I. Since the fair one, from whom I hold myself (in fief) and whom I desire, beseech and love in sincere faith, does not wish or welcome that I should love her or beg her for mercy, I hardly know the point of continuing to be a singer, since I hope for neither pleasure nor satisfaction from the greatest thing to which I aspire; therefore I cannot produce a joyful song and it will be a miracle if I manage to compose one.

II. Since the one I love a thousand times more than myself completely kills me, torments me and tortures me, and as it pleases her to keep me at a distance from her in this way, I know of but one possibility, which brings no aid in this predicament: if she wishes me to withdraw from her, let her take away my mind and heart and eyes, and then I will leave her, if I can; otherwise, let her do what she thinks best about it, given that I have no strength or ability to withstand her will.

III. And I have no idea how it may be that I obtain anything from her, unless I achieve this through mercy; but I do not believe this will come about either through mercy or through anything else. So what shall I do? I am delivered over to ill-treatment and am utterly dead, if she does not give me back good hope, in which she secretly placed my heart, when she retained me and allowed me to steal a lovely pleasure, wherefore I disdain any other lady.

IV. At that time I undertook to celebrate her gracious person in an honourable way; and she promised me many good things when she granted me her love, which she fails to remember. But if it pleased her, it would not matter if she took away what she vehemently and freely promised me, because I am entirely at her command, except in this: I am utterly unable to prevent myself from always loving her, given that I obtain nothing else from her.

V. But why do I still delay spurring to Syria? God knows why this befalls me: because my lady and the English king hold me back, the one through love and the other for doing little about the great assistance he had promised me. I am not in fact staying behind, but I shall certainly go more slowly; I have the firm intention of going and am not being irresolute about it, for I have raised the sign in God’s name.