5 10 15 20

20. Balade: «Ainsi le fait cuer plain de fausseté» A Medee me puis bien comparer, Qui a grant tort fu de Jason traie. Il lui promist, par decevant parler, Foy, loyaulté porter toute sa vie. Mais tost lui fust sa promesse mentie. Quant de lui ot faite sa voulenté, Il la laissa, par sa grant tricherie. Ainsi le fait cuer plain de fausseté. Pourtant le dy qu’ainsi m’est pour amer, Car je me voy de celui deguerpie Qui me souloit a tout heure clamer Sa maistresse, sa dame, et s’amie. Or m’aperçoy que s’amour departie Est autrepart par sa desloiauté. Lasse, dolente, ne le cuidasse mie. Ainsi le fait cuer plain de fausseté. Je l’ay amé loyaument, sans fausser, Et encor fais, non obstant sa folie, Car je ne vueil ne ne quier regarder A son errour. Ma foy li ay plevie. Je li tenray, certes, quoy que nul die, Et s’il est tel qu’il ne tourne a bonté, Dire porray, a plaine voix banie, «Ainsi le fait cuer plain de fausseté.»

20. Ballade: “Thus does a heart that is full of falsity” To Medea I can easily compare myself, Who was very wrongly betrayed by Jason. He promised her, with deceitful speech, To maintain faith and loyalty all his life. But soon was his promise to her broken. Once he had had his way with her, He left her, out of his great treachery. Thus does a heart that is full of falsity. Thus I say, so it is for me in love, For I see myself abandoned by the one Who used to call me constantly His mistress, his lady, and his love. Now I see that his love has departed Elsewhere out of his disloyalty. Weary, sad, I would not have believed it. Thus does a heart that is full of falsity. I loved him loyally, without deceit, And I still do, despite his foolishness, For I neither want nor seek to heed His straying. I pledged my faith to him. I will uphold it, truly, whatever anyone says, And if he is such that he doesn’t return to goodness, I’ll be able to say, loudly and publicly, “Thus does a heart that is full of falsity.”

(see note)