Lyrics (Medieval French (Provençal))

Translation



Quan vey la lauzeta mover

When I see the lark beating



De joy sas alas contral rai,

Its wings for joy against the sun's rays,



Que s'oblida es laissa cazer

Until it forgets to fly and allows itself to fall



Per la doussor qual cor li vai:

For the sweetness that goes to its heart,



Ai! tan grans enveya m'en ve

Alas! such envy comes over me



De cui qu'eu veya jauzion!

Of those I see filled with happiness



Meravilh as I quar des se

I marvel that my heart



Lo cor de dezirier nom fon.

Does not melt from desire



Ai, las! Tan cuidava saber

Alas, how much I thought I knew about love



D'amor, e tan petit en sai,

And how little I really know.



Car eu d'mar nom posc tener

For I cannot keep myself from loving



Celeis don ja pro non aurai

Her from whom I will gain nothing.



Tout m'a mo cor, e tout m'a me

She has taken all my heart, my soul,



E se mezeis e tot lo mon,

Herself and all the world.



E can sem tolc nom laisset re

And when she left, she left me nothing



Mas dezirer e cor volon.

But desire and a longing heart.



Anc non agui de me poder

I have not had control over myself



Ni no fui meus de l'or en sai

Or belonged to myself from the hour



Quem laisset en sos olhs vezer

When she let me gaze into her eyes -



En un miralh que mout me plai.

In a mirror that pleases me so much.



Miralhs, pus me mirei en te,

Mirror, since I saw myself reflected in you



M'an mort li sospir de preon,

Deep sighs have been slaying me



C'aissim perdei com perdet se

I have lost myself just as



Lo bels Narcisus en la fon.

Handsome Narcisus did in the fountain.



De las domnas me dezesper,

I despair of women,



Jamais en lor nom fiarai,

I will trust them no more



C'aissi com las solh chaptener,

And just as I used to defend them



Enaissai las deschaptenrai.

Now I shall abandon them.



Pois vei c'una pro no m'en te

As I see none that helps me



Bas leis qu'em destrui em cofon,

Against her who destroys and confounds me



Totas las dopte las mescre,

I fear and distrust them all



Car be sai c'atretals se son.

For I know they are all alike.



D'aisso's fa be femna parer

In this my lady shows herself



Ma domna, per qu'elh o retrai

To be a woman and for this I condemn her.



(Car no vol so c'om voler,

(Because she does not want what she should,



E so c'om le deveda, fai.)

And desires that which is forbidden.)