| ALTRESI COM LO LIONS ... | AS WITH LIONS IT MAY BE ... |
| Ricart de Berbezilh | tr. James H.Donalson |
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Altresi com lo lions Q'es tan fers qan s'irais De son lionel qan nais Morz sez lera et ses vida Et ab sa voz qan lescrida Lo fai reviure anar Autresi pot de mi far Ma bona dompna et amors Et garir de mas dolors. Totas las gaias sazos Venun en abrils et mais Ben degra nenir oimais La mia bon escarida Trop ses amors adormida Qe·m donet poder d'amar Ses ardiment de preiar Ha qantas bonas honors Ma tolt temenze paors. Ric fora 1i guiderdos Et tan fis et tan verais Per qe m'abelis lo fais Se sa merce no m'oblida Aissi com la nau perida Qe ren no pot escapar Mas per esforz de nadar Isamen foren resors. Dompna ab un paoc de socors. Totas las belhas faizos Del mon son en vas e mais Dompna anc ben nos sofrais De tota valor complida. Se fosez d'amar ardida Ren no·i pogro·m meilhurar Ab tot zo es vos ses par Et murs et castels et tors Donors et de beltaz flors. Marrit m'aten et joios Soven z' aut soven mirais Soven magris et engrais C'aissi ses en mi partida Amors joios et marida C'ab rire et ab plorar Ab consir et ab pensar Mostra sas ricas valors A mi entrels ris et plors. |
As with lions it may be fiercely they take pity on their poor cub when it is born without breath and without life and by crying with their voice they can make it live again; my good lady and my love sometimes does the same to me, curing me of all my pains. All the happy times will come during April, during May: that is when I hope to see my good love who's far from me: for too long our love has slept - love that gave me power to love - yet without the wish to plead; much good honor yet remains, taking off horrendous fears. My reward will then be rich, both the noblest and most true, so the whole thing pleases me (may her mercy not forget). As upon a ship that's lost, from which none can get away save by swimming forcefully, the result will be the same, Lady, with a little help. Every lovely feature that this world has, you have, and more: Lady, full of every worth, you put up with us at least: if you could but force a love nothing would surpass me then, with all this you have no peer: with the castles, towers and walls honor, lovely flowers and all. She awaits with tears and joy, often listens, often looks, often loses or gains weight, so there falls now to my lot joyous love and spousal love, which with laughter and with tears, with reflection and with thought, show me riches of her worth in her laughter and her tears. |