No More Learning

My lady for your grace

I clasp my hands and pray

Lithe body and fresh face,

Have brought me many a care.

The world and its affairs

Could not absorb me so,

That when men spoke of her

My heart it would not glow,

My face not brighten there.

When I speak of her also

You'll quickly judge I care

Seeing my laughter grow.

My love for her's so deep

Often too I must weep,

So that my sighs taste sweet

Sweeter for tears they share.

Messenger, go now, fleet

Of foot, tell those you meet

Of all the pain and grief

It brings, the suffering I bear.

Can par la flors josta. l vert folh

When flowers are in the leaves green

And the sky's serene and clear,

And the song of birds rings keen,

Sweetening my heart, as I wake here,

Then since birds sing with their art

I who have greater joy at heart,

Must sing true, since my daily bread

Is joy and song, all that's in my head.

She whom I want most on this earth,

And love the more with heart and faith,

She joys to hear and keep my words,

Gathers and stores my pleas always.

And if men die by true love's art,

Then I must die, since in my heart

I bear her love, so true and fine,

All are false to one whom she'll loyal find.

I know when I retire at night

That I shall barely sleep a wink.

My sleep I lose, forego it quite

For you, my lady, as I think!

And where a man hides his treasure

There will his heart reside forever.

Lady I can't leave, if I see you not,

No sight is worth the beauty of my thought.

When I recall how I loved so

One who was false, without mercy,

I tell you such sorrow I did know

There was no path to joy for me.

Lady, for whom I sing and more,

Your lips wounded me to the core,

With a sweet kiss of love heart-true,

Grant joy, save me from mortal sorrow too.
Such as the proudest hearts may feel

When great joy or great good they see!

But I a finer spirit reveal,

And truer when God is good to me.

For when I'm on the fringes of love,

From fringe to centre then I move.

Thanks, lady: no one equals me.

I lack not, if God saves you for me.

Lady, if I should see you not,

Do not grieve more than I grieve,

Know well I see you in my heart!

He strikes at you because of me.

But if he strikes through jealousy,

Take care the heart he cannot reach.

If he vex you, annoy him too,

Then he'll not win good for ill from you.

God, guard my Sweet-Sight from harm

Whether I'm near to her or far.

God, my lady and Sweet-Sight save,

That's all I wish, no more I crave.

Note: Pound adapts the last lines of verse 3 'S'eu no vos vei, domna, don plus me cal, Negus vezers mo bel pesar no val' as 'And if I see her not. . . no sight is worth the beauty of my thought' in Canto XX.

Can la frej' aura venta

When fresh breezes gather,

That from your country rise,

I seem to feel no other

Air but that of Paradise,

Through love of a lover

Who binds me with love's ties,

Where my will I tether,

And my true heart lies,

All others I despise,

But her who draws me ever!