| ERA·M COSSELHATZ, SENHOR ... | HOW DO YOU ADVISE ME, SIR? ... |
| Bernart de Ventadorn | trans. James H. Donalson (from Provençal) |
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Era·m cosselhatz, senhor, vos, c'avetz saber e sen: una domna·m det s'amor, c'ai amada lonjamen; mas eras sai de vertat qu'ilh a autr' amic privat, ni anc de nul companho companha tan greus no·m fo. D'una re sui en error e·n estau en pensamen: que m'alonje ma dolor, s'eu aquest plaih li cossen. e s'aissi·l dic mon pessat, vei mo damnatge doblat. cal que·n fassa o cal que no, re no posc far de mo pro. E s'eu l'am a dezonor, esquerns er a tota gen; e tenran m'en li pluzor per cornut e per sofren. e s'aissi pert s'amistat, be·m tenh per dezeretat d'amor, e ja Deus no·m do mais faire vers ni chanso. Pois voutz sui en la folor, be serai fols, s'eu no pren d'aquestz dos mals lo menor; que mais val, mon essien, qu'eu ai' en leis la meitat que·l tot perda per foldat, car anc a nul drut felo d'amor no vi far son pro. Pois vol autre amador ma domn', eu no lo·lh defen; e lais m'en mais per paor que per autre chauzimen; e s'anc om dec aver grat de nul servizi forsat, be dei aver guizerdo eu, que tan gran tort perdo. Li seu belh olh traidor, que m'esgardavon tan gen, s'atressi gardon alhor, mout i fan gran falhimen; mas d'aitan m'an mout onrat que, s'eron mil ajostat, plus gardon lai on eu so, c'a totz aicels d'eviro. De l'aiga que dels olhs plor, escriu salutz mais de cen, que tramet a la gensor et a la plus avinen. manhtas vetz m'es pois membrat de so que·m fetz al comjat: qu'e·lh vi cobrir sa faisso, c'anc no·m poc dir oc no no. E1 Domna, a prezen amat autrui, e me a celat, si qu'eu n'aya tot lo pro et et la bela razo. E2 Garsio, ara·m chantat ma chanso, e la·m portat a mo Messager, qu'i fo, qu'e·lh quer cosselh qu'el me do. |
How do you advise me, sir? you have knowledge and good sense: once a lady's pledged her love - one I've loved the longest time - but then I learned that, in truth, she had someone else besides: companions never before have given such grief to me. There's one thing I have doubts about: and that's troubling all my thought: by consenting to her plan will I distance all my grief? But if I tell her my thoughts I see all my woes increase: do what I may or may not there's nothing to help my cause. If dishonor's in my love, everyone will laugh at me: many then will think that I am a mere longsuffering goat. And if her friendship is lost consider me dispossessed by love, and may God withhold the power to compose and sing. Once I've sunk in foolishness I'll remain a fool, unless choosing lesser of two ills, for it seems to me the best: as I could have only half or foolishly lose the whole, for untrue lovers don't win requital: this I have seen. I won't stop my lady if she will have another love: better to leave off for fear than some other principle and if we could receive thanks for service we're forced to do then I should have a reward for pardoning such a wrong. Beautiful but treacherous eyes that sweetly glance at me, looking at another, though; many defects now appear but still you've honored me much: where thousands are all around your eyes are following me more often than all the rest. With the water that I weep, many greetings I have sent, going to the worthiest, going to the courtliest, and many times I've thought of her when we said goodbye. I saw her covering her face, unable to say yes or no. E1 My lady, love whom you will but keep me just on the side: if I don't have all you want and he has a way with words. E2 Garsio, now sing me my song, and take it along for me down to my messenger there, so he can bring back advice. |
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Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2004