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58. Balade: «D’un tel amer que faire tous honnis» Se une dame, jeune, gente et jolie, Belle et bonne et paree d’onnour, Met son penser, son cuer, son estudye En bien amer, loiaulment, sans folour, Bel, bon et gent, plain de toute valour, Saige, courtois, secret, vray amoureux, De maintien honneste et gracieulx. Doit elle dont pour tant estre reprise? Je dy que non, que c’est droicte franchise Du cuer gentifz. Si fait mieulx, si m’est vis, D’un tel amer que faire tous honnis. N’est ce pas dont tresgracieuse vie Et joieuse que amer de bonne amour, Sans mal penser? Sy est, quoy que nul die. La n’y a point blasme ne deshonneur. Telle amour est nourrie de doulçour. Si me dy je: «Com lait de estre songneux!» De Dieu amer et servir, c’est le mieulx. Mais non obstant, celle point ne desprise Qui s’amour a ainsy qu’ay dit assise. Ainsois son fait assez plus los et pris D’un tel amer que faire tous honnis. Point ne doubte qu’Amours n’ait seignorie Sur dame qui est en sa droite flour De jeunesse, qui la tient et guerrie. Si en convient que elle en sente l’odour D’amourettes et la doulce savour. Pas ne sera son cuer sy oultrageux Que d’un amant vray ne soit desireux. Amours le veult qui du cuer a la prise, La saisine, et le duit a sa guise, Et le contraint que plus soit ententiz D’un tel amer que faire tous honnis.

58. Ballade: “To love in such a way rather than causing shame” If a lady, young, gracious, and pretty, Beautiful and good and adorned with honor, Directs her thought, her heart, and her effort Towards loving well, loyally, without folly, One who is fair, good and noble, full of great worth, Wise, courteous, discreet, sincere in love, Honest and gracious in his conduct, Should she then be blamed for this? I say no, that it is the very right Of a noble heart. She does better, it seems to me, To love in such a way rather than causing shame. Isn’t it then a most gracious life And a joyous one, to love with a good love, Without evil thought? It is, whatever anyone says. There is neither blame nor dishonor there. Such a love is nourished with gentleness. Thus I say to myself, “How ugly to be prudish.” To love and serve God, that is best, But nonetheless, I do not blame at all The one who has placed her love as I have said. Instead I praise and esteem her conduct more To love in such a way rather than causing shame. I have no doubt that Love has lordship Over a lady who is in the very flower Of youth, and that he keeps and protects her. Thus she is compelled to smell the fragrance And to taste the sweetness of love affairs. Her heart will not be so unrestrained That she not desire a true lover. Love wishes it, who captures the heart, Possesses it, and leads it in his own way, And compels it to be more intent To love in such a way rather than causing shame.

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