Lanquand li jorn son lonc en mai
m'es bèls doutz chants d'ausèls de lonh,
e quand me soi partitz de lai,
remembra·m d'un amor de lonh.
Vau de talan embroncs e clis
si que chants ni flors d'albespis
no·m platz plus que l'ivèrns gelatz.
Jamais d'amor no·m jausirai
si no·m jau d'est' amor de lonh,
que melhor ni gensor no·n sai
vas nulha part, ni près ni lonh.
Tant es sos prètz verais e fis
que lai e·l reng dels Sarrasis
fos ièu per lièis chaitius clamatz.
Iratz e jausens m'en partrai,
quand veirai cest' amor de lonh.
mas non sai córas la veirai,
car tant son nòstras tèrras lonh.
Assatz i a pòrtz e camis,
e per açó no·n soi devis.
Mas tot sia com a Dieu platz.
Be'm parra jòis quand li querrai,
per amor Dieu, l'albèrc de lonh,
e, s'a lièis platz, albergarai
près de lièis, si be·m soi de lonh,
adoncs parra·l parlaments fis
quand drutz lonhdas er tant vesis
qu'ab bèls digs jauzirai solatz.
Be tenc lo Senhor per verai
per qu'ièu veirai l'amor de lonh,
mas per un be que m'en eschai
n'ai dos mals, car tant m'es de lonh
ay! Car no fui lai pelegris,
si que mos fustz e mos tapis
fos pels sièus bèls uèlhs remiratz!
Dieus qui fetz tot quant ve ni vai
e formèt cest' amor de lonh
mi don poder, que còr ièu n'ai,
qu'en brèu veia l'amor de lonh,
veraiament en lòcs aisis,
si que la cambra e·l jardis
mi ressemblès totztemps palatz.
Ver ditz qui m'apèla lechai
e desirón d'amor de lonh,
que nulhs autres jòis tant no·m plai
com jausiments d'amor de lonh.
Mas çò qu'ieu vòlh m'es tant aïs,
qu'enaissi·m fadèt mos pairis
qu'ièu amès e non fos amatz.
Mas çò qu'ièu vòlh m'es tant aïs
totz sia mauditz lo pairis
que·m fadèt qu'ièu non fos amatz.
Now that the days are long in May
I hear birds' gentle song afar.
When from that song I turn away
my mind turns to my love afar.
Bend with desire, downcast and dour,
no springbird's song or whitethorn flower
can touch me more than winter's chill.
Never will I find joy on earth
in love, without my love afar
who shines above all other worth.
Above all others, near and far
her virtue reigns so true and pure
I'd die a prisoner of war
in Saracen lands to serve her will.
Half grieved, half joyful will I go
once having seen my love afar.
When shall we meet? I do not know,
for our two lands lie far too far.
So many paths by land and sea,
what lies ahead I cannot see
but all things follow God's good will.
What joy, for love of God, will be
there in the lodge of love afar!
I'll lodge with her if she wants me,
although a stranger from afar.
O discourse will be dear the day
I come, her love from faraway,
to hear love's words and take love's fill.
I call him Lord who I believe
shall let me see my love afar,
though for each pleasure I receive
two ills, since she remains so far.
I'd go a pilgrim to that shrine
to see my dust-dark tunic shine
reflected in those bright eyes still.
God who made all things swift and still
and shaped for me my love afar,
grant me a way, I have the will,
to witness my true love afar,
in such a truly pleasant place
that chamber wall and garden space
will seem a palace on a hill.
The truth he speaks who says I yearn
and lust for naught but love afar.
What joy on earth would I not spurn
just to enjoy my love afar?
But what I want is barred with hate.
My godfather1 has fixed my fate
to love well and be treated ill.
Oh what I want I'll never find.
God damn that godfather of mine
who doomed my love to bring me ill.
Notes:
1- An allusion to the belief that children's lives are influenced by the destiny of their godparents.
Trad. A.Z. Foreman
