| AMORS M'ENVIDA E·M SOMO ... | LOVE NOW INVITES AND SUMMONS ME ... | |
| attr. Bernart de Ventadorn, probably Daude de Pradas |
trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) | |
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Amors m'envida e·m somo qu'eu chant e fassa a saber cossi·m ten amors en poder e si m'es trop mala o no. e pois vei qu'il m'en apella e·ill sazos, q'ades renovella, ben es dreitz qu'en chantan retraia cossi·m conorta e m'apaia uns jois qui s'es e mon cor mes per bon respieich que m'a conques. De totz los bens qu'en amor so, ai ieu ara cal que plazer, car ieu ai mes tot mon esper, mon penssar e m'entencio en amar dompna coind' e bella e soi amatz d'una piucella, e qan trob soudadeira gaia, deporte mi, cossi qe·m plaia; e per tant non sui meins cortes ad amor, si la part en tres. Amors vol ben que per razo eu am midonz per mais valer, et am piucella per tener, e sobre tot qe·m sia bo s'ab toseta de prima sella, qand ill es fresca e novella, don no·m cal temer que ja·m traia, m'aizine tant que ab lieis jaia un ser o dos de mes en mes per pagar ad amor lo ces. Non sap de dompnei pauc ni pro qui del tot vol disonz aver. non es dompneis, pois tonr' a ver ni cors s'i ren per guizerdo. aja·n om anel o cordella, e cuich n'esser reis de Chastella! pro es dompneis d'amor veraia, si joias pren e, qan pot, baia; e·l sobreplus teigna merces en thezaur e no·n done ges. Franca piucella de sazo mi platz, qand m'es de bel parer, e·is vai de josta mi sezer, qan sui vengutz en sa maiso, e si·l vuoill baisar la maissella o·il estreing un pauc la mamella, no·is mou ni·s vira ni s'esglaia, anz poigna cum vas mi s'atraia tro qe·l baisars en sia pres e·l doutz tocars de luoc deves. De soudadeira coind' e pro vuoill qe·m don' ab pauc de querer tot so c'amors vol a jazer, e non fassa plaig ni tensso d'ostar camisa ni gonella, anz danze segon qe·l vïella cel que non a soing qe·is estraia de far tot joc c'amors l'atraia; e s'il n'avia mais apres, ja del enseignar no·is feisses. |
Love now invites and summons me to sing and to make known (as Love now has me in its power) if this is bad for me or not, and since I see it's calling me as is the season now renewed, it's right, by singing, to relate what comforts me and gives me.peace: a joy it is, and of my heart, by expectations I have won. Of all the good that Love contains, now every pleasure's mine to hold: for I have put all of my hopes, my thoughts and my intentions too, to love a lady who is fair, and I'm loved by a pretty girl, and found a lively courtesan, for all my pleasure and delight; and I am no less courtly then to Love, if I divide by three. Love wishes well (by reasoning) for me to love my lady's worth, and my young girlfriend for her sake and just because she's good to me, and with a girl of the 'first-class' provided she is fresh and new so I can't fear what they may bring: I go to them when they may please, one or two evenings, month to month, to pay for everything with love. He can't know much of courtly love who wants to have no care at all. He's not a server if he turns and not a wit to take regards, be it a ring or just a cord, and I'll not be King of Castile, but he who's expert at true love, takes jewels, if he can, a kiss; exceeding thanks may be obtained to treasure up and give out none. A seasoned, freeborn girl I like, provided she's attractive too, and she gets up to sit by me when I have come into her house; and if I want to kiss her cheek or feel a little of her breast, she won't move, turn or be alarmed but (since she is attracted) tries for kisses on her person, and caresses in forbidden spots. A pretty, clever courtesan I want to give me, with some lust, all that Love wants for bedding down, and without quarrel or complaint, when taking off a shirt or skirt and go by the old woman's rule: one who's not bothered by withdrawal from making games that Love sets up; if afterwards there is no more don't try to teach her anything. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2005