Duke of Aquintane Guilluame IX

Here you will find the Long Poem Pos de chantar of poet Duke of Aquintane Guilluame IX

Pos de chantar

Pos de chantar m'es pres talentz, 
Farai un vers don sui dolenz: 
Mais non serai obedienz, 
En Peitau ni en Lemozi. Translation: 

As the desire to sing takes hold of me, 
I will make a song about my sorrow; 
I will no longer be a servant of love 
In Poitou nor in Limousin. 


Qu'era m'en irai en eisil: 
En gran paor, en grand peril, 
En guerra laissarai mon fil, 
E faran li mal siei vezi. 

For now I will go into exile: 
In great fear, in great peril, 
In war, I will leave my son 
And his people will harm him. 



Lo departirs m'es aitan grieus 
Del senhoratge de Peitieus! 
En garda lais Folcon d'Angieus 
Tota la terra e son cozi. 

The departure from the realm 
Of Poitiers is so difficult for me! 
I leave Foucon of Angers in charge 
Of all the land and of his cousin. 


Si Folcos d'Angieus no.l socor, 
E.l reis de cui ieu tenc m'onor, 
Faran li mal tuit li pluzor, 
Felon Gascon et Angevi. 

If Foucon of Angers does not help him 
And the king from whom I hold my realm, 
Many people will bring him harm, 
Treacherous Gascons and Angevins. 



Si ben non es savis ni pros, 
Cant ieu serai partiz de vos, 
Vias l'auran tornat en jos, 
Car lo veiran jov' e mesqui. 


If he is neither wise nor mighty 
When I will have left you, 
They will soon overthrow him 
For they will see him young and weak. 


Merce quier a mon compaignon 
S'anc li fi tort qu'il m'o perdon; 
Et ieu prec en Jesu del tron 
Et en romans et en lati. 

I seek mercy on my companion 
If I have ever wronged him, may he pardon me, 
And I pray to Jesus on the throne, 
In French and in Latin. 



De proeza e de joi fui, 
Mais ara partem ambedui, 
Et eu irai m'en a scellui 
On tut peccador troban fi. 

I have might and joy, 
But now we all part, 
And I go to the One 
With whom all sinners find peace. 



Mout ai estat cuendes e gais, 
Mas Nostre Seigner no.l vol mais; 
Ar non puesc plus soffrir lo fais, 
Tant soi aprochatz de la fi. 

I have been most jovial and joyful, 
But our Lord wants that no more; 
Now I can suffer this burden no longer 
Since the end draws so near. 



Tot ai guerpit quant amar sueill, 
Cavalaria et orgueill; 
E pos Dieu platz, tot o acueill, 
E prec li que.m reteng' am si. 

I have left behind all that I once loved 
Chivalry and pride; 
And since it pleases God, I accept all that 
And pray Him to retain me in His presence. 



Toz mos amics prec a la mort 
Que vengan tut e m onren fort, 
Qu'eu ai avut joi e deport 
Loing e pres et e mon aizi. 

I pray all my friends, at my death 
That they all come and give me great honor, 
For I have known joy and pleasure 
Far and near and in my realm. 



Aissi guerpisc joi e deport 
E vair e gris e sembeli. 

Thus I renounce joy and pleasure 
The brown, grey, and sable furs.