English translation [LP]

I. She could never have brought more shame upon herself than to dismiss and repel me. But since my lady has wished it so, and it pleases her to break our bond and leave me, it does me no harm if she lays other people’s babies in my cradle: I’ve grown out of her.
II. Foolish person, once she bewitches you, you put up with it! You’re acting like an idiot, for she strips herself of all joy and scrubs and scours herself clean of merit. Let the pomp and celebration of love be abandoned once and for all, because if she wishes it, I wish it twice as much.
III. The lord who rules Mantes and Murol has become a tercel instead of a female hawk. Let’s hope he doesn’t stay here! If he went overseas, Edessa, the god Tervagan, Aleppo and Syria would be his, and he would make a godchild of the Persians (convert them).
IV. Go to my Yes-and-No, Papiol: he reigns over Bristol, Northampton, Sussex, London, Titgrave, Carhaix, Rouen, Thouars and Caen. Since he has all that he desires, let him hurry here!
V. Between the Dordogne and Charente he shows himself too soft, according to what Sir Auriol tells me, for he hasn’t yet conquered anything. And he’ll be put to shame if he relaxes and leaves his customary enemies prosperous, fat and rebellious and powerful.
VI. He clinks goblets, cups, silver jugs and kettles, and goes hunting along the riverbanks and in the forests, and here he used to seize and give! He shouldn’t steer clear of hardship: mêlées and tumult, wars and discord will be to his advantage.
VII. Fair-Lord, you’ll be a hypocrite if you don’t feel for my misfortune.
VIII. Marinier (Sailor), it’s hypocrisy that takes love away from lovers.
 

Italian translation [lb]

I. Mai ella ha potuto attirarsi tanto biasimo che congedandomi e prendendomi in avversione. Ma poiché la mia signora ha voluto così e le aggrada di rompere il nostro legame e di abbandonarmi, non provo alcun fastidio se corica i bambini di altri nella mia culla: io sono cresciuto.
II. Spirito insensato, non appena lei ti ammalia, tu lo patisci! E agisci come un vero pazzo, poiché ella si spoglia di ogni gioia, si pulisce e si lava di ogni merito. Che siano abbandonate per sempre la pompa dell’amore e la sua celebrazione, perché se lei lo vuole, io lo voglio il doppio.
III. Il signore che possiede Mantes e Murol da grande astore è diventato terzuolo; almeno che non resti qui! Sarebbero suoi, se partisse laggiù, Edessa, il dio Tervagan, Aleppo e la Siria e convertirebbe i Persiani.
IV. Recati dal mio Sì-e-No, Papiol: egli regna su Bristol, Northampton, il Sussex, Londra, Titgrave, Carhaix, Rouen, Thouars e Caen. Poiché egli ha tutto ciò che desidera, che si precipiti qui!
V. Tra la Dordogna e la Charente egli si mostra troppo tenero, da quel che mi ha detto Auriol, poiché non vi ha ancora fatto conquiste. E sarà coperto di vergogna se si acquieta e lascia prosperi, grassi, ribelli e potenti coloro che non ama.
VI. Egli brandisce nappi, coppe, brocche d’argento e paioli e si dedica alla caccia sulle rive dei fiumi e nelle foreste, lui che era abituato qui a prendere e a dare! Non deve volgere le spalle alle sofferenze: mischie, tumulto, guerre e discordia saranno a suo vantaggio.
VII. Bel-Signore, non sareste che un ipocrita se non provaste dolore davanti alla mia sventura.
VIII. Marinaio, è l’ipocrisia che toglie l’amore agli amanti.

Text: Gouiran 1985 (XXXI). – Rialto 5.i.2010.

Mss.: C 143v, I 177r, K 162v, M 229v, d 282.

Critical editions: Albert Stimming, Bertran de Born, sein Leben und seine Werke, mit Anmerkung und Glossar, Halle 1879, p. 130 (III); Antoine Thomas, Poésies complètes de Bertran de Born, publiées dans le texte original, avec une introduction, des notes, un glossaire et des extraits du cartulaire de Dalon, Toulouse 1888, p. 87 (XXIII); Albert Stimming, Bertran von Born, Halle 1892, p. 102 (XXII); Albert Stimming, Bertran von Born, zweite, verbesserte Auflage, Halle 1913, p. 105 (XXI); Gérard Gouiran, L’amour et la guerre. L’oeuvre de Bertran de Born, 2 voll., Aix-en-Provence 1985, vol. II, p. 631; William D. Paden - Tilde Sankovitch - Patricia H. Stäblein, The poems of the Troubadour Bertran de Born, Berkley-Los Angeles 1986, p. 388 (XXXVII).

Versification: a7’ b3 b5 c7 d 7’e3 f3 f5 g5 f3 (Frank 764:1); five coblas unissonans and two three-line tornadas. The versification is identical in all respects to a canso of Raimbaut d’Aurenga (BdT 389.12), from which it derives.

Notes: The text dates from the period following Richard the Lionheart’s coronation on 3 September 1189 and the early months of 1190, when he was passing through Aquitaine before leaving on crusade (see Gouiran, p. 631). – Lines 7-10: the general sense is that whatever the lady does now leaves him cold since he is no longer a baby to be taken in by her wiles (see v. 11). But why ‘other people’s babies’, suggestive of illegitimate children, rather than ‘other babies’? – Lines 21-22: King Philippe-Auguste of France. – Lines 23-24: the male tercel was considered less vigorous or good for hunting than the female hawk. – Line 51: I follow here the translation of Paden - Sankovitch - Stäblein, p. 395.

[LP, lb]

BdT    Bertran de Born

Songs referring to the crusades