Romantic Medieval Poetry. Pel doutz chan quel rossinhols fai At the sweet song which the nightingale makes at night when I have fallen asleep, I wake completely bewildered with joy, pensive and thoughtful about love; for this is my supreme vocation, because I always receive joy willingly, and my song begins with joy. If anyone knew of the joy that I have, and [that] joy were seen and heard, all other joy would be slight compared to that [which] I possess, for my joy is great. Such a man becomes genial and eloquent, because he believes [himself] to be fortunate and superior in true love, of which I have twice as much! When I contemplate her sprightly body, how well it is made with all choice attributes, her courtliness and her beautiful speech, my praise will never mean advancement for me, because I would need an entire year for it, if I wished to be truthful about her, she is so courtly and so good a being. Those who think that I am here do not at all know how my spirit is intimate and easy with her, although my body is far from her. Know, the best messenger that I have from her is my thought, which recalls to me her beautiful appearance. Lady, I am and will be yours, ready for your service. I am your man, sworn and pledged, and yours I was since before; and you are my first joy, and thus will you be the last, so long as life lasts me. I do not know when I shall see you again, but I go off among angry and married men. For your sake I have parted from the king, and I pray you that I may not be harmed when I am present in court before you, among ladies and knights, frank, and gentle, and humble. Hugh, my courteous messenger, sing my song willingly to the queen of the Normans. (From A Bilingual Edition of the Love Songs of Bernart de Ventadorn in Occitan and English: Sugar and Salt. Trans. Ronnie Apter. Studies in Medieval Literature 17. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1999. 212-215.) From : Sex, Society, and Medieval Women website Back to Valentine's Day Index Home |