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Medieval Music Database

De bonte, de valour

virelai by Guillaume de Machaut

Sources

New York: Wildenstein Collection, fol. 325v (1/1);
Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 843 (text); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1584 (MachA), fol. 484v (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1585 (MachB), fol. 323v (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1586 (MachC), fol. 152 (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 9221 (MachE), fol. 163 (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 22546 (MachG), fol. 156v (1/1).

Editions

1. Guillaume de Machaut: Musikalische Werke. Erster Band: Balladen, Rondeaux und Virelais, edited by Friedrich Ludwig, Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926, p. 74.
2. The Works of Guillaume de Machaut, Second Part, edited by Leo Schrade, Monaco: Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1956. Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century III, p. 172.
3. Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377), p. 5.
4. Anthology of Medieval Music, edited by Richard H. Hoppin, New York: W. W. Norton, 1978, no. 64 (Pn1584).

Text Editions

Guillaume de Machaut: poésies lyriques, 2 vols., edited by V. Chichmaref, Paris: 1909, p. 591.

Literature

1. MACHABEY, Armand. Guillaume de Machault, 130?-1377: La vie et l'oeuvre musicale, 2 vols, Paris: Richard-Masse-Editeur, 1955. Bibliothèque d'études musicales, pp. 180-181.
2. GÜNTHER, Ursula. Der musikalische Stilwandel der französischen Liedkunst in der zweiten Hälfte des 14. Jahrhunderts, dargestelt an Virelais, Balladen und Rondeax von Machaut., Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hamburg: 1957, Chapter 4.3.
3. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Contribution de la musicologie à la biographie et à la chronologie de Guillaume de Machaut', Guillaume de Machaut, poète et compositeur. Colloque - Table Ronde, 1978, pp. 95-116.
4. BENT, Margaret. 'The Machaut manuscripts Vg, B and E', Musica Disciplina, XXXVII (1983), pp. 57-58, 69.

Text

De bonte, de valour.
De biaute, de doucour
Ma dame est paree;
De maniere, d'atour.
De sens, de grace est couronnee.

Dame desiree.
Richement aournee
De colour.
Bien endoctrinee.
De tous a droit loee.
Par savour.
Juenette, sans folour.
Simplette, sans baudour.
De bonne heure nee.
Parfaite en toute honnour.
Nulle n'est a vous comparee.

De bonte, de valour...


De bonte, de valour...

Car loyal, secree.
De bonne renommee.
Sans faus tour.
Franche et esmeree.
Nette, pure, affinee.
La millour
De toutes et la flour.
Sans mal, sans deshonnour.
Estes apellee.
Pour ce aves sans retour
Mon cuer, m'amour et ma pensee.

De bonte, de valour...


De bonte, de valour...

Et s'il vous agree.
Gentil dame honnouree.
Que j'aour.
Qu'en moy soit doublee.
Sans estre ja finee.
Ma langour.
Si weil je la dolour
Et l'amoureuse ardour.
Qu'en moy est entree.
Endurer nuit et jour.
Ne ja n'en seres meins amee.

De bonte, de valour...

Translation

With goodness, worth.
Beauty and sweetness
My lady is adorned;
With dignity and charm.
With understanding and grace she is crowned.

Lady most desired.
Richly adorned
With rosy complexion.
Well instructed.
Rightly praised by all.
With delight.
Youthful, without folly.
Simple without presumption.
Fortunately born.
Perfect in all honour.
None may compare with you.

With goodness, worth...


With goodness, worth...

For loyal, discreet.
Of good reknown.
Without false wiles.
Frank and gracious.
Neat, pure and refined.
The best
Of all and the flower.
Without evil, without dishonour
You are called.
For this you have for ever
My heart, my love and my thoughts.

With goodness, worth...


With goodness, worth...

And if it pleases you.
Noble honoured lady
Whom I adore.
That in me should be doubled.
Without ever ending.
My languishing.
So I wish that pain
And the amorous burning
Which has entered me
To last night and day:
Nor for that will you ever be loved less.

With goodness, worth...

Text revision and translation © Jennifer Garnham



Content Approved by: MMDB Director
Last updated: Wednesday, 19 March 2003


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