Performing Matters - August 2000
QUADRUPLUM
Par un matinet l'autrier
oï chanter un fou bergier,
s'en sui esmuz,
qui se vantoit qu'il ot geü
tout nuz
entre les deus braz s'amie.
Il se vantoit de folie,
car tel amour est vilaine; mes j'ain certes plus
loialment que nus.
Puis que bele dame m'aime,
je ne dement plus.
The other morning
I heard a foolish shepherd singing
and I was annoyed,
for he boasted that he had lain
quite naked
in the arms of his sweetheart.
This was a foolish boast,
for love of this kind is disgraceful;
but I am sure
that I love more nobly than any.
Since a fair lady loves me,
I am no longer sad.
MOTETUS
Hé, bergier! si grant envie
j'ai de toi,
de ce que si bone vie
as envers moi;
onques loialté ne foi
trover n'i poi
la ou je l'ai deservie.
Et toi, qui de rien servie
n'as amours, joïr t'en voi
et vanter toi:
'En l'aunai,
ju en l'aunai
os braz m'amie.'
Hey, shepherd! I am so envious
of you
since you lead such a merry life
compared to me;
I have never found loyalty
or faithfulness
where I have deserved it.
But as for you
who have done nothing to serve Love,
I see you rejoicing and boasting:
'Beneath the alders
I lay beneath the alders
in the arms of my sweetheart.'
TRIPLUM
Hé, sire! qui vos vantez
que vos avez
deservie
cortoisie
et loialté,
tel folie
ne dites mie
qu'en vostre amie
tel vilanie
aiez trouvé;
et reprové
m'avex fausement,
c'onques amour
nul jour
ne servi loialment:
Nunques mes ne les senti,
les maus d'amour mes orendroit.
Hey, sir! you who boast
that you have
deserved
courtesy
and loyalty,
do not say
such a foolish thing
as that you have found
such baseness
in your sweetheart;
and you were wrong
to accuse me
of never
having served
Love loyally:
I have never
felt the pangs of love till now.