A l'entrada del temps clar
Here's a troubadour song from the 12th century. It's about Spring, with the usual allegory of the young Spring Queen needing a young man in the dance of life, so she can renew.
The troubadours were poet musicians who lived between the 11th through the 13th centuries. They spoke Occitan, a romance language that can still be heard in parts of southern France, Italy and Spain.
A l'entrada del temps clar
When the Clear Days Come
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Occitan)
(English)
A l'entrada del temps clar, eya
Per jòia recomençar, eya
E per jelós irritar, eya
Vòl la regina mostrar
Qu'el' es si amorosa
A la vi', a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.
El' a fait pertot mandar, eya
Non sia jusqu'a la mar, eya
Piucela ni bachalar, eya
Que tuit non vengan dançar
En la dansa joiosa.
A la vi', a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.
Lo reis i ven d'autra part, eya
Per la dança destorbar, eya
Que el es en cremetar, eya
Que òm no li vòlh emblar
La regin' aurilhosa.
A la vi', a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.
Mais per nïent lo vòl far, eya
Qu'ela n'a sonh de vielhart, eya
Mais d'un leugièr bachalar, eya
Qui ben sapcha solaçar
La dòmna saborosa.
A la vi', a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.
Qui donc la vei dançar, eya
E son gent còrs deportar, eya
Ben pòt dir de vertat, eya
Qu'el mont non sia sa par
La regina joiosa.
A la vi', a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.
When the clear days come, eya
To be joyful again, eya
And to annoy the jealous ones, eya
The queen wants to show
That she's so enamored.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.
She had a message sent everywhere, eya
That as far as the sea, eya
Let there be neither maiden nor young man, eya
Who shall not come to dance,
The joyous dance.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.
The king comes, eya
To disturb the dance, eya
For he is very afraid, eya
That someone will want to steal,
The April Queen.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones.
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.
But she wouldn't let him do it, eya
For she needs not an old man, eya
But a graceful young one, eya
Who would know well how to entertain,
The delightful lady.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.
Whoever sees her dance, eya
And her pretty body move, eya
Can well say, in truth, eya
That in all the world she has no equal,
The joyous queen.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.
Notes
Author unknown.
"About the Occitan word 'joia' that's in the song, in the troubadours' time the word had a very strong meaning of 'joy of life'. It was a very deep feeling of happiness." -Monique
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation: Monique and Lisa
Image from the "Chansonnier français, dit de Saint Germain des Prés" manuscript kept at the BNF (National Library of France), page 82v.
