| Lyrics | Poetic Translation (CAPL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Je ne puis vivre ainsy toujours | I can no longer live this way. | |
| Au main que j’aye en mes dolours | Anguish prevails unless I may | |
| Quelque confort | Quench every sigh: | |
| Une seule heure ou mains ou fort | Union forever, an hour, a day. | |
| Et tou les jours | Earning my pay, | |
| Leaument serviray amours | Loyally I will Love obey; | |
| Jusqu’a la mort. | I then will die. | |
| Noble femme de nom et d’armes, | Noble and lofty dame above me, | |
| Escript vous ay ce dittier cy. | Enter the trance of my ditty. | |
| Des ieux plourant a chauldes larmes | Drowning in tears, I beg you love me; | |
| Affin qu’ayes de moy merchy. | Aching for me, give your pity. | |
| Quant a moi, je me meurs boncours | Quietly I will pass away. | |
| Velant les nuits faisant cent tours | Under the moon, I pace, I sway; | |
| En criant fort | Ever I cry, | |
| “Vengence en a Dieu, car a grant tort | "Vengeance on Heaven! God, tell me why | |
| Je noye en plours” | In tears I stay, | |
| Lors qu’au besoin me fault secours | Listen You will not when I pray, | |
| Et Pitie dort. | Each grace deny." | |
| Je ne puis vivre ainsy toujours | I can no longer live this way. | |
| Au main que j’aye en mes dolours | Anguish prevails unless I may | |
| Quelque confort | Quench every sigh: | |
| Une seule heure ou mains ou fort | Union forever, an hour, a day. | |
| Et tou les jours | Earning my pay, | |
| Leaument serviray amours | Loyally I will Love obey; | |
| Jusqu’a la mort. | I then will die. | |
| Antoine Busnois | Carol Anne Perry Lagemann |
See translation at Choral Public Domain Library
This acrostic poem spells out the name Jaqueline d'Aquevile. (The letters I and J were used interchangeably at this time.)