LO GENS TEMS DE PASCOR ... | THE GOOD TIME OF THE YEAR ... | ||||||||||||||||
Bernart de Ventadorn | trans. John Frederick Nims (from Provençal) | ||||||||||||||||
e joi de me e de midons major; daus totas partz sui de joi claus e sens, mas sel es jois que totz autres jois vens.
ab paucs d'amics e ses autre senhor. Quar una vetz tant midons non destrens abanz qu'ieu fos del dezirier estens?
si feira ieu, si no fos per paor, qu'anc no vi cors miels talhatz ni depens ad ops d'amar sia tan greus ni lens.
e quan li plai, mi fai ben et honor, e quan li plai, ieu m'en sofert ab mens, per so c'a lieis no·n aveinha blastens.
e sos belhs huelhs e sa fresca color, e baizera·lh la boca en totz sens, si que d'un mes hi paregra lo sens.
vai s·en lo temps, e perdem lo melhor! parlar degram ab cubertz entresens, e pus no·ns val arditz, valgues nos gens!
e gen mentir lai on non a autor. bona domna, ab sol qu'amar mi dens, ia per mentir ieu no serai atens. E
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When - presto - turf and trees are green and blossoms cocked where they belong, and the wild singer tweedles keen and chuckles gruff to try the song, it's joy the bird! and joy, the wood astir! joy, me myself! and double joy in her! On all sides joy assailing me - too much! But joy in her's the joy no joy can touch. Only, confusion of desire! Time and again I want her so I'm in a daze - if baled in wire and carted off, I'd never know. For God's sake, Love! I'm hardly fit to fight world conquerers such as you, no friend in sight. Persuade the girl, for once, to be my own before I'm dates and curlicues in stone. Miraculous, how I survive and never let the fever show. I hover, watch the girl arrive, follow her eyes and where they go - stockstill. I'd break away, and nearly do, in her direction but - no courage to. Her honey-blond neat body rounded so for making love, and yet - so round a No? I think my lady such a dear I wouldn't vex her; still I stay, hush-hush all talk of love, for fear one murmur and she's off away. She guesses, though, my wound and all its cause; brings, when she will, right medicine and gauze. And, when she won't, I'm quiet; live on less. Suppose I grumble, and the gapers guess - Had I the science of a witch I'd blast them! - little wits so blurred they'd never know a who from which nor snigger one malicious word. And then I'd be all eyes, myself alone, for her fine face, fine body's flesh and bone; I'd kiss her mouth some hundred ways, so well weeks after, just by looking, you could tell. Only to stumble on her where she lies alone! Pretending sleep? I'd have the lips I never dare ask for as yet. Will roses keep? God, girl, we're getting nowhere fast in love! Time's running out, a stuff we've little of. Let s deal in codes and hidden winks; we could work by finesse, if being brave's no good. A lover's in the right to blame a lady who excuses, balks; makes love a conversation game and talks and talks. And talks and talks. You can love here, and elsewhere say you do; tell a fine lie when none's to check on you. Lady, receive your lover! Then you'll learn how I can lie and lie to serve your turn. E Messenger, here's the message. Let her know how - with this pounding pulse - I'd quake to go. |
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Trans. Copyright © Mrs. Bonnie Nims 1971 - publ. Rutgers University Press