powildo8

PUS VEZEM DE NOVELH FLORIR ...

AS NOW WE SEE IN BLOOM AGAIN ...

William IX, Duke of Aquitaine

trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal)

Pus vezem de novelh florir
pratz e vergiers reverdezir,
rius e fontanas esclarzir,

auras e vens,

ben deu quascus lo joy jauzir

don es jauzens.

D'Amor non dey dire mas be.
Quar no n'ai ni petit ni re?
Quar ben leu plus no m'en cove;

pero leumens

dona gran joy qui be·n mante

los aizimens.

A totz jorns m'es pres enaissi
qu'anc d'aquo qu'amiey non jauzi,
ni o faray ni anc no fi.

Qu'az esciens

fas mantas res que·l cor me di:

"tot es niens."

Per tal n'ai meyns de bon saber
quar vuelh so que no puesc aver,
e si·l reproviers me ditz ver

certanamens:

"A bon coragge bon poder,

qui's ben suffrens."

Ja no sera nuils hom ben fis
contr' Amor si non l'es aclis,
et als estranhs et als vezis

non es consens,

et a totz sels d'aicels aizis

obediens.

Obediensa deu portar
a motas gens qui vol amar,
e coven li que sapcha far

faigz avinens,

e que·s gart en cort de parlar

vilanamens.

Del vers vos dig que mais en vau
qui ben l'enten ni plus l'esgau,
que·l mot son fag tug per egau

cominalmens,

e·l sonetz, qu'ieu mezeis me·n lau

bos e valens.

E1
A Narbona, mas ieu no·i vau,
sia·l prezens
mos vers, e vuelh que d'aquest lau
sia guirens.

E2
Mon Esteve, mas ieu no·i vau,
sia·l prezens
mon vers e vuelh que d'aquest lau
sia guirens.

As now we see in bloom again,
the gardens, pastures green again,
the brooks and fountains clear again,

fresh wind and breeze;

it's good for us to taste again

returning ease.

Of Love I must speak only good:
why have I less than what I could?
perhaps I don't have what I should:

it overawes;

he gives great joy to those who would

observe his laws.

It always happens so, to me,
not to enjoy what pleases me,
it has been always and shall be

or in the main,

because my heart keeps telling me

all this is vain.

And if I have less joy in view,
I want what I can't have, it's true:
just so the proverb gives a clue;

I'm here to state

"Great valor brings great pow'r to you

if you can wait."

If you would serve Love perfectly,
you must submit, you must agree:
serve those from near or oversea

agreeably,

those of your lady's coterie

obediently.

The lover must obey the muse,
must be attentive in his views,
he must adjust and pay his dues

and please, not preach:

he must be careful not to use

uncourtly speech.

And on the subject of this verse,
your pleasures more when you rehearse,
for all the lines are clear and terse

and cadenced well,

and I can boast the tune's no worse:

clear as a bell.

E1
So send this to Narbonne, because
I won't be there,
and let the verses of this laud
pledge that I care.

E2
And send this to Estève, because
I won't be there,
and let the verses of this laud
pledge that I care.

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