A Chantar M'er

One of my favorite songs (and one of my favorite singers). A song written by La Comtessa de Dia (Beatritz De Dia) in the late 12^th century in the Occitan language, marvelously sung by Azam Ali. Here is an English translation:

I must sing of what I do not want,

I am so angry with the one whom I love,

Because I love him more than anything:

Neither mercy nor courtesy moves him,

Neither does my beauty, nor my worthiness, nor my good sense,

For I am deceived and betrayed

As much as I should be, if I were ugly.

I take comfort because I never did anything wrong,

My friend, towards you in anything,

Rather I love you more than Seguin did love Valensa,

And I am greatly pleased that I conquered you in love,

My friend, because you are the most worthy;

You are arrogant to me in words and appearance,

And yet you are so friendly towards everyone else.

I wonder at how you have become so proud,

My friend, towards me, and I have reason to lament;

It is not right that another love take you away from me

No matter what is said or granted to you

And remember how it was at the beginning

Of our love! May Lord God never wish

That it was my fault for our separation.

The great prowess that dwells in you

And your noble worth retain me,

For I do not know of any woman, far or near,

Who, if she wants to love, would not incline to you;

But you, my friend, have such understanding

That you can tell the best,

And I remind you of our sharing.

My worth and my nobility should help me,

My beauty and my fine heart;

Therefore, I send this song down to you

So that it would be my messenger.

I want to know, my fair and noble friend,

Why you are so cruel and savage to me;

I don't know if it is arrogance or ill will.

But I especially want you, messenger, to tell him

That many people suffer for having too much pride