The bitter air Strips panoply From trees Where softer winds set leaves, And glad Beaks Now in brakes are coy, Scarce peep the wee Mates And un-mates. What gaud's the work? What good the glees? What curse I strive to shake! Me hath she cast from high, In fell disease I lie, and deathly fearing.
So clear the flare That first lit me To seize Her whom my soul believes; If cad Sneaks, Blabs, slanders, my joy Counts little fee Baits And their hates. I scorn their perk And preen, at ease. Disburse Can she, and wake Such firm delights, that I Am hers, froth, lees Bigod! from toe to earring.
Amor, look yare! Know certainly The keys: How she thy suit receives; Nor add Piques, 'Twere folly to annoy. I'm true, so dree Fates; No debates Shake me, nor jerk. My verities Turn terse, And yet I ache; Her lips, not snows that fly Have potencies To slake, to cool my searing.
Behold my prayer, (Or company Of these) Seeks whom such height achieves; Well clad Seeks Her, and would not cloy. Heart apertly States Thought. Hope waits 'Gainst death to irk: False brevities And worse! To her I raik.[5] Sole her; all others' dry Felicities I count not worth the leering.
Ah, visage, where Each quality But frees One pride-shaft more, that cleaves Me; mad frieks (O' thy beck) destroy, And mockery Baits Me, and rates. Yet I not shirk Thy velleities, Averse Me not, nor slake Desire. God draws not nigh To Dome,[6] with pleas Wherein's so little veering.
Now chant prepare, And melody To please The king, who'll judge thy sheaves. Worth, sad, Sneaks Here; double employ Hath there. Get thee Plates Full, and cates, Gifts, go! Nor lurk Here till decrees Reverse, And ring thou take. Straight t' Arago I'd ply Cross the wide seas But "Rome" disturbs my hearing.
At midnight mirk, In secrecies I nurse My served make[7] In heart; nor try My melodies At other's door nor mearing.[8]
The eleventh canzo is mainly interesting for the opening bass onomatopœia of the wind rowting in the autumn branches. Arnaut may have caught his alliteration from the joglar engles, a possible hrimm-hramm-hruffer, though the device dates at least from Naevius.
En breu brisaral temps braus, Eill bisa busina els brancs Qui s'entreseignon trastuich De sobreclaus rams de fuoilla; Car noi chanta auzels ni piula M' enseign' Amors qu'ieu fassa adonc Chan que non er segons ni tertz Ans prims d'afrancar cor agre.