ABSTRACT
Bertran de Born was the lover of a noble, young, highly esteemed lady whose name was Maeuz of Montaignac, the wife of Lord Talairan, who was the brother of the Count of Perigord; and she was the daughter of the Viscount of Turenne and the sister of Lady Maria of Ventadorn and of Lady Elis of Montfort. 1 And, according to what he says in his song, she broke off with him and sent him away, leaving him very sad and upset; and he reasoned 2 that he would never get her back or find another as beautiful, good, charming or learned. And since he would not find another the equal of his lady, he decided that he should make one through a system of borrowing from each of the other good and beautiful ladies one trait of beauty: an expression, a warm welcome, a lovely way of speaking, beautiful composure, perfect height or an ideal figure. And so he went around asking all the good ladies to give him one of the gifts that you have heard me name in order to bring back to him the lady he had lost. In the sirventes that he composed on this subject you will hear named all the ladies whom he visited seeking aid and abetment in his project of creating the borrowed lady. And the sirventes that he composed on this topic begins: Lady, since you do not care for me…
Song 80, 12
Bertran de Bom: “Dompna, puois de mi no.us cal…”
Source: Paden et al., 150.
MSS: A 189, B 113, D 124, F 83,1 182, K 167.
Other English translations: Bonner, 142; Goldin, 234; Paden et al., 150; Wilhelm, 166.
481. Lady, since you do not care for me And have sent me away For no good reason, I don’t know where to look; For never again 5 Will I find a joy so rich, And if I do not find a lady Whose appearance is to my liking And who is the equal of you, whom I have lost, Then I never want to have another lover. 10 2. Since I can find no one to equal you: Who is as beautiful and noble, Whose precious body is so full of joy, Who is of such lovely appearance And so gay, 15 Or whose glorious reputation is so well-founded, I will go everywhere looking For one trait of beauty from each of the others To make up an imaginary lady Until you are returned to me. 20 3. Fresh, natural color, I will take from you, My-beautiful-Sable, As well as your sweet and loving glance; I am being presumptuous In leaving you anything, 25 For there is nothing good that you lack. I ask My-Lord, Lady Elis, To give me her clever and bountiful talk To help me with My-Lord For that way she will be neither stupid nor mute. 30 4. I want the would-be viscountess of Chales 1 To give me at once Her throat and both her hands. Then, sticking to my route, Without veering off in either direction, 35 I head straight for Rochechouard, For Lady Agnes’ hair, so that she will give me some; For we know that not even Iseut, Tristan’s lady, 49Who was celebrated by one and all, Had hair so beautiful. 40 5. As for Lady Audiartz, although she wishes me ill, I want her to give me her face, For she looks so good when she fixes herself up; And because she is whole And her love doesn’t break 45 Or veer off in other directions, I ask my Better-than-Good For her celebrated young body Which, from just a glance, gives the impression That it would be a pleasure to hold her naked. 50 6. Likewise for Lady Faidida, I want from her her lovely teeth as a gift, And the welcome and fine conversation She offers to those In her home. 55 I want My-Beautiful-Mirror to give me Her gaiety and good taste For she knows how to maintain her own well-being And doesn’t change and isn’t fickle: She is known for this. 60 7. Beautiful-Lord, I ask nothing more of you Than that I be as desirous of this lady As I am of you, For there is a lusty Love born 65 That has my body lusting. I would rather be asking you for love Than making it with any other. Why then does My-Lord refuse me When she knows how much I have wanted her? 70 8. Papiol, you shall go to My-Magnet 2 And tell him in song That love is no longer recognized here And has fallen low from high above.