Song and Legend From the Middle Ages [12]
Early Thirteenth Century.
Lady, the fates command, and I must go,-- Leaving the pleasant land so dear to me: Here my heart suffered many a heavy woe; But what is left to love, thus leaving thee? Alas! that cruel land beyond the sea! Why thus dividing many a faithful heart, Never again from pain and sorrow free, Never again to meet, when thus they part?
I see not, when thy presence bright I leave, How wealth, or joy, or peace can be my lot; Ne'er yet my spirit found such cause to grieve As now in leaving thee; and if thy thought Of me in absence should be sorrow-fraught, Oft will my heart repentant turn to thee, Dwelling in fruitless wishes, on this spot, And all the gracious words here said to me.
O gracious God! to thee I bend my knee, For thy sake yielding all I love and prize; And O, how mighty must that influence be, That steals me thus from all my cherished joys! Here, ready, then, myself surrendering, Prepared to serve thee, I submit; and ne'er To one so faithful could I service bring, So kind a master, so beloved and dear.
And strong my ties,--my grief unspeakable! Grief, all my choicest treasures to resign; Yet stronger still the affections that impel My heart toward Him, the God whose love is mine. That holy love, how beautiful! how strong! Even wisdom's favorite sons take refuge there; 'T is the redeeming gem that shines among Men's darkest thoughts,--for ever bright and fair.
--Tr. by Taylor.
GACE BRULE. Thirteenth Century.
The birds, the birds of mine own land I heard in Brittany; And as they sung, they seemed to me The very same I heard with thee. And if it were indeed a dream, Such thoughts they taught my soul to frame That straight a plaintive number came, Which still shall be my song, Till that reward is mine which love hath promised long.
--Tr. by Taylor.
RAOUL DE SOISSONS. Thirteenth Century.
Ah! beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear! How does my spirit eager pine But once to press those lips of thine!-- Yes, beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear!
And if the theft Thine ire awake, A hundred fold I'd give it back,-- Thou beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear!
--Tr. by Taylor.
LATER FRENCH LYRICS.
During the latter half of the thirteenth century several new and highly artificial forms of verse were developed. The chief of these were the Ballade and Chant Royal, the Rondel, Roudeau, Triolet, Virelay. These are all alike in being short poems, generally treating of love, and making special use of a refrain and the repetition of words and lines. They differ in the number of verses in a stanza, of stanzas In the poem, and the order and number of rhymes. Their poetic value is not great because the poet so easily lost sight of his subject in perfecting his verse form.
A TRIOLET.
Take time while yet it is in view, For fortune is a fickle fair: Days fade, and others spring anew; Then take the moment still in view. What boots to toil and cares pursue? Each month a new moon bangs in air. Take, then, the moment still in view, For fortune is a fickle fair.
--Froissart. Tr. Anonymous.
RONDEL.
Now Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain, And clothes him in the embroidery Of glittering son and clear blue sky. With beast and bird the forest rings, Each in his jargon cries or sings; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain.
River, and fount, and tinkling brook Wear in their dainty livery Drops of silver jewelry; In new-made suit they merry look; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain.
--Charles d'Orleans. Tr. by Longfellow.
THE BALLADE OF DEAD LADIES.
Tell me now in what hidden way is Lady Flora the lovely Roman? Where's Hipparchia, and where is Thais, Neither of them the fairer woman? Where is Echo, beheld of no man, Only heard on river and mere,-- She whose beauty was more than human? .... But where are the snows
Lady, the fates command, and I must go,-- Leaving the pleasant land so dear to me: Here my heart suffered many a heavy woe; But what is left to love, thus leaving thee? Alas! that cruel land beyond the sea! Why thus dividing many a faithful heart, Never again from pain and sorrow free, Never again to meet, when thus they part?
I see not, when thy presence bright I leave, How wealth, or joy, or peace can be my lot; Ne'er yet my spirit found such cause to grieve As now in leaving thee; and if thy thought Of me in absence should be sorrow-fraught, Oft will my heart repentant turn to thee, Dwelling in fruitless wishes, on this spot, And all the gracious words here said to me.
O gracious God! to thee I bend my knee, For thy sake yielding all I love and prize; And O, how mighty must that influence be, That steals me thus from all my cherished joys! Here, ready, then, myself surrendering, Prepared to serve thee, I submit; and ne'er To one so faithful could I service bring, So kind a master, so beloved and dear.
And strong my ties,--my grief unspeakable! Grief, all my choicest treasures to resign; Yet stronger still the affections that impel My heart toward Him, the God whose love is mine. That holy love, how beautiful! how strong! Even wisdom's favorite sons take refuge there; 'T is the redeeming gem that shines among Men's darkest thoughts,--for ever bright and fair.
--Tr. by Taylor.
GACE BRULE. Thirteenth Century.
The birds, the birds of mine own land I heard in Brittany; And as they sung, they seemed to me The very same I heard with thee. And if it were indeed a dream, Such thoughts they taught my soul to frame That straight a plaintive number came, Which still shall be my song, Till that reward is mine which love hath promised long.
--Tr. by Taylor.
RAOUL DE SOISSONS. Thirteenth Century.
Ah! beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear! How does my spirit eager pine But once to press those lips of thine!-- Yes, beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear!
And if the theft Thine ire awake, A hundred fold I'd give it back,-- Thou beauteous maid, Of form so fair! Pearl of the world, Beloved and dear!
--Tr. by Taylor.
LATER FRENCH LYRICS.
During the latter half of the thirteenth century several new and highly artificial forms of verse were developed. The chief of these were the Ballade and Chant Royal, the Rondel, Roudeau, Triolet, Virelay. These are all alike in being short poems, generally treating of love, and making special use of a refrain and the repetition of words and lines. They differ in the number of verses in a stanza, of stanzas In the poem, and the order and number of rhymes. Their poetic value is not great because the poet so easily lost sight of his subject in perfecting his verse form.
A TRIOLET.
Take time while yet it is in view, For fortune is a fickle fair: Days fade, and others spring anew; Then take the moment still in view. What boots to toil and cares pursue? Each month a new moon bangs in air. Take, then, the moment still in view, For fortune is a fickle fair.
--Froissart. Tr. Anonymous.
RONDEL.
Now Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain, And clothes him in the embroidery Of glittering son and clear blue sky. With beast and bird the forest rings, Each in his jargon cries or sings; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain.
River, and fount, and tinkling brook Wear in their dainty livery Drops of silver jewelry; In new-made suit they merry look; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain.
--Charles d'Orleans. Tr. by Longfellow.
THE BALLADE OF DEAD LADIES.
Tell me now in what hidden way is Lady Flora the lovely Roman? Where's Hipparchia, and where is Thais, Neither of them the fairer woman? Where is Echo, beheld of no man, Only heard on river and mere,-- She whose beauty was more than human? .... But where are the snows