User:Karlc1980/Se la bella n'a voloir

Se la belle n'a voloir is a 15th century song by Gilles Binchois, a composer at the Bourgundian court.

Full old French lyrics:

Se la belle n'a voloir

D'alegier mon piteux martire,

Il ne m'est nul besoin derire

Pour le mal qui me fait doloir.

Car je n'ay cuer, corps ne pouvoir

Qui puist a tel dolour souffrire.

Se la belle n'a voloir

D'alegier mon piteux martire

Et pour la verité savoir

A toute heure mon mal empire

Dont je m'en vois de droite tire

Ma mort prochaine rechevoir.

Modern English translation:

If the beautiful one does not have the will

to lighten my pitiful suffering,

I have no need for laughing

For the pain which hurts me so.

Because I have heart, body nor power

Which is able to suffer from such pain.

If the beautiful one does not have the will

to lighten my pitiful suffering.

And to know the truth

At each hour my pain worsens

From which I see myself straightly

receive me ensuing death.