Et quant recort sa simple courtoisie et les dols mos ke suet a moi parler, coment me puet li cuers el cors durer? I To you, lovers, more than all other people, it is right that I express my grief, for of necessity I am compelled to leave and part from my faithful companion; and once I lose her, there is nothing left to me; and be aware, Love, truly, that if anyone ever died of a sorrowing heart, then no song or lay will ever emanate from me.
II Good Lord God, what will therefore come about, and how? Shall I finally have to take my leave of her? Yes by God, it cannot be otherwise, without her I must go into a foreign land; I do not think now ever to be free of dreadful pain, since I have no comfort or consolation from her, and expect no joy from any other love but hers, and I do not know whether this will ever be.
III Good Lord God, what will become of the kind thoughts, the great solace, the companionship and loving looks which the one who was my lady, companion, friend, used to bestow on me? And when I call to mind her simple courtesy and the sweet words with which she is accustomed to speak to me, how can my heart remain within my body? If it does not part from there it is assuredly most wretched. IV Not for nothing has God wished to grant me all the delights I have had in my life; instead he makes me pay dearly for them, to the point where I fear that this price will be my death.
Have pity, Love, if God ever acted basely, it is a cruel thing to sunder good love: but I cannot free myself of love, and yet I am obliged to leave my lady.
IV Dio non ha voluto darmi gratuitamente tutti i piaceri che ho avuto nella mia vita, anzi me li fa pagare cari, al punto che temo che questo prezzo mi uccida. The present song does not actually mention the overseas expedition, which can only be deduced by certain vague indications see especially vv. The theme of death within the love relationship is analysed by Zaganelli , pp. This is a more courtly version of the typical preaching theme of exchange found in some crusade songs, according to which service of God through crusading is the fair price to pay for salvation procured by Christ by His death on the cross.
