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Medieval Music Database

Corps feminin par vertu de Nature

Three-voice ballade by Solage

Sources

Chantilly: Bibliothèque du Musée Condé 564, fol. 23v (3/1).

Editions

1. French Secular Music of the Late Fourteenth Century, edited by Willi Apel, Cambridge/Massachusetts: Medieval Academy of America, 1950, no. 32.
2. French Secular Compositions of the Fourteenth Century, music edited by Willi Apel, texts edited by Samuel N. Rosenberg, Rome: American Institute of Musicology, 1970. Corpus Mensurabilis Musicae 53/I, p. 181.
3. French Secular Music. Manuscript Chantilly, Musée Condé 564, First Part, edited by Gordon K. Greene, Monaco: Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1981. Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century XVIII, p. 66.

Literature

1. 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, pp. 225, 245-249.
2. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Der Gebrauch des tempus perfectum diminutum in der Handschrift Chantilly 1047', Archiv für Musikwissenschaft, XVII (1960), p. 290.
3. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Datierbare Balladen des späten 14. Jahrhunderts. Part 1', Musica Disciplina, XV (1961), pp. 58-61.
4. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Die Musiker des Herzogs von Berry', Musica Disciplina, XVII (1963), pp. 87-88.

Text

Corps feminin par vertu de Nature
a droit devis traitis et compasT
tant noblement, certes, que vo figure.
humble sans per, passeflour de beautT;
et tant est doulz et plaisant
l'amoureux ray de vostrd oeil riant.
lequel me fait par un doulz souvenir
joieux et gay en ses las maintenir.

Nul ne staroit prisier l'envoiseure
et la doltour que j'ay en vous truvT;
la joye aussi qui doune nourreture
a cuer d'amant de loyautT parT.
Rien, certes, ne me pot tant
onquez plaire come vo corps joyant.
ysnell et gent, ne rien tant ne desir.
ne ja ne quier jamais autre cherir.

Et c'est raison que de gens de fayture.
digne d'ounour, vous soit le pris dounT.
Au grT d'Amours, qui de volentT pure
m'a enrichi du tresor desirT
Ou tout bien est surendant.
veuillez me donc retenir pour amant.
Raison le vuelt quar pour leyal servir
suelt hon souvent bon guardon acquerir.

Translation

The feminine body, by its very nature.
truly wondrously made and fashioned with artistry;
as nobly, certainly, as your person.
humble without peer, surpasses the flower in beauty.
And so sweet and pleasing
is the loving gleam in your laughing eye
which keeps me, by a sweet memory.
happy and joyful in its bonds.

None would know how to appreciate the happiness
and the sweetness that I have found in you;
the joy also which gives sustenance
to the lover's heart, adorned with loyalty.
Nothing, certainly, could ever
please me as much as your joyful.
lively and pleasing body, nor do I desire anything so much.
nor, indeed, do I ever seek to caress another.

And it is right that, among people of culture.
worthy of honour, the prize should be given to you.
At Love's pleasure - who, with pure intentions
has enriched me with the longed-for treasure.
in whom all good is overflowing -
please deign to let me be your lover.
Reason wills it, since from serving loyally.
one often obtains a fine recompense.

Text revision and translation © Robyn Smith



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


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