Guillaume de Machaut The Fountain of Love (La Fonteinne Amoureuse) and Two Other Love Vision Poems edited and translated by R. BARTON PALMER Volume 54 Series A Gartanb Liprary OF MEDIEVAL LITERATURE. Garland Publishing, Inc. ‘New York & London. 1993ever before to make known and ‘wishing more than the # exalted de Macha sc hile, tne he speaks to im thus laure, by whom all things took form, an se ee Come here to you, Guillaume, a man created especially to create Be New and peasant pocms about ve, our ce t bil ci trois de mes enfans ad so [entrust you with three of my children Pe Oe ea dren palo, And "wo will give you practical knowledge, By, se tunes d’ulz trois bien cognoissans, ‘And, if you do not recognize them readily, [Nomié sont Sens, Retorique, et Musique. ieje names are Meaning, Rhetoric, and Music. ordering and ceste maniere: Je, Nature, par qui tout est fourmé, ‘Quanque a ga jus et sur terre et en mer, Vieng cia toy, Guillem, qui fourmé ‘Ti a part pour fare par toi fourmer ‘Nouveatix dis amoureux plaisans. Pieces al en eagia maken Meaning will shape for your imagination De tout ce que tu vourras confourmer; ‘Whatever you might wish to bring into harmony; Retorique n’arariens enfermé Rhetoric will make it possible for you (Que ne te envoit en metre et en rimers ‘To put it all in meter and rhymes t Musique te donra chans, ‘And Music will give you songs, ant que vourras, divers et deduisans. ‘As many as you like, seductive and diverse; Ais i fit seront frigue, In this way your works will have merit, N's ce faire ne pues estre faillans Nor can you fail to achieve this Car tu as Senz, Retorique, et Musique. Because you have Meaning, Rhetoric, and Music. fit seront pls qu‘autresrenommé, Your works will find more renown than others, oS ‘il n'y ara riens qui face a blamer, For there will be nothing in them to fault, tsi seront de toutes genz amé, ‘And thus they will be loved by all Soutis,loyaus, jolis, et sanz amer. Pour ce vueil que soies engranz And I want you to be serious Dien faire assez—~petis, moiens, et granz, i ert ‘tout composing enough~small, medium, and grand. 'u ne m'en doiz pas Teas ot et ¥ oer Youn ou es athe nz, Retorique, et Musique. For give you Meaning, Rhetoric, and Music. eae ‘honors pertaining to Love, comes to Guillaume ane folly charging him herein to compose new poems ing to him, for counsel and aid in this enterprise, to be specific Meaning, Rhetoric, and Music. ‘As subtle, conventional, pretty, and lacking bitterness. 10 15Comment Guillaume de Machaut respont & Ricns ne me doit excuser ne deffendre ‘Que ne face le bon commandement De vous, dame, se je vous say entendre, Par qui j’ay corps, vie, et entendement, Dont drois est, quant vous m’ordenez A faire diz amoureux ordenez, Qu’a ce faire je me soutive, Bt je vueil bien estre a ce fait donnez, ant qu’en ce mond vos plaira que je vive. Mais si grant fait n’oseroie entreprendre Se je n’avoie avec moy prestement ‘Vos trois enfans por moi duire et aprendre, Com dit m’avez ici presentement. Et de ce que ainsi me honnourez, Graces de moy que de vor biens n’arez, Que avis, n’autre chose soutive Nay, ne n’aray se ne m’en pourveez, ‘Tant qu’en ce mond vos plaira que je vive. Si me vueil dont du tout mettre et entendre ‘Aces dites faire amoureusement Et de pluseurs I'un grant et l'autre mendre, Et les aucuns chanter bien plaisanment. Et certes, se me me cassez Vor trois enfans, des dis feray assez, Car mes vouloirs a ce s'avive, Ne du faire ne seray ja lassez, ant qu'en ce mond yous plaira que je vive. 1 Sammest Amours qu a ouy Nature vient a Guillaume Pacchaut et Ii ameinne trois de ses enfans, c’est asavoir [Ene Plisance, ot Esperance, pour ti donner matere ‘Que Nature li a enchargié. Et li dit par ceste maniere! Je suis re is Amours, qui meint cuer esbaudi And 1 For as But I would not dare undertake such a high task Had I not readily available Your three children to instruct and teach me, AAs you have just said. ‘And conceming the honor you do me, All your thanks derive from the goods you bestow, For any genius or subtlety r I've not, nor will I have if you don’t provide it, For as long as you please that I live in this world. 45 So I intend directing all my mind and energies ‘Toward creating these poems about love, Some long and others short, ‘And even some to sing quite pleasantly. ‘And surely, if you don’t deprive me 50 Of your three children, I'll write a good deal of poetry, For my will is determined, ‘And I will not tire of doing so For as long as you please that I live in this world. m How Love, hearing Nature, comes to Guillaume leading , de Machaut {trve of her children, and these are Sweet Thought, Pleasure, and oP; onder to provide him the material to carry out what Nature ged him with. And he speaks to him in this way: Jam Love, who gives joy to many a heart, 55Comment Guillaume de Machaut respont a Amours: [Et fai mener douce et joieuse vie, Si ai ouJ, Guillaume, je te di, ‘Que Nature, qui tout fait par maistrie, ‘Tra dit qu’a part ta voulu faire Pout faire diz nouveaux de mon affaire. Pour ce t'ameinne icy en pourvéance, Pour toy donner matere a ce parfaire, Mes trois enfans en douce contenance: Crest Doulz Penser, Plaisance, et Esperance, Sur Doux Penser tout premier te estu est li premiers qui mes biens segnit AA Plaisance t'estude n’escondi, Car c'est celle qui plus les multiplie; Bt Esperance fait traire Joie en mes gens et mon service plaire. 0 (Or pues tu cy prendre grande substance Dont tu pourras figurer et retraire Moult de beaux dis, et par mainte ordenance, Sur Doux Penser, Plaisance, et Esperance. Mais garde bien, sur tout ne te enhardi 15 A faire chose ou il ait villennic, N'aucunement des dames ne mesdi; Mais en tous cas les loc et mangniffie. Saches se tu fais le contraire Je te feray tres cruclement detraire. 80 Mais en honneur fay tout et si t'avance: ‘Aide as assez, matere et exemplaire. Ine te faut qu’avoir perseverance En Dous Penser, Plaisance, et Esperance. Vv Graces ne say, loenge ne merc, o autre chose qu'on scedst proposer Dont vous, Amours, asses gracier ci Vous peisse, n’a mon vouloir ler Car vos trois enfans vis a vis Ci mamenez pour moy donner avis ie prologue ‘Making them live a sweet and pleasant life. vAnd | have heard, Guillaume, I tell you, What Nature, who holds all in her power, as said, desirous of singling you out ‘To compose new poems about my doings. ‘And so I bring you here to help, ‘To provide you material to accomplish this, My three children of the sweet look: ‘These are Sweet Thought, Pleasure, and Hope. In the beginning attend to Sweet Thought: ‘She is the first to signify my goods. Don't fail to pay attention to Pleasure, For she is the lady who multiplies them; ‘And Hope makes Joy ‘Come to my folk and my service please them. Now you can find here the weighty matter ‘That you can portray and represent In many attractive poems, and in many forms, ‘Which treat Sweet Thought, Pleasure, and Hope. But take special care that you are not emboldened ‘To write anything immoral, ‘And don't ever vilify @ lady; But always praise and glorify them. Know that if you do the contrary I will exact a very eruel vengeance. Instead always act honorably to advance yourself ‘You have enough help, matter, and examples. ‘You need only persevere With Sweet Thought, Pleasure, and Hope. Vv How Guillaume de Machaut responds to Love: know of no thanks, praise, or gratitude, Nothing conceivable at all With which 1, Love, might adequately Repay you, or praise you as | would like Because you've brought me your three children Face to face for inspiration 70 85 90anatere dont ce ordener pourray Beat Nature de vous n° fait devis, , par son gr, je m'y emploieray Ron peuoi, tant comme je VivEaY. Bt njentmeinz humblement vos merci Par plus de fois qu'on ne porroit nombrer, Car vous et voz enfans moult esclarci Maver ces fais que jay a orden, Pour lesquelz arriere tous mis ‘Seront autres puis qu'a ce sui commis, ‘a autres fais jamais jour n'entendrai, N’onques amans, tant fust bien vos amis, Ne vous servi mieux que vous servirai ‘A mon powoir, tant comme je vivray. Ne plus n'arai riens triste n’oscurci, Mais lie et gay me vourrai demener Et faire que maint dur cuer adouci Soit par moz doux et plaisans aiiner es biens qui en vous sont compris, (Qui me seront par vos enfans apris. Et des dames blasmer me garderay, Ne, se Dieu plaist, ja n'en seray repris, Mais honnourer et loer les vourray ‘A mon pouoir, tant comme je vivray. v Puisque Nature Rethorique Me presente, Scens et Musique, Etli dieux d’Amours, qui mes sires Est et des maus amoureus mires, Vuet que j'aie bonne Esperence, ous Penser, et douce Plaisence En faisant son tres dous service Bonnement, sans penser a vice, Et leur commande travillier Pour moy aidier et consillier A faire dis et chansonnettes Pleinnes d'onneur et damourettes, Doubles hoques et plaisans las, Prologue ‘As well as for the material I can use in portraying “What Nature has told me about you, ‘And, with her favor, I'll make use of this ‘according to my ability, as long as I live. ‘Nonetheless [ humbly thank you More times than can be numbered, For you and your children have very much IMlummined those matters that T must represent, For whose sake all others Will be put aside because I am committed to this, Nor will I ever devote a single day to other doings, For never did a lover, however much your intimate, ‘Serve you better than I will serve ‘According to my ability, as long as 1 live. [Nor will sadness or darkness be mine any longer, ‘Since 1 intend to proceed happy and gay ‘And make sure that many a hardened heart Is joined by words sweet and pleasant To those goods within you, ‘Which your children will tell me about. ‘And I will refrain from finding fault with women, ‘And, please God, I will not be accused of this, Bult rather | intend to honor and praise them ‘According to my ability, as Tong as I live. v Since Nature offers me Rhetoric, Meaning, and Music, ‘And the God of Love, who is My lord and the physician of amorous maladies, ‘Wishes me to have good Hope, ‘Sweet Thought, and sweet Pleasure ‘To carry on ably in his Very sweet service, with no thought of vice, ‘And to work at their command, ‘As they help and advise me In the composition of poems and songs Filled with honor and dalliance, Double hoquets and pleasant lays,‘Motes, rondiaus, et vielais {(Qu'on claimme chansons baladces) ‘Complaints, bulades ents, ‘ATronneut et 2 la loange De toutes dames, sans losange, Bt ne doy mie desvoloir Lear plaisant gracieus volor, Einsois y doy mon sentement Metre et tout mon entendement, Cucr, corps, poo, et quanque jay. Ne je ne pris un bee de jay Cals qu sen vortoient ruse Car je ne puis mon temps user En mileurn'en plus bel usage Pour avoir noble et lig corage, Et pour este gais et jolis, Gets, joins, apers, cointes, pois. Car tout homme qui ad ce pease, Ine rote ne ne tense, Nil ne porto penser a chose Ou villenic fst enclose, Haine, baras, ou mess Je le say trop bien par mes dis, Car quant je sui en ce penser, Je ne porroie ariens penser Fors que seulement au propos Dont faite dit ou chant propos; Exs'a autre chose pensoie, Certs mon ouevre dfferie Ets'on it de triste matiere, Si est joieuse la maniere Dow fait, car ja bien ne fera [Ne gaicment ne chantera Li cuers qui est pleins de tristece Pour ce qu’l het et fuit lesce. Mais quant li cuers est pleins de joie, Ise dete et se resjoie, En faisant son chant et son dit En douce Plaisence; et se on dit Que ti tristes cuers doit mieus faire Que ti joieus, c'est fort a faire, 150 155 10 165 Prologue Motes, ondels, and virelays (Which are called ballad songs) ‘Complaints, ballads with refrains, In the honor and in praise of ‘Al ladies, without any lis, ‘And T ought inno way disdain ‘Their pleasant, gracious will, A ‘Therefore I should put into it My feelings and all my understanding, Heart, body, power, and whatever I have, [Nor do I value as even a jay's beak ‘Those who would make light of this, For I could not spend my time 140 Ina better or more appropriate way ‘$0 a8 to have a noble and happy heart, To be gay and joyful, Genteel, elegant, lively, sharp, polished. For no man intent on such things 14s Quarrels or argues; ‘And he doesn't think of anything Pertaining to immorality, Hate, foolishness, or scandal. [know this very well through my poems, 150 For when I am thinking about them, [can't attend to anything Except to the matter That gives the poem or song good sense; ‘And ifT thought of anything else, 155 T would ruin my work for sure. 130 ‘And if sad things are the theme, ‘Then the style of their treatment Is joyful, for the heart Filled with sadness will never 160 Do well or sing joyfully Since it hates and flees happiness. But when the heat is full of joy, It delights and rejoices ‘Composing its song and its poem In sweet Pleasure; and if anyone says ‘That the sad heart should compose better ‘Than the joyful, that’s difficult to accomplish, 165Prologue — Nor would I ever concur ‘For when Memory makes 170 ‘The lover recall through Sweet Thought ‘The woman whois very pretty and well loved ‘And to whom he is given and devoted, ‘As well as faithfully abandoned, Pleasant imagination vs Makes in his heart the impression Of her swet, peasant face, ‘long with Sweet Thought, who draws the image, ‘And ths is poom is improved a hundredfold Hers wise who chooses such a life 180 La tres bee of la bien amee ‘A quiil est mis et donnez Bit ligement sbandonnez, Plaisant ymagination Met en son cuer impression De sa douce plaisant figure Et Dous Pensers qui la figure, on son fait cent fois embelist: ‘Sages est qui tel vie elist. Mais quan ities ynagine [a gn it, a dove ie Doce qua de cur, Daa i venot envcnctre Oar else un ae que 1? Chile tt de de de rge Que cet mervile ui a enrge, Ox quia eon pnt, Olga theca Si qi ne poral malcom Ries eo oliemet Des male doers Com jiu de a joewe, Pour ce qvils's em qu egsc, [Ne matiere lie ne ania sé Elsa ds, et pore spo Oui dlr empire cpa But when the sad man imagines ‘The great beauty, the refined sweetness Of the woman who doesn’t care for him, Will joy come to him Since she loves someone else? 185 1 don't take the side of this man, For he has such sorrow and rage ‘That it's a wonder he doesn’t go mad, Doesn't kill or hang himself, Or doesn't repent of loving; 190 ‘And thus he can in no way ‘Compose anything as pleasing From his mournful material ‘As the happy man can from his happiness Because he has nothing that cheers him, 195 No theme happy or gay, ‘And he has desite, and the poor hope ‘That his pain will perhaps grow worse. ‘And Music is an art ‘Which likes people to laugh and sing and dance, 200 It cares nothing for melancholy, Nor for « man who sorrows over What is of no importance, But ignores, instead, such folk. It brings joy everywhere it’s present; comforts the disconsolate, ‘And just hearing it Makes people rejoice. Ft Musique est une science (Qui vuet qu’on rie et chante et dance, Cure n'a de merencolie, Ne dhomme qui merencolie ‘A chose qui ne puet valoir, Eins met es gens en nonchaloir. artout ou elle est joie y porte; Les desconfortez reconforte, Et nts seulement de I Fait elle les gens resjoir, ae 205Prologue “There is no instrument in all the world Ne qui ait Which is not dependent on music, ‘Qui par musique ne s'acorde [Nor which if it has wind, touch, or string ‘Tous ses fais plus a point mesure Teele Ee Que ne fait nulle autre mesure. jest Ele fait toutes les karoles Par bours, par cites, par escoles. (Ou on fait office divin Qui est fais de pain et de vin, ‘Than any other form of measurement. She creates all the songs and dances In towns, cities, and schools. ‘And winere the divine office is held, uet on penser chose plus digne ‘The one made of bread and wine, Nefire pis gece | 2 ue tnt of ening mee worthy Com d’essaucier Diew et sa gloire, Or make a more gracious sign Loe, servr, amer, et croire, ‘Than exalting God and His glory, Et sa douce mere en chantant, Praising, serving, loving, and showing faith Qui de grace et de bien tant Through song in Him and His sweet mother too, Que le ciel et toute la terre ‘Who possesses so much grace and goodness Et quanque li mondes ensere ‘That the sky and the entire earth Gant, pai “mane ‘And whatever the world encompasses, Gra, ptt, mien, of mene ‘The great, the litle, the in-between, and insignificant a sont gardé et soustenu? Te a ane ae Say of dire que li angles, 1 have beard it said thatthe angels, isnt, les saints, les archangles ‘The saints, men and women alike, the archangels De vois dele, sainne, et clere With voices fine, clear, and perfect Loent en chantant Dieu le pore, Praise God the Father in song Pour ce qu’en gloire les mis Because He has raised them to glory Com juses et paris amis, {As just people and perfet friends, Et po oe cal Goa ge ‘And also because through His merey Ti valan ils ted SEE! ‘They contemplate Him continually face to face. Now the stints couldnt sing Without music for their song: Hence music isin heaven David the prophet in olden times, Quant il voloitapaisier Ire Susie baat aed De Dieu, ilacordoit sa lire, INGE RET Dont il harpoit si pro re ee ‘Hympnes, psautiers, et orisons, uso ea ell Saw oe te IES sharp and his song pleased Bea are . bes chimes! God greatly, appeasing Him, Or ne puelent li saint chanter Qu'il n’ait musique en leur chanter: Done est Musique en paradis. David li prophetes jadis,la cote, Ia faitice, sa arpe et par son dous chant, Cils poetes dont je vous chant it si tres joliement tsi chanoit si doucement Que les grans arbres sabaissojent Et les rivieres relounoient Pour li oi et escouter, ‘Si qu’on doit croire sans doubter ‘Que ce sont miracles apertes ‘Que Musique fait. C'est voir, certes, Rethorique versefier Fait 'amant, et metrefier, Et si fit faire jolis vers Nouviaus et de metres divers: ‘L'un est de rime serpentine, autre equivoque ou leonine, Liautre crisie ou retrograde, Lay, chanson, rondel, ou balade; ‘Aucune fois rime sonant Ft, quant il li plaist, consonant: Et li aourne son langage Par maniere plaisant et sage. Car Scens y est qui tout gouverne En chambre, en sale, et en taverne. ous Penser et bonne Esperence i font avoir douce Plaisence Et li amenistrent matiere; Dont i fata plus lie chiere Et de plus joli sentement Qo eile gai vit dolentomens Car joie et doleur, ce me samble, Puelent petitement ensamble. Et quant Nature me commande Etli deux d’ Amours, que j'entende jue je m’eplique Plasir, si que Orpheus released Eurydice, - ‘That attractive and elegant woman, from Hell ‘And rivers flowed backwards ‘To heat and listen to him, ‘And 50 one should believe without any doubt ‘That these are manifest miracles Music creates. It's true, certainly. Rhetoric makes the lover Versify and metrify, ‘And thus causes him to compose [New verses of various meters: ‘One with serpentine rhyme, “The other equivocal or leonine, ‘The other erossed or retrograde, Lay, song, rondel, or ballad; Sometimes a pure rhyme ‘And, when it pleases, assonance; ‘And it ornaments his language na pleasant and wise way. For Meaning is present there to rule over all In the bedchamber, dining hall, and tavern. ‘Sweet Thought and good Hope ‘Make him possess sweet Pleasure ‘And provide him with material; ‘And thus he writes with a happier demeanor ‘And a more pleasant feeling ‘Than the man who lives in sorrows For joy and misery, it seems to me, ‘Can accomplish little together. ‘And since Nature commands me, ‘And the God of love too, that I attend To those things proposed above Involving the honor of ladies, W's good sense for me to attempt Doing what would bring them evident pleasure, 265 270 215 280 285‘Aus dames; car par saint Nichaise A mon pooir quanque diray ‘AV'onneur d’elles le feray. Car vraiement trop mefferoie En cas qu’einsi ne le feroie. Et pour ce vueil, sans plus targier, ‘Commencier Le Dit dou vergier. Cl APRES COMMENCE LE DIT DOU VER« ‘As long as I don’t go wrong or fail. ‘Now I pray God to give me the grace ‘To compose whatever would greatly please Ladies; for, by St. Nicaise, To the best of my ability whatever I say will do in their honor. For truly 1 would go too far wrong 2s If ever I didn’t. ‘And so 1 intend, without further delay, Beginning with The Story of the Orchard. HEREAFTER BEGINS THE STORY OF THE ORCHARD