RS 1404
Gontier de Soignies
I Lan quant voi esclarcir Le tans et raverdir, Ne me puis esbaudir, 4Car d’un grant duel m’aïr. Hé, amer! Assai fas de chanter Pour moi reconforter, 8Car la m’estuet penser Ou ne puis recovrer. D’amors chascun jour Crois et doble ma dolor.
II 12Celi doit on haïr Et de s’amor partir; Molt est griés a soffrir Grans amors sans joïr. 16[Las, por quoi m’en consir, Quant tot faić som plaisir?] Hé, amer! Ki porroit endurer 20Que tant convient pener? Bien puet l’ome afoler Longement consirrer. D’amors chascun jour 24Crois et doble ma dolor.
III Tant le voi[l] et desir K’aillors ne puis guencir, Mais ce me fait faillir 28Ke ne m’en sai covrir. Hé, amer! Bien me doi trespenser, Car hom ne set penser 32Si belle ne sa per, N’ainc ne li vić fauser. D’amors chascun jour Crois et doble ma dolor.
IV 36Mex aim ensi languir Entre vivre et morir, Kë une autre acoillir Ki m’aint sans repentir. 40Hé, amer! Por grant bien esperer Doit on molt endurer; Las! ne m’en puis torner 44Ne men duel oublïer. D’amors chascun jour Crois et doble ma dolor.
V Onques ne seuć mentir 48Vers Amors ne traïr; Quoi qu’en doie avenir Ne puis sans li garir. Hé, amer! 52Ne puis par el passer Mais mon grant duel mener, Et ens merchi ester, Soffrir et sospirer. 56D’amors chascun jour Crois et doble ma dolor.
VI Gontiers au defenir, S’a plus [n’] em puet venir, 60De tos maus velt issir Et cest siecle guerpir. Hé, amer! Pour Dieu passerai mer 64Au Temple converser, Car la m’en voill aler Ou je n’oie parler. D’amors chascun jour 68Crois et doble ma dolor.
I Now that I see the season turning light and green, I cannot be merry, for I am tormented by a great sorrow. Alas, the bitterness! I make an attempt to sing to comfort myself, for I am forced to think of a place where I cannot recover. Each day my pain grows and doubles.
II That lady should be abhorred and love of her abandoned; it is most grievous to suffer great love without satisfaction. [Alas, why am I deprived of it, when I entirely do its bidding?] Alas, the bitterness! Who could endure having to suffer so much? Such long abstinence may well drive a man mad. Each day my pain grows and doubles.
III I desire and yearn for it so much that I cannot turn elsewhere, but this ruins me, for I have no protection against it. Alas, the bitterness! I cannot but be tormented, for it is impossible to think of another as beautiful as her, nor did I ever see her commit any fault. Each day my pain grows and doubles.
IV I prefer to languish thus between life and death than to welcome another who loves me steadfastly. Alas, the bitterness! To hope for a great reward one must endure much; alas! I cannot abandon her or forget my pain. Each day pain grows and doubles.
V I was never able to lie to Love or betray it; whatever may befall I cannot be cured without it. Alas, the bitterness! I can do no other but [must] endure my great torment and remain at its (Love’s) mercy, suffer and sigh. Each day my pain grows and doubles.
VI In the end, Gontier, if he cannot attain more, wishes to leave all torments behind and abandon this world. Alas, the bitterness! I shall voyage across the sea for the sake of God and become a Templar, for I wish to go away to where I hear no [idle] talk. Each day my pain grows and doubles.
Historical context and dating
Little is known of Gontier de Soignies, a trouvère from the region near Mons, now in Belgian Hainault, whose activity Formisano dates to approximately the first two decades of the 13th c. (pp. lx-lxii). It is impossible to know whether he took part in a crusade. RS 1404 contains his sole reference to the East (vv. 63-64). The author does not mention crusading, but claims he wishes to become a Templar, and the mention of a sea crossing relates this to a crusading context.