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| prosody | miscellaneous |
Ben vuelh que sapchon li pluzor D'un vers, si-s de bona color Qu'ieu ai trag de mon obrador, Qu'ieu port d'ayselh mestier la flor, Et es vertatz, E puesc en trair lo vers auctor, Quant er lassatz. Eu conosc ben sen e folor, E conosc anta et henor, Et ai ardiment e paor; E si-m partetz un juec d'amor, No suy tan fatz No sapcha triar lo melhor Entre-ls malvatz. Eu conosc ben selh qui be-m di E selh qui-m vol mal atressi E conosc be selluy qui-m ri; E si-ll pro s'azauton de mi, Conosc assatz: Qu'atressi dei voler lor fi E lor solatz. Ja ben aya selh qui-m noyri, Que tan bo mestier m'eschari Que anc a negu no-n falhi: Que de jogar sobre coyssi, A totz tocatz Mais en say que nulh mo vezi, Qual que-m vejatz. Dieus en lau e sanh Jolia: Tant ai apres del joc doussa Que sobre totz n'ai bona ma, E selh qui cosselh me querra No l'er vedatz, Ni us de mi non tornara Descosselhatz. Qu'ieu ai nom "maistre certa": Ja m'amigu'anueg no m'aura Que no-m vuelh'aver l'endema! Qu'ieu suy d'aquest mestier, so-m va, Tan ensenhatz Que be-n sai gazanhar mon pa En totz mercatz. Pero no m'auzetz tan guabier Qu'ieu non fos rahuzatz l'autrier, Que jogav'a un joc grossier Que-m fon trop bos el cap primier Tro fo taulatz; Quan gardiey, no m'ac plus mestier: Si-m fon camjatz. Mas elha-m dis un reprovier: "Don, vostre datz son menudier" "Et ieu revit vos a doblier, Fis-m ieu:qui-m dava Monpeslier Non er laissatz!" E leviey un pauc son taulier Ab ams mos bratz. E quan l'aic levat lo taulier Empeys los datz: E-ill duy foron cairat vallier, E-l terz plombatz. E fi-l ben ferir al taulier, E fon joguatz. |
I would well like most people to know whether this verse is well crafted. I produce it from my workshop, since I am really the champion of this art and it is true and I bring as a witness this verse itself when it is done. I know wisdom and foolishness well, and I know shame and honour and I have both fear and courage; and if you propose a love-game I am not so fatuous that I can't tell the best one among the mediocre. I know well those who mean well and those who hate me as well and I know who makes merry with me; and if gentlemen enjoy my company, I am quite aware that I have to take care of their comfort and of their amusement. Be blessed the one who took care of my upbringing and taught me such a good occupation which never failed me because when it comes to board-playing for every fret I know more than any of my neighbours no matter what you see me trying. I thank god and Saint Julian: I have learned so much about the sweet game that I am more skilled than anybody else, and he who asks for my advice won't be denied it, nor will anyone come back from me with bad advice. Since I have for a nickname "Infallible Master": never will my mistress have me one night and not wish to have me the next day! Because in this trade I am (and I freely say it) so expert that I can earn my living in every market. However, I am not so big that I wasn't defeated the other day when I was playing for a big stake and the preliminaries were all in my favour until the game was laid out: when I looked at it, it wasn't of any use anymore, it had changed on me. But she reproached me: "Sir, your dice are small" "And I will double the stakes:" Said I "Even if they gave me Montpellier, I wouldn't resign!" And I lifted her board a little with both arms. And after having lifted the board, I threw the dice, and the first two were good points and the third was loaded. And I had it hit the board well, and it was game. |