Las, je sçay bien By: Jacques Arcadelt

Editions

Singable Translation PDF By: Carol Anne Perry Lagemann (CC BY SA 4.0)

Info

Number of Voices: 4
Voicings: SATB , SABB , STTB , STBB , AATB , AABB , ATTB , ATBB
Date: 16th century
Language: French
Tags: chanson translation

Lyrics

LyricsPoetic Translation
Las, je sçay bien que je feis grande offenceHow truly great my sin was, I am now sure,
Quand je voulus contre amour tenir fort,In trying to contend with Love so long.
Il m'en prend mal, aussi avois je tortHe serves me ill, but I was also wrong
De vouloir faire à ung dieu résistanceFor wanting to resist a god whose power
Duquel chascun redoubte la puissance,Makes every creature in the world to cower.
Tant fist d'effort qu'il print d'assault mon cueurHe took my heart by storm with labored bouts,
Et meist le feu dedans à grand oultranceInvaded to destroy as flames devour,
En lieu conquis, ainsi fait le vainqueur.As does a king lay waste the land he routs.
Jacques ArcadeltCarol Anne Perry Lagemann

Direct Translation

See Mick Swithinbank's work at Choral Public Domain Library.