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Occitan Medieval Literature Marcabru
Occitan Medieval Literature Marcabru
According to his vida, Marcabru was of humble birth. He probably had the education of a
cleric. At the outset of his career, he may have benefitted from the patronage of William X,
son of the first troubadour; subsequently, he seems to have traveled to other courts without
attaching himself permanently to any. Forty-two poems are attributed to him; four have
been preserved with their music. Most of Marcabru’s poems are composed in a difficult,
hermetic style; he cultivated a type of writing called "closed", the trobar clus. His
vocabulary is very rich and includes a number of words he probably invented. He handles
with consummate skill the traditional weapons of the satirist: irony, invective, scathing
criticism, but can also call upon vivid resources of poetic image and symbol. He attacked
what he considered to be false love and false lovers, errant nobles who did not live up to
his ideals of true love (fin’amor) and civilized behavior.
VIDA
Marcabruns si fo de Gascoingna, fils d’una paubra femna que ac nom Marcabruna, si com
el dis en son chantar:
Trobaire fo dels premiers c’om se recort. De caitivetz vers e de caitivetz serventes fez, e dis
mal de las femnas e d’amor.
Marcabru was from Gascony, son of a poor woman named Marcabruna, as he says in his
song:
He was one of the first troubadours we remember. He made poor vers and poor sirventes,
and spoke ill of women and of love.
"L'autrier jost'una sebissa"
I I
L'autrier jost'una sebissa The other day beside a hedge
Trobei pastora mestissa, I found a humble shepherdess
De joi e de sen massissa, Full of joy and good sense
Si cum filla de vilana, Like the daughter of a peasant girl;
Cap' e gonel'e pelissa 5 A cape, a coat and fur
Vest e camiza treslissa, She wore, and a shirt of rough cloth,
Sotlars e caussas de lana. Shoes and woolen stockings.
II II
Ves lieis vinc per la planissa: I came to her across the plain
"Toza, fi.m ieu, res faitissa, "Young girl," I said, "charming creature
Dol ai car lo freitz vos fissa." 10 I am pained because the cold pierces you."
"Seigner, so.m dis la vilana, "Sir," said to me the peasant girl,
Merce Dieu e ma noirissa, "Thanks to God and my nurse,
Pauc m'o pretz si.l vens m'erissa, It does not concern me if the wind ruffles my
hair,
Qu'alegreta sui e sana." For I am cheerful and healthy."
III III
"Toza, fi.m ieu, cauza pia, 15 "Young girl," I said, "sweet thing,
Destors me sui de la via I have turned out of my way
Per far a vos compaignia; To keep you company,
Quar aitals toza vilana For such a young peasant girl
No deu ses pareill paria Should not, without a comrade,
Pastorgar tanta bestia 20 Pasture so many beasts
En aital terra, soldana." In such a place, alone."
IV IV
"Don, fetz ela, qui que.m sia, "Sir," said she, "be what I may,
Ben conosc sen e folia; I know common sense from folly;
La vostra pareillaria, Your company,
Seigner, so.m dis la vilana, 25 Sir," so said to me the peasant girl,
Lai on se tang si s'estia, "Should be offered where it is fitting,
Que tals la cuid'en bailia For one who thinks she can hold it
Tener, no.n a mas l'ufana." In her power, has nothing but the illusion."
V V
"Toza de gentil afaire, "Young girl of noble condition
Cavaliers fon vostre paire 30 Your father was a knight
Que.us engenret en la maire, Who got your mother with child
Car fon corteza vilana. For she was a courtly peasant girl.
Con plus vos gart, m'etz belaire, The more I look at you, the prettier you seem,
E per vostre joi m'esclaire, And by your joy I am gladdened,
Si.m fossetz un pauc humana!" 35 If only toward me you were more human!"
VI VI
"Don, tot mon ling e mon aire "Sir, all my lineage and my family
Vei revertir e retraire I see returning and going back
Al vezoig et a l'araire, To sickle and plow,
Seigner, so.m dis la vilana; Sir," so said to me the peasant girl;
Mas tals se fai cavalgaire 40 "But some pass themselves off as knights
C'atrestal deuria faire Who should be doing likewise
Los seis jorns de la setmana." Six days of the week."
VII VII
"Toza, fi.m ieu, gentils fada, "Young girl," said I, "a noble fairy
Vos adastret, quan fos nada, Blessed you, when you were born,
D'una beutat esmerada 45 With perfect beauty
Sobre tot'autra vilana; Above any other peasant girl;
E seria.us ben doblada, And it would be doubled
Si.m vezi'una vegada, If I saw myself just once
Sobira e vos sotrana." Above and you below."
VIII VIII
"Seigner, tan m'avetz lauzada, 50 "Sir, you have praised me so much
Que tota.n sui enojada; That I am quite annoyed;
Pois en pretz m'avetz levada, Since you have raised me in worth,
Seigner, so.m dis la vilana, Sir," so said to me the peasant girl,
Per so n'auretz per soudada "You will have for recompense
Al partir: bada, fols, bada 55 On departure: gape, fool, gape
E la muz a meliana." Vainly waiting at noonday."
IX IX
"Toz'estraing cor e salvatge "Young girl, a wild and skittish heart
Adomesg'om per uzatge. One can tame by using it.
Ben conosc al trespassatge I certainly realize on passing by here
Qu'ab aital toza vilana 60 That with such a young peasant girl
Pot hom far ric compaignatge A man can find noble company
Ab amistat de coratge, With heartfelt friendship,
Si l'us l'autre non engana." If neither deceives the other."
X X
"Don, hom coitatz de follatge "Sir, a man pressed by madness
Jur' e pliu e promet gatge: 65 Swears and pledges and guarantees:
Si.m fariatz homenatge, Thus you would do me homage,
Seigner, so.m dis la vilana Sir," so said to me the peasant girl;
Mas ieu, per un pauc d'intratge, "But I, for a cheap entrance fee,
Non vuoil ges mon piucellatge Do not want to exchange my virginity
Camjar per nom de putana." 70 For the name of whore."
XI XI
"Toza, tota creatura "Young girl, every creature
Revertis a sa natura: Reverts to its nature;
Pareillar pareilladura We should prepare to form a couple,
Devem, ieu e vos, vilana, You and I, peasant girl,
A l'abric lonc la pastura, 75 Under cover beside the pasture,
Car plus n'estaretz segura For you will be in greater safety there
Per far la cauza doussana." To do the sweet thing."
XII XII
"Don, oc; mas segon dreitura "Sir, yes; but according to what is right,
Cerca fols sa follatura, The fool seeks his foolishness,
Cortes cortez'aventura 80 The courtly, courtly adventures,
E.il vilans ab la vilana; And the peasant boy, the peasant girl;
En tal loc fai sens fraitura Wisdom is lacking in any place (circumstance)
On hom non garda mezura, Where moderation is not observed,
So ditz la gens anciana." So say the ancients."
XIII XIII
"Toza, de vostra figura 85 "Young girl, about your face,
Non vi autra plus tafura I never saw one more dishonest,
Ni de son cor plus trefana." Nor a heart more deceitful."
XIV XIV
"Don, lo cavecs vos ahura, "Sir, the owl promises you
Que tals bad'en la peintura That one man gapes before the painting
Qu'autre n'espera la mana." 90 While the other expects reward."
V
Desirat ai, enquer desir
Œuvres complètes bilingues de Pèire Cardenal
- vers 1201 - 1202 - ( Couplet )
Desirat ai, enquer desir J'ai désiré ma dame, je la désire encore
E voil ades mais desirar et je veux la désirer toujours et davantage
Que tener ma dona e baisar plutôt que d'obtenir de la serrer, de l'embrasser,
E luec on m'en pogues jausir ! en un lieu où d'elle je tirerais grand plaisir.
Qu'eu l'am e dic ço que dir déi. Car je l'aime et je dis ce que je dois dire.
E dels cinc non m'entendon tréi, Trois sur cinq ne me comprennent pas
Anz diran " Ben vos es esprés ". mais diront " Vous êtes bien épris !"
Si mon joi non avia, Et si d'elle je n'avais pas une vraie joie d'amour,
Als bons fa piez. c'est qu'aux meilleurs elle réserve ses rigueurs...
III
S'ieu fos amatz o amès
I 1
II 2
Lo plu fis drutz qu'anc nasquès Si j'avais une amie, je serais le plus fidèle amant
For'eu, si amia agués, qui jamais ne naquit.
Que, ja plazer no-m fezés, Même si elle ne me donnait aucun plaisir
Eu fora sos homs adès. je serais pour toujours
Qu'una ves amèi son homme dévoué.
E per aisso sai Pour avoir aimé autrefois
D'amor consi vai, je sais comment il en va de l'amour
Ni com amarèi et comment j'aimerai la prochaine,
Autra ves, quan mi volréi. quand je le voudrai.
III 3
IV 4
VI 6