DOUTZ BRAIS E CRITZ | LAIS E CANTARS
E VOUTAS ...		 SWEET CALLS AND CRIES | AND SONGS
AND TRILLS ...
Arnaut Danieltrans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal)
Doutz brais e critz | lais e cantars e voutas
aug dels auzels qu'en lur latin fant precs
quecs ab sa par, atressi cum nos fam
a las amigas en cui entendem;
e doncas ieu, qu'en la gensor entendi
dei far chanson sobre totz de tal obra
que no·i aia mot fals ni rim' estrampa.

Non fui marritz | ni non presi destoutas
al prim qu'intriei et chastel dinz los decs
lai on estai midonz, don ai gran fam
qu'anc non l'ac tal lo neps de sanh Guilhem:
mil vetz lo jorn en badailh e·m n'estendi
per la bella que totas autras sobra
tant cant val mais fis gaugz que no fai rampa.

Ben fui grazitz | e mas paraulas coutas,
per so que jes al chausir no fui pecs
anz volgui mais prendre fin aur qu'eram
lo jorn quez ieu e midonz nos baizem
e·m fetz escut de son bel mantel endi
que lauzengier fals, lengua de colobra,
non o visson don tan mals motz escampa.

Ges rams floritz | de floretas envoutas
cui fan tremblar auzelhon ab lurs becs
non es plus frescs, per qu'ieu non vuelh Roam
aver ses lieis ni tot Iherusalem:
pero totz fis mas juntas, a li·m rendi,
qu'en liei amar agr' ondra·l reis de Dobra
o celh cui es l'Estel' e Luna-Pampa.

Dieus lo chauzitz | per cui foron assoutas
las fallidas que fetz Longis lo cecs,
voilha qu'ensems ieu e midons jassam
en la chambra on amdui nos mandem
uns rics covens don tan gran joi atendi
que·l sieu bel cors baisan, rizen descobra
e que·l remir contra·l lum de la lampa.

Boca que ditz? | eu cug que m'auras toutas
tals promessas que l'emperaire grecs
en for'onratz o·l senher de Roam
o·l reis que ten Sur e mais Besleem:
donc ben sui fols que tan quier que·m rependi
que jens Amors non a poder que·l cobra
ni savis es nulhs hom qui joi acampa.

Los deschauzitz | ab las lenguas esmoutas
non dupt'ieu jes, si·l seinhor dels galecs
an fag failhir, per qu'es dreitz si·l blasmam,
que son paren pres romieu, so sabem,
Raimon lo filh al comte, et aprendi
que greu fara·l reis Ferrans de pretz cobra
si mantenen no·l solv' e no·l escampa.

Eu l'agra vist, mas estiei per tal obra
qu'al coronar fui del bon rei d'Estampa.
 Sweet calls and cries | and songs and trills
and melodies I hear of birds that cry
in jargon each to each, as you and I
to friends with whom we are in love, and then,
then I, who love the worthiest of all
must overall write songs of workmanship
as have no sound that's wrong nor rhyme that's forced.

I wasn't grieved | nor did I sway
when first I entered in the castle's bounds
where is my lady, whom I hunger for;
St.William's nephew had none like to her:
a thousand times a day I yawn and stretch
out for the doll that bests all other girls
as much as great enjoyment bests a plague.

I was well-liked | my words received,
since in my choosing I've not been a fool
and I to copper would prefer pure gold,
so that the day my lady and I kissed
she shielded me with her blue cloak
so that the slanderers with serpent tongues
might not see what promotes much evil speech.

No flowered branch | while still in bud
that birds shake, pulling with their beaks
is fresher, so that I don't want to have
Rouen without her or Jerusalem;
in truth I yield to her with outstretched hands;
the King of Dover'd gain in loving her,
as would the one who has Pamplona too.

God chose the ones | that were absolved
of all the wrongs done by Longine the Blind:
would that together she and I had lain
within the chamber of devoted oaths
from which I was expecting such great joy
undressing, laughing, kissing her fair form -
and to admire it by the lighted lamp.

What do I say? | I think I'll lift
the promises that would do honor to
the Emperor of Greece or Rouen's lord,
or to the King of Tyre and Bethlehem;
so I'm a fool to want repentance now
since Love has not the power to cover this
and no one's wise who banishes his joy.

Discourteous folk | with sharpened tongue
I do not fear, although Galicia's lord
was sinned against - but we can blame him still
for capturing while on a pilgrimage
the count's son, Raymond, and I've heard them say
King Ferdinand will make it hard for him
if he will not release and send him back.

I would have seen her, but I waited for
the coronation of Étampes's King.
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2003 







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