle vol tener.

3 Fort estai be qu'om chant e que·s deport.
Oc, quan n'es luecx ni temps que s'esdeve. -
E quoras doncx? Vols o dir ges per me?
Sapchas qu'ieu hoc. - Quar us grans jois m'en pren? -
Qar ditz totz jorns que rir vols e bordir;
tol te d'aisso, ia t'er tost a murir.
E laissarai per so mon joy-aver?

Si joy non ai, don aurai doncx confort? -
E qual joy quiers? - De lieys cuy clam merce. -
Folhs yest. - Per que? - Per Dieu trebalhas te,
ni per aquo ... - Fai doncx! - Mas per nien
t'en entremetz. - Tu que saps? - Aug lo dir. -
Saps tu que? - Fai! - Laissa me tot guerir. -
Ieu voluntiers, e fai tot ton plazer.

Tost venra temps que conostra son tort. -
Aqui t'aten. - Si fatz ieu per ma fe. -
Fas ton talan, mas ieu no cug ni cre
tan quan vivras n'ayas nulh jauzimen. -
Non dis per als mas quar m'en vols partir. -
Ieu hcc, per so quar no t'en vey jauzir. -
E ia saps tu qu als non ai en poder.

Mos cors no'm ditz qu'ieu ab autra m'acort. -
Quar ben as dreg pel gran ben que t'en ve. -
El'o fara. - E quoras? - Er dese. -
Ben estara si vers es, mas si't men,
tu qu'en faras? - Am mai lo sieu mentir
q'autra vertat. - Mal hi sabes cauzir,
qu'ieu non pretz ren mesorgua contra ver. -

Per s'amor viv, e s'amors m'a estort
de la preizon, e s'amors m'a mes fre,
que no·m eslays vas autra, si·m rete;
e per s'amor ai tot mon cor jauzen,
e·m part d'enueg, e·m platz quan puesc servir;
e valon mais de lieys li lonc dezir
que s'avia d'autra tot mon voler.

El
Lo vers tramet e vuelh que si prezen
mon Tort-n'avetz, si·l play que·l denh auzir,
que totz lo mons li deuri'obezir,
qar mai que tot vol bon pretz mantener.

E2
E si dons Sanz m'a fag descauzimen,
mieus es lo dans et er lo·m a sofrir,
et el no·s poc de plus envilanir,
e per vilan lo deu hom ben tener.
 I don't know what to sing: I'd like to sing,
if you know what; but I don't feel quite well.
It's hard to sing, if you don't know what for,
but then, there is a sense that we all feel
when we know how to bear up with our grief,
for we should not rejoice too much for good
and we must not despair too much for ills.

'But everything that is, bows down to death:
what price do you put on your works? Not much?'
'But as they say, it's bad if you lose heart,
because you should behave well at all times;
you must not go for cursing or for scorn;
I tell you this, for you must not lose heart
and here you have all that the world may want.'

'It's very good to sing and to have fun.'
'Oh yes, but if you have the place and time.'
'And when is that? Would you mind telling me?'
'Of course: when joy has taken hold of me?'
'They say you want to laugh and play all day;
get over it, it's time for you to die.'
'And you think I should give up joy for that?'

'If I've no joy, what comfort can I have?'
'What joy is that'.' 'To have her pity me.'
'You fool.' 'Why so?' 'Because you work for God,
and not for that ...' 'See here!' 'And just for free
you're butting in.' 'What do you know.' 'Hearsay.'
'Know what?' 'Speak up.' 'Let me get over this.'
'Yes, gladly, pleased to be of service now.'

'A time will come, she'll realize she's wrong.'
'I'm waiting here.' 'And so am I, in faith.'
'Do as you like, but I do not believe
that in your life you'll have no more of joy.'
You're saying that just to get rid of me.'
'Yes, but it's just that you can't lighten up.'
'And you know that is not within my power.'

'My heart has not said: find another girl.'
'You have a right because you look so ill.'
'She'll do it.' 'When is that?' 'Why, right away.'
'It would be good, if true, but if she lies
what will you do?' 'I better like her lies
than other truths.' 'You make poor choices here
for I don't value lies against the truth.'

It's by her love I live, her love freed me
from prison, and her love has bridled me,
so I don't go to others, she reins in;
and by her love, my whole heart can rejoice.
It causes grief, and I am glad to serve
and long desires for her are worth much more
than having, from another, all I want.

E1
I send my verse for presentation to
My Tort-n'avetz, if she will deign to hear
for everyone should be obedient,
for overall she wants to keep her worth.

E2
And if Sir Sancho did me injury,
then mine's the harm and now I'll suffer it
and he cannot dishonor any more
and all should think that he's a churl for that.
Trans. copyright © James H.Donalson 2004 






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