prosody | miscellaneous |
No sai qual cosselh mi prenda Totz sui esbahitz Si mos astres m'es falhitz O no, tan fas long' atenda; Qu'ab dir de non mi mescla belh semblan Selha cui am, e d'aisso vau doptan. Qual creirai mielhs doncs: o so que l'aug dir O·l belh semblant que·m fai quan la remir? Que·l belhs semblant mi lonha de l'esmai E·l dirs de no mi torna sempres lai. Ges no cugetz qu'ieu entenda Per lo no que·m ditz Qu'ilh ja sia enjanairitz! Ni·s tanh ges qu'ieu la·n reprenda. Quar donas son costumadas d'aitan, Qui las enquier, d'escondir lur talan. Pero li huelh no volon ges mentir; Ni no cujetz que ja dona los vir Tant doussament mas vas so que li plai. Doncs creire dei lo bel semblan que·m fai. Ben sui folhs qu'en lieis m'entenda, Que on plus s'esditz Et on plus sui afortitz, Et ilh plus fort si defenda. S'ilh a faisso plazen ni ben estan Ni dous esgart, ieu, per so, que·lh deman? Ilh non pot ges sa faisso desmentir Ni son semblant, per mi, de se partir. Fas i que fols, quar l'am? Ieu non o sai, Mas semblan m'es segon so que·m retrai. Ar cre que·m fari' emenda S'ieu er' escaritz Ab lieis, qu'us esgartz voutitz Mi fai cum mielhs m'i emprenda. A que ni cum me vau desconortan? Dei creire doncs qu'ella fassa enjan Vas si eissa per cor de mi trahir? D'enjan, per ver, no·s poiri'elh esdir, Pois ab semblant d'amor vas si m'atrai, Si·m falhia del tot mas no·lh eschai. Gran paor ai no·i mesprenda Quar sui tan arditz Que de lieis no·m sui partitz. E que merces no·i dissenda E que no·m do re d'aisso qu'ieu·lh deman, Estara·lh mal? No, quar m'o dis denan. Mas ieu m'esfors per so de lieis servir Et ilh vol o; e gart se de falhir! Que gazardon rendre lai on s'eschai Es genta res, e laia on s'estrai. Ab que sos rics pretz s'estenda E que si' auzitz No·lh cal s'ieu n'estauc marritz Ni cum que·s an ma fazenda. Qu'a lieis es bo qu'ieu traia tot l'afan, Et a mi plai quan la puesc trair' enan; A lieis es bo quan me pot far languir Et a mi plai quan la puesc enantir; A lieis non cal de me can mal me vai, Et a mi plai de lieis quan be·lh estai. De Marselha, la comtessa·us puesc dir Qu'en Alvernhe fai son fin pretz grazir. Et honret me la soa merces lai; Mas lauzengier m'onron atretan sai. Pros regina, ab sen vos faitz grazir, Et ab honor lauzar et enantir, Et ab bon pretz et ab belh solatz gai Vos faitz grazir, e ben dirs aissi·us vai. |
I don't know what to believe, I am all confused whether my stars have abandoned me or not, so long I have waited; for I get "no" mixed with alluring looks from the one I love, and this makes me uncertain. What shall I rather believe: that which I hear her say or the enticing looks she sends when I regard her? For the enticing look takes me away from despair and the saying "no" pulls me back in. Do not ever believe that I imagine that, because she tells me no, she now is a deceiver! Nor is it fitting at all that I reproach her. For ladies have this habit, to hide their intentions, no matter who entreats them. But the eyes do not ever want to lie; nor do believe that a lady turns them so sweetly towards [anything] but that which pleases her. Therefore, I must believe the enticing looks that she sends me. I'm such a fool to read things in her, for the more she refuses and the more I persist the stronger she defends herself. If she has pleasant and gracious manners and sweet glances, what do I demand of it? She can't ever belie her manners nor her looks for my sake, nor abandon them. Is it then foolish of me to love her? I don't know but, to me, it looks like she responds to me. Now I think I'll make amends with her, if I'm growing fonder of her, for she sends lustful glances to better ensnare me. Why and how, then, do I go despairing? Must I believe, then, that she belies herself for the sake of betraying me? Verily, she wouldn't be able to deny deceit (for she draws me towards herself with the appearence of love) if she failed me altogether; but that doesn't suit her. I have great fear of misinterpreting this for I am so brave that I have not parted from her. That she's never moved to pity and that she never gives me anything I ask of her, is that inappropriate? No, because she told me in advance. But I strive, always, to serve her and she likes it well; and may she take care not to fail! For giving reward where it is deserved is a proper thing, and a boorish one to refuse it. Provided that her great virtue increses, and is heard about, it doesn't matter to her if I find myself afflicted, nor how my affairs go. For it is good for her that I bear all the suffering, and I like when I can put her forth; it is good for her when she can make me languish and I like when I can advance her; she doesn't care that I feel bad, and I like it when she feels good. The countess of Marselha, I can tell you, makes her fine virtue be loved in Auvèrnha and her mercy honours me there; but slanderers honour me as much here. Noble queen, you make yourself be loved with discernment and [make yourself] be praised and advanced by honour; and with good virtue and beautiful, cheery disport you make yourself be loved: and praise goes thus towards you. |
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