AISSI CUM SELH QU'ES VENCUTZ ... | JUST AS THE ONE WHO'S BEAT ... | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alegret | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Aissi cum selh qu'es vencutz e sobratz
E plaz me molt, pus aitan labelhis, E qu'en perdos li sia francx et fis E ja per lieys qu'ieu am amatz non sia. Tot so m'es bo, Amors, pus a vos platz
Quar no fai gran esfors, so vos plevis, Qui so conquer qui vencut no conquis Mas esforts fai qu·ils pus fortz vens e lia. Ges no suy fortz ves lieys cuy me suy datz,
E cum li suy francx e leyals e fis; E fora ricx s'aitan me cossentis Lo ben qu·ie·l vuelh no·m tengues a follia. De sol aitan mi tengr'ieu per pagatz
Ni l'esgart dreyt, ans tenc mos huelhs aclis, Tal paor ai qu'ilh aitan no·m sufris E que·m tolgues la su'avinen paria. Per qu'ieu, dona, vuelh mais sufrir em patz
Qu'era·m fai tan de gaug un vostre ris Que si·m davon Tors, Angieus e Paris, Ni re ses vos tan de gaug no·m faria. E Bona dona, vostres sui on que·m sia, Et on que m'an ades vos suy aclis, E s'avia trastor lo mon conquis, En tot volgra aguessez senhoria. |
Just as the one who's beat and overcome
and I am pleased that she's so greatly pleased and that in pardon, she is frank and fine, and by her whom I love no other's loved. All this is good to me, Love, if you're pleased
I guarantee that I won't strain myself to win what the defeated haven't won, but I will try to beat and bind the strong. I am not strong to her to whom I'm given,
and as to her I'm loyal, frank and fine, and I'd be rich if she would just grant me not to hold foolish all I want from her. By just so much, I'll hold myself as paid
nor direct look, as I keep my eyes shut, I'm so afraid she won't put up with more and that she'll take away her company. So, Lady, I prefer to bear in peace
I get such joy from just a smile of yours, if I had Paris and Angiers and Tours none of them, without you, would give me joy. E Good lady, where I may be, I am yours, and anywhere, I'll quickly bow to you, and if I had upset a conquered world, throughout, I'd want you to have seigniory. |
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2005