English translation [LP] I. If my song were about joy and social life I know it would be hugely appreciated, so I was feeling inclined and disposed to sing of love; but now I have decided against this. Anyone who is sad sings poorly of joy, and for this reason I turn my singing to complaints, and marvel how anyone who holds to religion and faith and Christianity can live joyfully, since we can hear the cries and groans and weeping of the Sepulchre but to no avail. II. Jerusalem is an abandoned place. Do you know why? Peace has failed, for according to true allegory Jerusalem means «vision of peace», but the war of the two great crowned potentates has expelled peace here and elsewhere, and they make no sign of desiring peace. I do not say whose fault it is; but whoever of these two great lords is to blame, may God amend him or swiftly put him to death! III. Great is the grief for the knights who have died in Syria, and greater would it be had God not taken them into his company; yet I hardly see those over here burning to recover the holy inheritances. Ah, knights, are you afraid of death? I believe that if the Turks fled from the banner (of Christ) or were like the Sardinian deer, they would find huntsmen enough; but anyone who makes no move has few in his army. IV. If the French king were not convinced of the need for this aid I should be very surprised, as God has granted him such powerful lordship; but if he should provide it, let him bring the support swiftly, for the gift that has delayed too long is wasted. And may the English king be moved to help, and remember the valiant King Richard, and pass over the sea with a mighty force, and not dissimulate, for one can distinguish between counterfeit and true friends at moments of greatest need. V. If I were head of the Germans their whole cavalry would make the passage, and I would not excuse the Spaniards either, even though they have the evil Saracens close by, since it was not they who ruined the Sepulchre where God lay and rose again. I marvel how people can make the sign of the cross when no-one has any intention of supporting it, and I marvel whence comes such great blindness that people cannot distinguish shameful things from honourable ones. VI. Count of Provence, the Sepulchre would be swiftly liberated if your wealth climbed as high as the worth that guides you, for you love God and good honourable people and conduct yourself righteously in all matters; because of you valour is still alive. But I do not feel like pressing you to make the passage, for it is needful that your valour should defend the Church here against such warmongers [by comparison with which] you will never find worse Turks overseas! VII. Pontiff, I think it would be helpful for you to make peace or war, whichever is advantageous, for if you always travel along the well-worn path, the Holy Sepulchre will not be ressurrected by you. VIII. Emperor, remember to bring support, for God through whom each king reigns asks this of you; and grant pardon here and aid there, for death is more powerful than emperors.
Italian translation [lb] I. Se la mia canzone fosse di gioia e di mondanità so che sarebbe molto apprezzata, così mi sentivo incline e disposto a cantare d’amore, ma ora ho preso una decisione contraria. Chi è triste canta male di gioia e per questo ho votato il mio canto ai lamenti e mi meraviglio che chiunque tenga alla religione e alla fede e alla cristianità possa vivere gioiosamente, dal momento che possiamo sentire i gemiti e le grida e il pianto del Sepolcro, ma invano. II. Gerusalemme è un luogo abbandonato. Sapete perché? Perché manca la pace, infatti secondo la giusta allegoria Gerusalemme significa «visione di pace», ma la guerra dei due grandi potentati coronati ha allontanato la pace qui e altrove, e non danno alcun segno di volere la pace. Non dico di chi è la colpa, ma chiunque di questi due grandi signori sia responsabile, che Dio lo raddrizzi o lo metta a morte presto! III. Grande è il dolore per i cavalieri che sono morti in Siria, e maggiore dovrebbe essere se Dio non li avesse presi nella sua compagnia; ma io non vedo proprio costoro ardere per recuperare la santa eredità. Ah, cavalieri, avete paura della morte? Io credo che se i Turchi fuggissero davanti all’insegna (di Cristo) o fossero come il cervo sardo, troverebbero cacciatori in abbondanza; ma chi non si muove ha poca gente nel suo esercito. IV. Se il re francese non fosse convinto della necessità di questo aiuto sarei molto sorpreso, dal momento che Dio gli ha concesso una signoria così potente; ma se lo deve dare, che porti il suo aiuto rapidamente, perché un dono rimandato troppo a lungo è sprecato. E possa il re inglese essere indotto ad aiutare, e si ricordi del valoroso re Riccardo, e passi il mare con una grande forza, e non finga, perché si può distinguere tra falsi e veri amici nei momenti di maggior bisogno. V. Se fossi il capo dei Tedeschi tutta la loro cavalleria farebbe il passaggio, e non giustificherei nemmeno gli Spagnoli, sebbene abbiano vicini i perfidi Saraceni, dal momento che non furono loro a distruggere il Sepolcro dove Dio giacque e risorse. Mi meraviglio come la gente possa fare il segno della croce quando nessuno ha intenzione di sostenerla, e mi meraviglio da dove venga una così grande cecità che le persone non sono in grado di distinguere le cose vergognose da quelle onorevoli. VI. Conte di Provenza, il Sepolcro sarebbe rapidamente liberato se il vostro patrimonio fosse alto quanto il valore che vi guida, poiché voi amate Dio e le buone persone di valore e vi comportate rettamente in tutte le azioni; grazie a voi il valore è ancora vivo. Ma io non me la sento di spingervi a fare il passaggio, perché è necessario che il vostro valore difenda la Chiesa qui contro tali guerrafondai [che in confronto a loro] non troverete mai Turchi peggiori al di là del mare! VII. Pontefice, penso che vi convenga fare la pace o la guerra, a seconda di quale sia più vantaggiosa, perché se continuate sempre lungo la solita via, il Santo Sepolcro non sarà rialzato da voi. VIII. Imperatore, ricordatevi di portare soccorso, perché Dio, per il quale ogni re regna, ve lo chiede, e concedete qui il perdono e là l’aiuto, perché la morte è più potente degli imperatori.
Text: Branciforti 1954 (XX), with minor modifications. – Rialto 26.x.2012. Notes: The song must date from after the news reached the West of the sack of Jerusalem and destruction of the Holy Sepulchre by the Khwarizmians on 11 August 1244 (vv. 45-46) and, given the reference to the knights who have died in Syria (v. 22), most probably the disastrous defeat of the Christians at La Forbie (Harbiyah) on October 17. If the count of Provence (v. 51) is Raimon Berenguer V, it must have been composed before his death in August 1245; if the count is Charles of Anjou, who succeeded Raimon in 1246 through his marriage to Raimon’s daughter, it could date from a few years later, up until Louis IX’s crusade in 1248. However, Bertoni (I trovatori d’Italia, Modena 1915, p. 558) argues persuasively that this is much less likely, since the praise of the count in vv. 51-60 is more easily explained by reference to Raimon Berenguer whose ability as a prince was well established, whereas Charles had met with considerable hostility and difficulties in Provence. Moreover Lanfranc does not seem to have heard that Louis IX has taken the cross (note the conditionals in vv. 31-34), which he did in December 1244 (compare 282.20, 17-20), and the tone of the song suggests the events to which it refers are recent. – Line 6: Bertoni and Branciforti print pero; Bertoni’s translation «Epperò» gives an illogical sequence to the argument, while Branciforti’s «E quindi» gives the right sense but does not translate the edited text, which should be rendered as per o. – Line 15: the «two great crowned potentates» are Pope Innocent IV and the Emperor Frederick II. At the council of Lyon on 17 July 1245 Innocent excommunicated his enemy after declaring him a heretic. – Line 28 (see Italian note): I translate on the basis of Jeanroy’s proposed emendation of tan to tal. The sense is that knights would be willing enough to fight if the Turks were to flee like hunted deer. – Lines 59-60: Branciforti places a full stop at the end of 59. In the absence of an antecedent to which aitals can refer, I take it to be equivalent to tals and to anticipate the content of v. 60. For parataxis in clauses of intensity following an antecedent marking degree or manner, such as tan, si or tal, see Jensen, Syntaxe, § 789. – Line 68: the point is that the emperor, Frederick II, should do the right thing before death takes him and he is judged before God. [LP, lb]
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