I. Lords, Jesus who was placed upon the Cross to save Christian people summons us one and all to go to liberate the Holy Land where he came to die for love of us. And if we are unwilling to obey Him, there where all disputes end we shall hear many a bitter reproach for this.

II. The holy paradise he promised us, where there is no pain nor torment, He wishes freely to grant to those who will travel overseas with the Marquis to serve God; and of those who are unwilling to follow him, there will be not one, dark or fair, but will feel great fear as a consequence.

III. But look at how the world is: whoever follows it most it treats the worst. Therefore there is only one wise course: to abandon wickedness and adopt the good. Once death chooses to attack, no-one can escape. So since we shall all surely die, anyone who lives badly or basely is a fool indeed.

IV. I see the whole world in the grip of deceit and fraud; and the unbelievers are so numerous that right and faith hardly survive, for each one strives to betray his friend to enrich himself. However, the traitors are betrayed like the man who drinks poisoned milk.

V. Catalans and Aragonese have a valiant lord worthy of honour, liberal and noble and discerning, modest and upright and courtly. But he allows his servants to grow too rich – God humble and detest them! For every day they are on the alert to create damage and obstacles at court.

VI. A dishonoured king is worth less than a peasant when he lives like a coward and deplores the wealth that another spends and loses what his father won. Such a king deserves to be killed and buried in a loathsome place, when he defends himself like a cripple without taking or giving a blow.

VII. I heartily dislike old ladies when they live gracelessly, hostile to love and youth; for they have so mistreated true nobility, it is dreadful to relate and speak of it, and dreadful to listen and hear; they have so utterly destroyed fine courtship that among them one finds no trace of it.

VIII. Lady, you keep me so captive that I can think of nothing other than doing your bidding. But if, with your acceptance, I could serve you between the time of undressing and dressing, no evil could ever befall me; for your words and deeds have for me the sweetness of the May rose.

IX. King of León, you ought truly to garner an honoured reputation, like the one who sows in fallow land soaked in moisture and gently irrigated.