Lanquan li jorn son lonc e may
When the days are long, in May,
Sweet the songs of birds afar,
And when I choose from there to stray,
I bring to mind a love that’s far.
I walk face lowered, and I glower,
And neither song nor hawthorn flower,
Can please me more than winter’s ice.
I hold the Lord for truth always
By whom was formed this love afar,
But for each good that comes my way
Two ills I find, since she’s so far.
Would I were a pilgrim at this hour,
So staff and cloak from her tower,
She’d gaze on with her lovely eyes!
What joy it will be to seek that day,
For love of God, that inn afar,
And, if she wishes, rest, I say,
Near her, though I come from afar,
For words fall in a pleasant shower
When distant lover has the power,
With gentle heart, joy to realise.
Sad, in pain, would I go away,
Should I not see that love afar.
For I don’t know when I may
See her, the distance is so far.
So many the roads and ways lower,
That indeed I can say no more,
But let all things be as she likes.
The delights of love I never may
Enjoy, if not joy of my love afar,
No finer, nobler comes my way,
From any quarter: near or far.
So rich and high is her dower,
That there in the Saracen’s tower
For her sake I would be their prize.
God that made all that goes or stays
And formed this love from afar
Grant me the power to hope one day
I’ll see this love of mine afar,
Truly, and in a pleasant hour,
So that her chamber and her bower,
Might seem a palace to my eyes.
Who calls me covetous, truth to say,
Is right, I long for a love afar,
For no other joy pleases me today
Like the joy in my love from afar.
Yet what I wish is not in my power,
It is my godfather’s curse, so sour,
That I love, yet love should be denied.
For what I wish is not in my power,
Cursed my godfather’s word so sour,
Who has ruled my love should be denied.
– Jaufre Rudel (d.c.1148)
Troubadour poem, translated from Occitan. Jaufre Rudel was the Castellan of Blaye (Princes de Blaia) and a troubadour of the early–mid 12th century, who probably died during the Second Crusade, in or after 1147. He is noted for developing the theme of “love from afar” (amor de lonh or amour de loin) in his songs. According to his legendary vida, or biography, he was inspired to go on Crusade upon hearing from returning pilgrims of the beauty of Countess Hodierna of Tripoli, and that she was his amor de lonh, his far-off love. The legend claims that he fell sick on the journey and was brought ashore in Tripoli a dying man. Countess Hodierna is said to have come down from her castle on hearing the news, and Rudel died in her arms. This romantic but unlikely story seems to have been derived from the enigmatic nature of Rudel’s verse and his presumed death on the Crusade.
