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Naxos 8.554257 - Music of the Troubadours

Lyrics: French with English translation

[1]

Tant m'abelis

So much I love

- Berenguier de Palou

Tant m'abelis jois et amors et chans

So much I love joy and love and song,

ert alegrier deports e cortezia,

mirth, sport and courtesy,

que l'mon non a ricor ni manentia

that in the world there is no wealth nor riches

don mielhs d'aisso'm tengues per benonans

that could make me feel happier.

doncs, sai ieu ben que midons ten las claus

Therefore I know well that my lady holds the keys

de totz los bes qu'ieu aten ni esper

of all the good that I expect and hope for,

e ren d'aiso sens lieys non puesc aver.

and none of this can I have without her.

Sa gran valors e sos humils semblans

Her great courage and her modest look,

son gen parlar e sa bella paria,

her gentle speech and her fair company

m'an fait ancse voler senhoria

have made me always love her dominion

plus que d'autra qu'ieu vis pueys ni dabans;

more than any other's I have seen before or since;

e si'l sieu cors amoros e suaus

and if her loving and tender heart

e sa merce no'm denha retener,

deigns not to keep me under her mercy,

ja d'als amors no'm pot far mon plazer.

love cannot please me with anything else.

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Tant ai volgut sos bes e sos enans,

So have I wanted her good and her renown,

e dezirat lieys e sa companhia

and so have I desired her and her company

que ja no cre, si lonhar m'en volia

that I believe if she wanted me to leave her

que ja partir s'en pogues mos talans;

I could never be able to part from her;

e s'ieu n'ai dit honor ni be ni laus,

and if I declare her honour, her good and her fame,

no m'en fas ges per messongier tener,

I could not be held to be a liar,

qu'ab sa valor sap ben proar mon ver.

since her worth proves my honesty.

Belha domna, corteza, benestans,

Fair lady, courteous, kind,

ab segur sen, ses blasme ses folhia,

of sure judgement, without blemish or folly,

so tot no'us vey tan soven cum volria,

although I do not see you as often as I would,

mos pessamens aleuja mos afans,

my fancy lightens my desire

en que'm delieyt e'm sojorn e'm repaus

in which is my delight, my ease and my repose,

e quan no'us puesc estiers dels huelhs vezer

and when my eyes cannot see you,

vey vos ades en pessan jor e ser.

I see you in my thoughts, day and night.

Sabetz per que no'm vir ni no'm balans

Do you know why I do not turn aside or hesitate

de vos amar ma belha dous'amia?

in loving you, my fair, gentle friend?

Quar ja no'm cal doptar, si ieu'us avia,

Because if I had you, I should not fear

que mesclessetz falsia ni enjans;

that you put forward any falsehood or deceit;

per qu'ieu am mais, quar sol albirar n'aus

for I prefer, although I only presume it,

que vos puscatz a mos ops eschazer

that you could some day be mine

qu'autra baizar, embrassar ni tener.

than kiss, embrace or hold another woman

Doncs s' eu ja'm vey dins vostres bratz enclaus So if I ever am held in your arms

[2]

si qu'ambeduy nos semblen d'un voler,

so that both of us are of one mind,

meravil me on poiria'l joy caber.

I wonder how I could contain my joy

Domna, pos vos ay chausida

Lady, for you

- Anon.

(Instrumental)

[3]

No puesc sofrir qu'a la dolor

I cannot prevent with pain

- Giraut de Bornelh

Non pusc sofrir qu'a la dolor

I cannot prevent with pain

de la dent la lenga no'm vir;

in a tooth my tongue returning to it;

e'l cr amb la novla flor,

so does my heart to the new flower,

lanquand vei los ramls florir

when I see the boughs blossom

e'lh chant son pel bascatge

and through the woodland sounds the song

dels auselets enamorats;

of birds in love;

e si tot m'esau apensats

although I am pensive

ni pres per malauratge,

and sad in my thoughts,

quand vei chants e vergirs e prats,

when I see these songs and meadows and fields,

ieu renovl e m'assola.

I am renewed and comforted.

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Ar me puesc ieu lauzar d'Amor

Now I can be satisfied with Love

Peire Cardenal (contrafactum)

Ar me puesc ieu lauzar d'Amor,

Now I can be satisfied with Love,

que no'm tol manjar ni dormir;

for he takes from me neither eating nor sleeping;

ni'n sen friedura ni calor

nor through him do I feel cold or heat,

ni no'm badall ni so'm sospir

nor do I yawn or sigh,

ni'n vauc de nueg arratge,

nor do I wander at night,

ni'n soi conquistz ni'n soi cochatz,

nor am I conquered or weighed down,

ni'n soi dolenz ni'n soi iratz,

nor am I sad or vexed,

ni no'n logi messatge;

nor do I hire a messenger;

ni'n soi trazitz ni enganatz,

nor am I betrayed or deceived,

que partitz m'en soi ab mos datz.

since I am parted from her by cast of dice.

Autre plazer ni ieu maior,

I have a greater pleasure,

que no'n traisc ni fauc trair,

since I betray not nor am betrayed,

ni'n tem tracheiris ni trachor,

nor fear traitress nor traitor ,

ni brau gilos que mn azir;

nor do I fear fierce jealousy;

ni'n fauc fol vassallatge,

nor do I suffer angry servitude,

ni'n soi feritz ni derocatz,

nor am I injured nor overthrown,

ni'n soi pres ni deraubatz,

nor am I captive nor captured,

ni no'n fauc long badatge,

nor do I suffer long-delayed hope,

ni dic qu'eu soi d'Amor forsatz,

nor do I say that I am forsaken by Love,

5
ni dic que mos cors ms emblatz.

nor say that my heart has been taken from me.

Ni dic qu'ieu mor per la gensor,

Nor do I say I die for the most amiable,

ni dic que.l bella.m fai languir,

nor say that the fair one makes me languish,

ni non la prec ni non l'azor,

nor do I beg her nor adore her ,

ni la deman ni la dezir;

nor long for her nor yearn for her;

ni no.l fas homenatge,

nor do I do homage to her ,

ni no.l m'autrei ni.l me soi datz,

nor do I submit to her nor give myself up,

ni non soi sieus endomenjatz,

nor am I her servant,

ni a mon cor en gatge,

nor is my heart in thrall,

ni soi sos pres ni sos liatz,

nor am I her captive nor her bond-slave,

anz dic qu'ieu li sol escapatz.

but I say I have escaped from her.

Mais deu hom lauzar vensedor

But the victor deserves praise

no fai venut, qui.l ver vol dir,

rather than the conquered, to speak truth,

car lo vencens porta la flor

for the victor bears the flower

e.l venut vai hom sebelir;

and the conquered the grave;

e qui venc son coratge

and he who conquers his spirit

de las desleials voluntatz

away from disloyal desires

don ieis lo faitz desmezuratz

from which proceed unruly actions

e li autre autratge,

and further excesses,

d'aquel venser es plus onratz

for that victory is the more honoured

que si vensia cent ciutatz.

who has conquered a hundred cares.

[4]

Pauc pres prim prec de pregador,

Little do I value the suppliant's keen prayer,

car cre quil, cuy quer convertir,

for he believes that he whom he would persuade,

vir vas vil voler sa valor,

will bend his will to base desire,

don dreitz deu dar dan al partir,

that rightly should bring him death,

si sec son sen salvatge,

if he follows his wild feeling,

leu ler lo larcx laus lag loinhats.

he will soon lose his good name;

Plus pres lauzables que lauzatz:

I value more the praiseworthy than the praised:

trop ten estreg ostatge

held secure as a hostage

dreitz drutz del dart d'Amor nafratz.

is the perfect lover, struck by Love's dart.

Pus pauc pres, pus pres es compratz.

Then if merit is bought, it is of worth little.

Non voilh voler volatge

I want no changing desire

que'm volv em vir mas voluntaz

that pulls at me and changes my will

mas lai on mos vols es volatz.

except towards that to which my love takes flight.

Bujo

Bujo

(Instrumental)

[5]

Bel mes queu chant

It is fine to sing

- Raimon de Miraval

Bel m'es qu'eu chant e coindei

It is fine to sing and to love,

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pos l'aur'es dous'e.l temps gais,

for the air is sweet and the weather fair,

e per vergiers e per plais

and through the meadows and hedge-rows

aug lo retint e.l gabei

I hear the warbling and singing

que fant l'auzeillet menut

of the little birds

entre.l vert e.l blanc e.l vaire;

amid the green, the white and the varied;

adoncs se deuri'atraire

So, then, he who would

cel que voi c'amors l'ajut

that love help him

vas chaptenenssa de drut.

must try to behave like a lover.

Eu no sui drutz mos dompnei,

I am not a lover, but a suitor,

ni no tem pena ni fais

and I fear neither pain nor grief,

ni.m rancur leu ni m'irai,

nor easily do I complain or become angry,

ni per orguoill no m'esfrei;

nor does pride frighten me;

pero temenssa.m fai mut,

but fear makes me silent,

c'a la bella de bon aire

for to the fair and favoured one

non aus mostrar ni retraire

I dare not show nor speak of

mon cor qu'ill tenc rescondut,

my heart, that I keep hidden,

pois aic son pretz conogut.

since I have learnt her worth.

Ja non cre c'ab leis parei

I do not believe that ever can be compared

beutatz d'autra dompna mais,

her beauty with that of another lady,

que flors de rosier qan nais

for the flower of the rose, when it is born,

non es plus fresca de lei,

is not fresher than she is,

[6]

cors ben fait e gen cregut,

her body well made and grown in grace,

boch'et oills del mon esclaire;

her mouth and eyes lighting up the world;

c'anc Beutatz plus no.i saup faire,

No greater beauty can there be,

se.i mes tota sa vertut

in her lies all its virtue

qe res no.il b'es remosut.

so that none remains besides.

Chanssos, vai me dir al rei

Song, go speak for me to the king

cui jois guid'e vest e pais,

who guides, forms and nurtures joy,

q'en lui non a ren biais,

in whom there is nothing base,

c'aital cum ieu vuoill lo vei;

that I see him as I wish,

ab que cobre Montagut

that he may recapture Carcassonne

e Carcasson'el repaire;

from Montagut and return;

pois er de pretz emperaire,

he will be a worthy emperor,

e doptaran son escut

and there will fear his power

sai frances e lais masmut.

the French and the Arabs.

Cantaben els ocells

The birds were singing

- Ramon Llull

Cantaben els ocells l'alba,

The birds were singing the dawn,

i es despert l'amat qui e, l'alba;

and the beloved awoke, who is the dawn;

e los aucells finiren llur cant;

and the birds finished their song;

i l'amic mor per l'amat. en l'alba,

and the lover died for the beloved, at the dawn.

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[7]

Ai tal domna

Such a lady

- Berenguier de Palou

[8]

Ai tal domna com ieu sai

Such a lady as I know,

richa e de blas faions,

noble and fair in demeanour ,

amb cors convenent e gai,

with gentle, well-favoured body,

amb dichs plasentirs e bons,

pleasing words and good,

si volgus prcs ni demandas sofrir,

allowing any requests and demands,

degra [m onrar, car tener e servir,

her you would have to honour, cherish and serve,

que no'i falh ren quen bona domna sia,

for she lacks nothing of what befits a good lady,

mas car Amors y perd sa senhoria.

so that Love loses his dominion over her.

Estampie: Reis glorios

Estampie: Reis glorios

(Instrumental)

[9]

Ara lausatz, lausat, lausat

Praise, now, praise, praise

- Anon. (Monastery of Sant Joan de les

Abadesses, Catalonia)

Ara lausatz, lausat, lausat,

Praise now, praise, praise,

il comandament l'abat.

the abbot's command.

Bela, si vos eravatz monja

Fair one, if you were a nun

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de nstra maison,

in our house,

a profich e tots los monges

to the profit of all the monks

vos prenditz liurason.

you would take tribute.

Mas vos non estaretc, bela,

But you shall not pass a day, fair one,

si tots jorns enversa non,

except on your back,

o ditz l'abat.

so the abbot says.

[10] Humils, forfaitz, repres e penedens

Humble, sinful, accused and penitent

- Guiraut Riquier

Humils, forfaitz, repres e penedens,

Humble, sinful, accused and penitent,

entristezits, marritz de revenir

saddened, afflicted I am in my return,

so, qu ay perdut de mon temps per falhir.

for I have wasted my time in sinning.

Vos clam merce, Dona, Verges plazens,

I seek mercy, Lady, Virgin kind,

maires de Crist, filh del tot poderos,

mother of Christ, son of the all-powerful,

que no gardetz cum suy forfaitz vas vos;

that you consider not my sin against you;

si us plai, gardatz l'ops. de m'arma marrida.

consider, if it please you, the need of my afflicted soul.

Mas esper ai que'm siatz vos guirens

But I have hope that you will protect me

del greu perilh mortai que'm fa marrir,

in the grave mortal danger that afflicts me,

de que no puesc per ren ses vos issir;

from which I can in no way escape without you;

tans e tan greus trobi mos fallimens!

so great and so grave are our sins!

E donc pregatz vostre Filh glorios

Pray, then, your glorious Son

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que'm fassa far sos plazers e mos pros,

that he make me do his will, for my own good,

qu'aissi'm podetz tornar de mort a vida.

so can you bring me from death to life.

Per nos, Dona, verges regina, fos

For us, Lady, Virgin Queen, you were

maires del filh de Dieu tot poderos:

mother of the Son of God all-powerful:

donx acaptaz d'elh a nos esta guida.

then take from him this guide for us.

[11] Quan vei la lauzeta mover

When I see the lark move

- Bernart de Ventadom

Quan vei la lauzeta mover

When I see the lark move

de joi sas alas contra'l rai,

for joy his wings in the sun,

que s'oblid'e's laissa chazer

and disappear and swoop

per la doussor c'al cor li vai,

for the delight that comes to his heart,

ai tan grans enveya m'en ve

great envy comes upon me

de cui qu'eu veya jauzion,

at one so joyful,

meravilhas ai, car desse

and I wonder that in an instant

lo cor de dezirer no'm fon.

my heart does not faint for desire.

Ai, las! tan cuidava saber

Ay, alas! I thought I knew much

d'amor e tan petit en sai!

of love and I know so little!

car eu d'amar no'm posc tener

for I cannot forbear to love her

celeis don ja pro non aurai.

from whom I shall have nothing.

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

She has stolen my heart and my being,

e se mezeis'e tot lo mon;

and for herself the whole world;

e can se'm tolc, no'm laisset re

and when I am parted from her, there is nothing

mas dezirer e cor volo.

other than desire and my yearning heart.

Anc non agui de me poder

Never more have I power over myself

ni no fui meus de l'or en sai

nor was I myself from the moment

que'm laisset en sos olhs vezer

that my eyes saw her

en un miralh que mout me plai.

in a mirror that pleased me much.

Miralhs, pus me mirei en te,

A mirror, since the time I saw you,

m'an mort li sospir de preon,

deep sighs have brought death to me,

c'aissi'm perdei com perdei se

so that I am lost as was lost

lo bels Narcisus en la font.

fair Narcissus in the fountain.

De las domnas me dexesper;

Of ladies I despair;

ja mais en lor no'm fiarai;

never more shall I trust them

c'aissi com las solh chaptener,

and as I once defended them,

enaissi las dechaptenrai.

so shall I forsake them.

Pois vei c'una pro no m'en te

Since I see that none help me against her

vas leis que'm destrui e'm cofon,

who destroys and confounds me,

totas las dopt'e las mescre,

I fear them all and mistrust them,

car be sai c'atretals se son.

for I know they are all alike.

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D'aisso's fa be femna parer

In this does show herself true woman

ma domna per qu'elh o retrai,

my lady, for which I blame her,

car no vol so c'om deu voler,

since she wants not what she should

e so c'om li deveda fai,

and does what is forbidden.

Chazutz sui en mala merce

I am fallen in disgrace

et ai be faih co'l fols en pon;

and have acted like a fool on the bridge;

e no sai per que m'esdeve,

and I do not know what is happening to me,

mas car trop puyei contra mon.

unless I have aimed too high.

Merces es perduda, per ver

Truly, pity is lost

et eu non o saubi anc mai

and I never thought it,

car eilh qui plus en degr'aver,

for she who ought to have much

no'n a ges; et on la querrai?

has none; and where shall I seek it?

A! can mal sembla, qui la ve,

Ah! how hard to believe, when I see

qued aquest chaitiu deziron

how she leaves to die

que ja ses leis non aura be,

and gives no help to the lover

laisse morir, que no l'aon.

who without her has nothing.

Pus ab midons no'm pot valer

Since with my lady there is no value

precs ni merces ni'l dreihz qu'eu ai,

in prayers nor pity nor the right I have,

ni a leis no ven a plazer

and it not pleasing to her

qu'eu l'am, ja mais no'lh o dirai.

that I love her, I shall say it no more.

Aissi'm part fr leis e'm recre;

So, then, I shall keep away from her and desist;

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mort m'a, e per mort li respon,

She has brought death to me, and in death I reply,

e vau m'en, pus il h no'm rete,

and go, now that nothing holds me back,

chaitius, en issilh, no sai on.

disgraced, to exile, I know not where.

Tristans, ges no'm auretz de me,

Tristan, from me you will have nothing,

qu'eu m'en vau, chaitius no sai on.

since I go, disgraced, I know not where.

De chantar me gic e'm recre,

I give up singing and refrain,

e de joi e d'amor m'escon.

and shun joy and love.

[12] Lanquand li jorn son lonc en mai

When the days are long in May

Jaufre Rudel

Lanquand li jorn son lonc en mai

When the days are long in May

m'es bels douz chans d'auzels de loing

then pleases me the song of birds afar

e qand me sui partitz de lai

and when I have gone from there

remembra.m d'un amor de loing.

I remember my love afar.

Vauc de talan embroncs e clis,

Troubled and oppressed by longing,

si que chans ni flors d'albespis

I go, so that song nor whitethorn flower

no.m platz plus que l'iverns gelatz.

pleases me more than icy winter.

Ja mais d'amor no.m gauzirai

Never more shall I enjoy love

si no.m gau d'est amor de loing

if I enjoy it not from far

que gensor ni meillor non sai

since no kinder or better do I know

15
vas nuilla part, ni pres ni loing.

anywhere, near or far.

Tant es sos pretz verais e fis

Her worth is so true and pure

que lai el renc dels sarrazis

that in the realm of the Saracens

fos eu, per lieis, chaitius clamatz!

you would be declared love's captive!

Iratz e gauzens m'en partrai

Sad and happy shall I go

qan veirai cest'amor de loing

when I see this love afar

mas non sai coras la.m veirai

but I know not when I shall see her

car trop son nostras terras loing.

for our lands are far apart.

Assatz y a portz e camis!

There are too many gates and roads!

E, per aisso, non sui devis ...

And, for this reason, I am no soothsayer

Mas tot sia cum Dieu platz!

But may all be as God pleases!

Be.m parra jois qan li qerrai

Joy is mine when I seek her

per Amor Dieu, l'Amor de loing;

through God's Love, Love from afar;

e, s'a lieis plai, albergarai

and, if he pleases, I shall take shelter

pres de lieis, si be.m sui de loing!

near her, though I am far away!

Adoncs parra'l parlamens fis

Then there will be gentle talk

qand drutz loindas, er tan vezis

when, a distant lover, I shall be so near

c'ab bels digz jauzirai solatz.

that I shall take comfort from her fair words.

Ben tenc lo Seignor per ferai

I hold him Lord indeed, through whom

per q'ieu veirai l'Amor de loing;

I shall see Love afar;

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mas, per un ben que m'en eschai,

but, as to a benefit to come to me,

n'ai dos mals, car tant m'es de loing...

I have doubts, for from me she is so far

Ai! car me fos lai peleris

Ay! If I were a pilgrim,

si que mos fustz e mos tapis

and my staff and cloak

fos pelz sieus bels huoills remirtz!

were seen by her fair eyes!

Dieus, qe fetz tot qant ve ni vai

God, who made all that goes and comes

e fermet cest'Amor de loing,

and confirmed this Love afar,

me don poder, qe'l cor eu n'ai,

give me power, the heart I have,

q'en breu veia l'Amor de loing,

that soon I may see my Love afar,

veraiament, en locs aizis,

truly, in a suitable place,

si qe la cambra e.l jardis

so that the chamber and the garden

mi resembles totz temps palatz!

may seem ever a palace!

Ver ditz qui,'apella lechai

He tells the truth who calls me greedy

ni desiran d'Amor de loing

and desirous of Love afar

car nuills autre jois tant no.m plai

for no other joy pleases me

cum jauzimens d'Amor de loing.

as much as the enjoyment of Love afar.

Mas so q'eu vuoill m'es tant ahis

But what I want is so forbidden

q'enaissi.m fadet mos pairis

since my Lord has decreed

q'ieu ames e non fos amatz!

that I love and be not loved!

Mas so q'ieu vuoill m'es tant ahis!

But what I want is so forbidden!

17
Tot sia mauditz la pairis

Cursed be my Lord

qe.m fadet q'ieu non fos amatz!

who has decreed that I be not loved!

English versions by Keith Anderson

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