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QUAN
CHAI LA FUEILHA (WHEN FALLS THE
LEAF)
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Verse translation
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Provençal original
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Literal
prose translation
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When
tumbles down the leaf
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Quan chai la fueilha
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When falls the leaf
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midst the high trees up thither
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dels aussors entrecims
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of the highest treetops
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and
freezing gives such grief
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e · l freitz s’ergueilha
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and
the cold arises
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that hazel and willow wither;
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don seca · l vais’ e · l vims
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which dries the hazel and the willow,
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of
sweetest bird-refrain
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del dous refrims
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then
of sweet bird-refrains
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the woods mute in the cold;
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au sordezir la brueilha
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I hear the woodland become mute ;
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but
for Love am I most fain,
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mas ieu sui prims
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but
I am eager for Love,
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whoever may it withhold.
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d’Amor, qui que s’en tueilha.
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whoever might withhold it.
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...
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Tot quant es gela,
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Everything
is frozen,
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mas ieu non puesc frezir,
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but I cannot freeze,
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qu’amors novella
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because
new love
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mi fai · l cor reverdir,
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makes my heart green again,
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non dei fremir,
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nor
ought I shiver,
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qu’Amors mi cuebr’ e · m cela
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since Love covers and hides me,
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e · m fai tenir
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and
makes me hold onto
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ma valor en capdela.
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my courage and guides me.
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Bona es vida
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Good is life
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pus joia la mante,
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since joy maintains it,
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que tals n’escrida
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though some complain of it
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cui ges non vai tam be:
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whose things go not so well;
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no sai de re
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I know not of anything
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coreilhar m’escarida,
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to make me quarrel with my fate,
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que per ma fe
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since by my faith
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del mieilhs ai ma partida.
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I have my share of the best.
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De drudaria
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About
courtly love
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no · m sai de re blasmar,
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I know of nothing worth blaming,
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qu’autrui paria
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though
other players
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trastorn en reirazar;
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roll over in hazardous gaming;
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ges ab sa par
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of
those about her none is her peer
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no sai doblar m’amia,
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I know none the double of my lady,
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qu’una non par
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whom
no other she matches,
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que segonda noilh sia.
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of whom exists no second to her.
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No vueilh s’asemble
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I
wish not to involve
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mos cors ab autr’ amor
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my heart with another love
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si qu’ieu ja · il m’emble
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lest
I really change things for me
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ni volva · l cap ailhor;
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and she turn her head elsewhere;
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non ai paor
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I
have no fear
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que ja celh
de Pontremble
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that even
she from Pontremoli
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n’aia gensor
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has
her nobility
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de lieis ni que la semble.
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nor even seem to.
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Ges non es croia
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Nothing
is cruel
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celha qui soi amis;
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in her who is my friend;
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de sai Savoia
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on
this side of Savoy
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plus bella no · s noiris;
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(a) more lovely (one) is not nurtured;
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tals m’abelis
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so
much she pleases me,
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don ieu plus ai de joia
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of whom I more have joy,
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non ac Paris
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than
even Paris (had)
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d’Elena, cel de Troia.
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of Helen, she of Troy.
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Tan pareis genta
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So
gracious she looks
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celha que · m te joios,
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who keeps me joyous,
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las gensors trenta,
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(that)
the most noble thirty (ladies)
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vens de belhas faisos:
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she surpasses in beautiful fashion;
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ben es razos
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good
is the reason therefore
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doncas que mos chans senta,
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that she should hear my songs
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quar es tan pros
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because
she is so fine
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e de ric pretz manenta.
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and of rich praise deserving.
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Vai t’en chansos,
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Go
you along, my song,
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denan lieis ti presenta,
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until you present yourself to her,
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que s’ill no fos
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since
if she were not,
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no · i metr’ Arnautz s’ententa.
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Arnaut would not make the effort.
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