![]() Dijon Chansonnier, fol. 4v ![]() Dijon Chansonnier, fol. 5r ![]() Dijon Chansonnier, fol. 5v ![]() Dijon Chansonnier, fol. 6r |
Ockeghem’s Ma bouche rit in the Dijon Chansonnier (ca. 1475) Click here to see same piece as transmitted in the Wolfenbüttel Chansonnier |
[bergerette] 1.5. Ma bouche rit et ma pensée pleure, Mon oeil s’esjoye et mon cueur mauldit l’eure Qu’il eut le bien qui sa santé deschasse Et le plaisir que la mort me pourchasse Sans resconfort qui m’aide ne sequeure. 2. Ha, cueur pervers, faulsaire et mensonger, Dictes comment avez osé songer Que de faulser ce que m’avez promis. 3. Puis qu’en ce point vous vous voulez venger, Pensez bien tost de ma vie abreger; Vivre ne puis au point ou m’avez mis. 4. Vostre rigueur veult doncques que je meure, Mais Pitié veult que vivant je demeure; Ainsi meurs vif et en vivant trespasse, Mais pour celer le mal qui ne se passe Et pour couvrir le dueil ou je labeure, 5. Ma bouche rit... |
My mouth laughs, and my thoughts weep, My eye looks merry, and my heart curses the hour When it acquired the benefit that dissipates its health And the pleasure for which death pursues me, Without comfort to aid or console me. Ah, perverse, false, and deceitful heart, Tell me how you dared to dream, Of lying about what you promised me. Since in that respect you wish to avenge yourself, Think soon of shortening my life; , I cannot live in the situation in which you have placed me. Your hardness, then, wills that I die, But Pity wishes that I remain alive; Thus alive I die and in living perish, But to hide the pain that will not go away, And to conceal the sorrow under which I labor, My mouth laughs.... —Transl. by Richard Wexler |