prosody | miscellaneous |
Aitals cum ieu seria Si·l poder n'avia, Volgra que [tals] fos Qui n'es poderos. Qu'ieu seria gen tenens D'armas e de vestimens, Seria larcs conduchiers, Seri' en cort ufaniers, Volria domnas vezer, Soven donar mon aver, Seguir guerras e torneis, Agradar mi a dompneis. Aisso·m par que valria Mas que raubairia, Don vei cobeitos Totz nostres baros; Que si vos es plus manens Qu'us autres, e vostras gens, Ajustaran cavalhiers Ab us guarnimens leugiers Per plus leu cossegr' aver, O, s'atrobavon poder, Plus leu fugir, so·m pareis; Aisso tolh pretz e·l descreis. Temps fo qu'om conoissia Drutz quan los vezia, A las grans messios Et als [manhs] belhs dos Et als azautz guarnimens Et als belhs aculhimens. Mai er, qui es belhs parliers, Qu'avers to[r]tz los bos mestiers; Mas ab gienh ni ab saber No pot hom pretz retener, S'ab faitz no·l fai o no·l creis; Aissi vai aquesta leis. Nulhs hom per cortezia No·s desviaria. E si fon sazos Qu'om er' amoros E [que] paria jovens E renhav' entendemens. Mas eras qui vai primiers Penre los buous e·ls boviers, Dizon que sap mais valer. Vos, guardatz s'ilh dizon ver Qui d'aquelh gauazanh mezeis Porton malazautz arneis. |
The thing I would be, if I had such faculty, would be such as has power. For I'd be nicely provided with weapons and clothing, I'd be generous with guests, I'd be sumptuous in court, I'd want to see ladies, give gifts often, follow wars and tournaments, and take pleasure in courting. And this, it seems to me, would be virtue more than rapine of which are fond all our barons; for if you are richer than others, and so are your people, they'll prepare riders with light equipment to snatch the loot more easily, or, if they are met with force, to flee more easily; it'd seem to me that this debases and discredits them. There was a time when one recognized lovers, when he saw them, by their great expenses and by the many beautiful gifts and by the pleasant apparels and by the beautiful receptions. But, today, it's the smooth talkers, for riches corrupt all good qualities; but through ingenuity or through learning one can't keep his virtue unless one establishes or enhances it through [his] actions: such is the way these things go. No man loses himself through courtesy. And there was a time when one was in love and youth showed and congeniality reigned. But now he who first goes get the oxen and the cattlemen is thought of as the most valiant. You, see if they tell the truth, those who, thanks to these same earnings, show themselves in disgraceful attire. |