| COMPANHO, TANT AI AGUTZ D'AVOLS CONRES ... |
FRIENDS, SO MISERABLY I'VE FARED ... |
| William IX, Duke of Aquitaine | trans. Leonard Cottrell (from Provençal) |
|
Companho, tant ai agutz d'avols conres qu'ieu non puesc mudar non chan e que no·m pes; Enpero no vueill c'om sapcha mon afar de maintas res. E dirai vos m'entendensa de que es: no m'azauta cons gardatz ni gorcs se peis, ni gabars de malvatz homes com de lor faitz non agues. Senher Dieus, quez es del mon capdels e reis, qui anc premiers gardet con com non esteis? C'anc no fo mestiers ni garda c'a si dons estes sordeis. Pero dirai vos de con - cals es sa leis, com sel hom que mal n'a fait e peitz n'a pres: si c'autra res en merma qui·n pana e cons en creis. E silh qui no volran creire mos casteis anho vezer pres lo bosc en un deveis: per un albre c'om hi tailla n'i naison dos ho treis. E quam lo bocx es taillatz nais plus espes E·l senher no·n pert son comte ni sos ses A revers planh hom la tala, si·l dampnatges no·i es. |
Friends, so miserably I've fared I can't resist the urge to sing. Instead of every little thing that vexes me in my affairs, I'll tell the crux: I am not fond of guarded cunt, or fishless ponds, or listening to lively cracks from those who talk but never act. Great Ruler of the world! Oh Lord, why didn't you destroy the first who ordered cunt kept under guard? - for no man served his lady worse! Despite my recent poor success I'll cite the bottom line on grooves: While other goods by use grow less, the supple opening improves! And anyone who fails to see can try this country metaphor: Where skillful woodsmen fell the tree there always spring up several more. As trees are logged, so grow the woods. The owner gets his revenues, so why complain? How does he lose when he can show no damaged goods? |
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For more of this translator's work see: http://planck.com/rhymedtranslations/versetrans.htm
Trans. Copyright © Leonard Cottrell 2001