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 (band), 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
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