Douce Dame Jolie

Douce Dame Jolie, sometimes referred to only as 'Douce dame', is a song from the 14th century, by the french trobadour Guillaume de Machaut. The song is a virelai, belonging to the style ars nova, and are one of the most often heard medieval tunes today. Most modern recordings omitts the lyrics, however.

One of the most famous musical pieces of the middle ages, 'Douce Dame' has been performed by a plethora of artist, mostly but not always in medieval style. Among others are Ayragon (with lyrics), Corvus Corax, Filia Irata, Två fisk och en fläsk (with lyrics), Wisby Vaganter, A La Via! (with lyrics), Blackmore's Night, Lisa Lynne, John Renbourn Group (with english lyrics) and Wolfenmond.

French lyrics

Douce dame jolie,

Pour dieu ne pensés mie

Que nulle ait signorie

Seur moy fors vous seulement.

Qu'adès sans tricherie

Chierie

Vous ay et humblement

Tous les jours de ma vie

Servie

Sans villain pensement.

Helas! et je mendie

D'esperance et d'aïe;

Dont ma joie est fenie,

Se pité ne vous en prent.

Douce dame jolie...

Mais vo douce maistrie maistrie

mon cuer si durement

qu'elle le contralie et lie

en amours, tellement.

Qu'il n'a de riens envie

fors d'estre en vo baillie;

et se ne li ottrie

vos cuers nul aligement.

Douce dame jolie...

English translation:

Sweet, lovely lady

for god's sake do not think

that I am devoted to any woman

but you alone.

For always, without falsehood

I have cherished you, and humbly

served you all the days of my life

without deception.

Alas, I am left begging

for hope and relief;

for my joy is at its end

without your compassion.

Your sweet spell

rules my heart so harshly,

tormenting and binding it

in unbearable love.

[My heart] desires nothing

but to be in your power.

And still, your own heart

renders it no relief.

See also

• Courtly love
• Medieval music
• Guillaume de Machaut

References

• Stanley, John. Classical Music: An Introduction to Classical Music Through the Great Composers & Their Masterworks, 1994 John Stanley.
• Hindely, Geoffrey, editor. Larousse Encyclopedia of Music, 1971 The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited