I. Singing becomes painful for me when I remember Sir Barral, and since I care no more about love, I do not know how or of what to sing; but everyone is asking for a song and they do not care about the topic: so I need to make it anew, with the words and the melody; and since without love I am forced to sing through a debt of folly, my song will be excellent even if it is neither bad nor good.

II. Lovers are all the same, and likewise the greedy rich, for with searing pain they constantly diminish their joy the more they have of it: they are like a window that grows smaller if it is leaned against; the more a man captures what he is hunting, the more he is motivated to pursue the hunt; so I consider as better than a king or an emperor the man who vanquishes both those bad qualities which vanquish most of the barons.

III. It would be good if people valued God as much as themselves, and good as much as wickedness! But people value what is worthless and consider their advantage as harm; so I do not dare speak in song of what is to your advantage, for this does not please the world, nor do I believe it will like anyone who tells it of anything that is not to their detriment; but yet I can speak of the dishonour if the Turks are conquered or brought low by each other, since all the conquered conquer us.

IV. They certainly do conquer us, since we make no attempt to redeem the mortal shame, and if we were loyal it would bring us to great honour; for it was a courtly device of God that [even] the rich, who prove more fragile than ice if they are called to self-denial, might find forgiveness; however, God has taken into his service many of those who conquer in a praiseworthy way, and whose confession would not please Him if this had not been the case.

V. So what are our barons doing, or the English king, God save him? Does he think he has finished his day’s work? It would be a really ugly trick if he goes to the expense and another wins the spoils: for the Emperor is trying to see how God might recover his kingdom! I think above all that he will help there if God gives him back his lands: it is fitting, the gift is so rich, that this should be the reward.

VI. [I advise the French king to make amends for his return, for I do not consider it a good thing; so I say, if he goes to help there now because it is needful, he should not be afraid, and if he does not go now that it is time, I say that he is doubly shamed.]

VII. Sir Aziman pleases me much, and I value his worth most highly because merit and spending died with Sir Barral my lord just as if they had never existed.

VIII. Sir Tostemps, I and you are joyful because of each other.