How's your 16C French?
Oct. 9th, 2012 02:15 pmBelle qui tiens ma vie, a pavane written by Thoinot Arbeau (a pseudonym for Jehan Tabourot) and published in Orchésographie in 1589.
The translation is my own, and any who know French better than I do (not difficult) are welcome, indeed, encouraged to submit corrections.
The translation is my own, and any who know French better than I do (not difficult) are welcome, indeed, encouraged to submit corrections.
Belle qui tiens ma vie | Beauty who holds my life |
Captive dans tes yeux, | Captive in your eyes. |
Qui m'as l'ame ravie | Who made my soul happy |
D'un soubz-ris gracieux, | With a gracious smile. |
Viens tost me secourir | Come soon to help me |
Ou me fauldra mourir. | Or I must surely die. |
Pourquoy fuis tu mignarde | Why do you flee, dainty one |
Si je suis pres de toy, | If I am near to you |
Quand tes yeulx je regarde | When I look into your eyes |
Je me perds dedans moy | I lose myself within |
Car tes perfections | For your perfections |
Changent mes actions. | Change my actions. |
Tes beautéz et ta grace | Your beauty and your grace |
Et tes divins propos. | And your divine words |
Ont eschauffé la glace | Are hot ice |
Qui me geloit les os, | Which freezes my bones |
Et ont remply mon cœur | And have filled my heart |
D'une amoureuse ardeur. | With a loving heat |
Mon ame souloit estre | My soul is wont to be |
Libre de passions, | Free of passions |
Mais amour s'est faict maistre | But love is the true master |
De mes affections, | Of my affections |
Et à mis soubs sa loy | Put underneath its law |
Et mon cœur et ma foy. | Both my heart and my faith |
Approche donc ma belle | Approach then my lovely |
Approche toy mon bien, | Approach you, my dear |
Ne me sois plus rebelle | I will rebel no more |
Puis que mon cœur est tien, | Therefore my heart is yours |
Pour mon mal appaiser, | To ease my pain |
Donne moy un baiser. | Give me a kiss |
Je meurs mon Angelette | I die, my little Angel |
Je meurs en te baisant, | I die as you kiss, |
Ta bouche tant doucette | Your mouth so sweet |
Va mon bien ravissant | It has ravished me well |
A ce coup mes espritz | To blow my wits |
Sont tous d'amour espris. | They are all smitten by love |
Plustost on verra l'Onde | Rather we see the Wave |
Contre mont reculer | Against the mountain break |
Et plustost l'œil du monde | And rather the eye of the world |
Cessera de brusler, | Ceases to burn |
Que l'amour qui m'époinct | That the love that stings me |
Decroisse d'un seul poinct. | Decreases from a single prick |