| Dieus soit en cheste maison, |
God be in this house, |
This house, may God in it dwell, |
| Et biens et joie à fuison! |
And well-being and joy abundantly! |
And joy and comfort as well. |
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| No sires Noueus |
Our sovereign lord |
Now our Lord is near, |
| Nous envoie à ses amis, |
Sends us to his friends; |
And he sends us everywhere |
| Ch'est as amoureus |
That is, to the enamoured |
Live his friends so dear, |
| Et a courtois bien apris |
And to the polite, well-bred [persons], |
Lovers courtly, noble, fair, |
| Pour avoir des pairesis |
To have some of paradise |
Some of Paradise to share |
| À no hélison. |
Have mercy on us. |
And mercy to tell. |
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| Dieus soit en cheste maison, |
God be in this house, |
This house, may God in it dwell, |
| Et biens et joie à fuison! |
And well-being and joy abundantly! |
And joy and comfort as well. |
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| Nos sires est teus |
Our lord is such [a person] |
Our good Lord in cheer |
| Qu'il prieroit à envis, |
That he would pray against the grain [i.e., even when he did not feel like it]; |
And in sadness kneels in prayer, |
| Mais as frans honteus |
But to the reluctant [or, disreputable] Franks |
But so France may hear, |
| Nous a en son lieu tramis |
He sent us in his stead, |
In his place he sends us there. |
| Qui sommes de ses nouris |
Who are [members] of his family |
We are children in his care |
| Et si enfançon. |
And as babies. |
And babies, as well. |
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| Dieus soit en cheste maison, |
God be in this house, |
This house, may God in it dwell, |
| Et biens et joie à fuison! |
And well-being and joy abundantly. |
And joy and comfort as well. |
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| Adam de la Halle |
Stolba, K Marie, ed. The Development of Western Music: An Anthology. 3rd ed. Vol. I. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998. Print. |
Carol Anne Perry Lagemann |