| prosody | miscellaneous |
Lonc temps ai estat cubèrtz, Mas Dieus no vol qu'ieu oimais Puosca cobrir ma besoigna, Dont mi ven ira et esglais. Ez escoutatz, cavallier, S'a ren ai obs ni mestier. D'aisso vos fatz ben totz cèrtz: Qu'aicels don hom es plus gais Ai perdutz, don ai vergoigna; E non aus dir qui·ls me trais; Et ai ben cor vertadier Car dic tant grand encombrier. Mas per so sui tant espèrtz De dir aisso que er plais Car voill leu gitar ses poigna Totz los maritz de pantais E d'ira e de conssirier, Don moutz m'en fan semblant nier. Si·m fatz coindes e degèrtz Si·m sui eu flacs e savais Volpilz (garnitz e ses broigna); E sui mizels e putnais; Escars, vilan conduchier, De totz lo plus croi guerrier. Per quez es fols adubèrtz Totz hom que ia ten a fais S'ieu cortei -- quar ia m'en loigna? -- Sa moiller, pois dans non nais Ad el se son ben sobrier Li mei mal sospir doblier. Car ia tot non fos desèrtz D'aicels, per qu'om pela·l cais, Tant ai d'als ont me peroigna -- d'autres avols decs on bais -- Per que domna ab cors entier No·m deu prezar un dinier. E si mos chans m'es sufèrz Eu chan, qu'enquers no m'en lais; Pustel'hui sus en sa groigna A totz marit si·s n'irais S'ieu tant grant mon dol plenier Voill cobrir ab alegrier. A dompnas m'en soi profèrtz E datz, per que m'en ven jais; Si noc'ai poder que i joigna En jazen, ades engrais Solament del desirier E del vezer, qu'als non quier. La comtessa a Monrosier Volgra auzis mon gaug entier. |
I have been secretive for a long time, but god doesn't want me to be able to cover my need anymore, for which I am sad and afraid. Now listen, knights, if I need, or deserve, anything. I assure you of this: I have lost (and that shames me) that which makes one most merry; and I don't dare say who took it from me; I have, indeed, a sincere heart, for I admit such an awkward thing. But I am in such a hurry to tell that which I lament because I want, post-haste, to relieve all husbands from the fright, the grief and the worry, because of which they look at me askance. Although I act pleasant and gallant, I am, in fact, emaciated and feral, a coward, both unarmed or with a breastplate; and I am leprous and stinking, a base and stingy host, the worst warrior of us all. Therefore he is an obvious fool whoever is bothered if I court – why ever does he drive me away from her? – his wife; for harm doesn't come to him if my doubled, wretched sighs are even greater. For even if I were not deprived of that because of which one tears his beard away, I have so much more to preen myself about – I have further bad habits galore – so that no lady in her good mind would think I'm worth a farthing. And if my singing is tolerated, I['ll] sing, for I don't give up yet; every husband has a pimple on his snout if he gets angry if I wish to cover with gaiety this all-pervading grief of mine. I have offered, and given, myself to ladies, and it is a source of joy; if I never have power to add to it while in bed, I am nourished merely by desiring and seeing, since I ask for nothing else. Let the countess of Montrosier agree to hear my thorough joy. |