| LANCAN VEI FUEILH' E FLOR E FRUG ... |
WHEN I SEE SPROUTS AND FLOWERS AND FRUIT ... |
| Arnaut Daniel | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) |
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Lancan vei fueilh' e flor e frug parer dels arbres eilh ramel e aug lo chan que fan e·l brug ranas el riu, el bosc l'auzel, doncs mi fueilh' e·m flor' e·m fruch' Amors el cor tan gen que la nueit me ressida quan autra gens dorm e pauz' e sojorna. Ar sai ieu c'Amors m'a condug el sieus plus seguran castel don non dei renda ni trahug, anz m'en fag don e chapdel; non al poder ni cor que·m vir' ailhors qu'enseinhamens e fizeutatz plevida lai pren estar, car bon pretz s'i adorna. Amors, de vos ai fag estug lonjamen verai e fizel, c'anc non fiz ganda ni esdug d'amar anz m'era bon e bel; e vos faitz m'en dels grans afans socors! merces d'aitan que·l mieilhs ai ad eslida d'on part soleilhs duesc' al ser que s'ajorna. D'enjan mi tueilh e d'enueg fug per Amor ab que m'atropel, don ai un tal ver dig adug re no sai que mentirs espel; hueimais pretz ieu ben pauc lauzenjadors per so qu'ieu vueilh e·m vol silh c'ai cobida, e ieu sol soi que·ls sieus ditz non trastorna. Si l'auzes dir, ben saubron tug que jois mi monta·l cor el cel, quar deport mi creis e desdug la bela que d'amor apel; mon bon esper mi dobla sa valors, quar qui mais val mais dopta far failhida e il non es de re trista ni morna. D'aquest' amorson lunh forsdug, dompnneiador fenhen, fradel; pero si·s n'an maint pretz destrug tal que·s fan cueinte et isnel; et ieu que soidels leials amadors estau jauzens c'Amors e jois me guida lo cor en joi, que ailhors no·s trastorna. Vai t'en, chansos, a la bela de cors e diguas li c'Arnautz met en oblida tot'autr' amor per lieis vas cui s'atorna. |
When I see sprouts and flowers and fruit are peeking from the boughs of trees and hear the song they make and sounds of frogs in streams and birds in woods, then my heart sprouts and blooms and bears its fruits of love so pleasantly it wakes me up when other people sleep, relax and rest. Now, I know Love has led me to his safest stronghold of them all and I owe him no rent or fee, but rather, it's my gift and guide; I have no power, nor heart to turn elsewhere since courtesy and surefire faithfulness are there, as value harmonizes there. Love, I have been your carapace, enduring, true and faithful, too, since I have not restrained myself from loving, it was good to me; and you, who help me in this great distress to mercy, since I've chosen all the best from when the sun appears till evening's rest. I've left deceit and flee chagrin because of Love's impressing me, and giving me so true a speech that I don't know what lying is: now, I give little heed to slanderers; the one I want, whom I've desired, wants me, and I'm not one to turn back on his word. If I dared say it, all would know: joy lifts my heart to heaven on high; since fun and pleasure are increased and by the doll that calls me love: my hope is good, and doubled by her worth the more the worth, the more afraid to fail and she's not sad nor gloomy, not at all. And from this love are kept far off the feigned or wicked slaves of Love: out there are some who've spoiled much worth pretending to be courtly men: but I'm a lover of the loyal kind, I joy since Joy and Love are leading on: my heart is foyful and turns nowhere else. Go to that beauteous sweetheart, then, my song, and tell her that Arnaut has quite forgot all other loves to turn himself to her. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2003