prosody | miscellaneous |
Non chant per auzel ni per flor Ni per neu ni per gelada, Ni neis per freich ni per calor Ni per reverdir de prada; Ni per nuill autr'esbaudimen Non chan ni non fui chantaire, Mas per midonz en cui m'enten, Car es del mon la bellaire. Ar sui partitz de la pejor C'anc fos vista ni trobada, Et am del mon la bellazor Dompna, e la plus prezada; E farai ho al mieu viven: Que d'alres non sui amaire, Car ieu cre qu'ill a bon talen Ves mi, segon mon vejaire. Ben aurai, dompna, grand honor Si ja de vos m'es jutgada Honranssa que sotz cobertor Vos tenga nud'embrassada; Car vos valetz las meillors cen! Q'ieu non sui sobregabaire – Sol del pes ai mon cor gauzen Plus que s'era emperaire! De midonz fatz dompn'e seignor Cals que sia·il destinada. Car ieu begui de la amor Ja·us dei amar a celada. Tristan, qan la·il det Yseus gen E bela, no·n saup als faire; Et ieu am per aital coven Midonz, don no·m posc estraire. Sobre totz aurai gran valor S'aitals camisa m'es dada Cum Yseus det a l'amador, Que mais non era portada. Tristan! Mout presetz gent presen: D'aital sui eu enquistaire! Si·l me dona cill cui m'enten, No·us port enveja, bels fraire. Vejatz, dompna, cum Dieus acor Dompna que d'amar s'agrada. Q'Iseutz estet en gran paor, Puois fon breumens conseillada; Qu'il fetz a son marit crezen C'anc hom que nasques de maire Non toques en lieis. – Mantenen Atrestal podetz vos faire! Carestia, esgauzimen M'aporta d'aicel repaire On es midonz, qe·m ten gauzen Plus q'ieu eis non sai retraire. |
I do not sing for bird nor for flower nor for snow nor for frost nor for cold, oh no!, nor for heat nor for the meadows that turn green again; no: no other marvel I sing, or ever did sing, but my lady, in whom I am well pleased for she is the most beautiful woman on Earth. I have now departed from the worst lady that was ever seen or found, and I love of this world the fairest lady, and the most precious one; and I shall do so till I die: for I shan't love aught else for I believe she is quite fond of me, as far as I can see. Lady, I shall, indeed, be greatly honoured if I am granted by you the privilege of holding you naked under blankets; for you are worth the best hundred women; and I am not overly boastful: at the sole thought, my heart rejoices more than if I were the emperor. Wherever my destiny lies, I make of my lady my master and liege; since I drank of [the cup of] love, I shall love forever secretly. Tristan, when the noble, fair Isolde gave it to him, couldn't do otherwise; and I love my lady with an oath such that I cannot renounce it. I shall be esteemed over everybody else if I am given a vestment such as the one Isolde gave her lover, for it was never donned. Tristan! Greatly you prized that noble gift, and of it I am the questant; if the one whom I court gifts me with it, I bear you no envy, fair brother. See, lady, how god succours a lady who is prone to loving. For Isolde was in great fear, and then she was soon aided; for she had her husband believe that no man born of woman had touched her – Presently, you can do the same thing! Carestia, bring me joy from that shelter where is my lady, who keeps me rejoicing more than I myself can tell. |