| Era.m requier sa costum' e son us | Now love exacts its dues in solid gold, |
| Amors, per cui plaing e sospir e veill, | So that I weep and lie awake and sigh, | |
| C'a la genssor del mon ai quist conseill | For on her words of counsel I rely: | |
| E.m ditz q'ieu am tan aut cum puosc en sus | To love the best and highest I was told, | |
| La meillor dompna, q'ella.m n'es fermanssa | And if I do, she gives her affirmation | |
| C'onors e pretz m'er e pros e non dans; | I'll have no loss, but valor, worth, and praise, | |
| E car ill es del mon la plus prezans | And since no one on earth can match her ways, | |
| Ai mes en lieis mon cor e m'esperanssa. | She has my heart and hope and dedication. | |
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| Anc non amet tan aut cum eu negus | No higher love could ever lover hold; | |
| Ni tant pro dompn', e car no.i trob pareill | Her peerlessness no person could deny. | |
| M'enten en lieis e l'am al sieu conseill | I muse on her and with her laws comply, | |
| Mais que Tisbe non amet Pyramus, | Like Thisbe Pyramus in arms would fold, | |
| Que jois e pretz sobre totas l'enanssa, | For joy and worth lift her above creation. | |
| Qu'il es als pros plazens et acoindans | She to the valorous attention pays | |
| Et als autres es d'orgoillos semblans, | And to the craven shows a haughty gaze; | |
| Larga d'aver e de doussa coindanssa. | She gives without a trace of hesitation. | |
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| Anc Persivals qand en la cort d'Artus | Sir Perceval, who Arthur's court patrolled | |
| Tolc las armas al cavallier vermeill | And stoutly with the Scarlet Knight did vie, | |
| Non ac tal gauch cum eu del sieu conseill, | Did not rejoice as at her words do I; | |
| E.m fai morir si cum mor Tantalus, | Like Tantalus, she makes me unconsoled, | |
| Que so.m veda de que.m don' aondanssa | With others shares, but keeps me in frustration, | |
| Midonz q'es pros, cortess' e benestans, | My lady brave and courtly in her ways, | |
| Ric' e gentils, joves e ben parlans, | Both kind and noble, clever with a phrase, | |
| E de bon sen e de bella semblanssa. | And young and fair and wise with contemplation. | |
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| Bella dompna, aitant arditz e plus | My lovely lady, I was far more bold, | |
| Fui qan vos quis la joia del cabeill | When for a lock of hair I thought I'd try | |
| E qe.m dassetz de vostr' amor consseill | And begged you tell me how to love and die, | |
| No.n fo del saut a Tir Emenadus, | Than Emenadus stroming Tyre of old, | |
| Mas a mi.n chai mais de pretz e d'onranssa | But my advance deserves more celebration, | |
| Q'endreich d'amor fo l'ardimens plus grans; | Because in love the greater daring plays, | |
| Mas ben deu far tal ardit vostr' amans, | In he who loves you fearlessness must blaze | |
| Moira per vos o n'aia benananssa. | Toward death or bliss beyond this conflagration. | |
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| Ja mos Engles no.m blasme ni m'acus | Let not Engles accuse me, blame, or scold | |
| Si.m loing per lieis d'Aureng' e del Monteill, | If for her sake Orange I bid goodbye, | |
| C'aissi.m don Dieus del sieu bel cors conseill | Or fair Montélimar, for God on high | |
| Cum las meillors valen de lieis en jus, | Above all others would her worth uphold. | |
| E s'ieu fos reis d'Englaterr' o de Fransa | Were France or England in my domination, | |
| Loignera m'en per far totz sos comans, | I'd leave it all, for her my heart obeys. | |
| Q'en lieis es totz mos cors e mos talans | With her my heart in fervent longing stays; | |
| Et es la res don plus ai desiranssa. | My soul for her is suffering starvation. | |
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| Belh Cavalier, en vos ai m'esperansa, | My Fairest Knight, you are my hope's foundation; | |
| E quar vos es del mon la plus prezans | No braver personage the world displays. | |
| E la plus pros, no mi deu esser dans | No harm shall I encounter all my days: | |
| Quar vos mi des cosselh e.m fos fermansa. | You counseled me and were my compensation. | |
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| Na Beatritz de Monferrat s'enansa | The Lady Beatrice gains adulation | |
| Quar totz bos faitz li van ades denans, | From valiant deeds that her admirers raise; | |
| Per qu'ieu dauri ab sas lauzors mos chans | And thus I gild my verses with her praise | |
| E trai m'enan ab sa belha semblansa. | And move to follow her, my inspiration. | |
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| Raimbaut de Vaqueiras | Carol Anne Perry Lagemann | |