I have the tune on a CD and think it would make a great "Not a Baked Eel" translation. I'm going to copy this translation out of Lady Patricia's book before I have to give it back!
From Lyrics of the Middle Ages: An Anthology, ed. JJ Wilhelm, Garland Reference Library of the Humanities vol. 1268, Garland Publishing Inc: New York 1990, p 48-49.
At the start of the shining season - eya!
In order to renew again our joy - eya!
And to irritate all jealous husbands - eya!
Our Queen would like to show
That she is full of love
Go away, go away, jealous ones!
Leave us, yes let us
Dance together, together
She has proclaimed it everywhere - eya!
Down to the very edge of the sea - eya!
That every bachelor and young girl - eya!
Should come together and dance
To join us in our dance of joy!
Go away, go away, jealous ones...
The King is coming from another place - eya!
To try and break up our dance - eya!
For he is terribly afraid - eya!
That someone might want to snatch
His April Queen away!
Go away, go away, jealous ones...
But she will have nothing of this - eya!
For she doesn't need an old man - eya!
No - she likes lusty bachelors - eya!
Who know the art of solacing
A very savorous lady!
Go away, go away, jealous ones...
Whoever should see her dance - eya!
Carrying her body with grace - eya!
Could proclaim in all truth - eya!
That there is no peer in this world
To our Queen of Joy.
Go away, go away, jealous ones...
His footnote:
"Dansa, Balada. Despite the hymnal refrain of eya, strongly pagan in origin [that is such a JJ thing to say], suggesting Roman or Celtic rites of May or Beltane, and also showing the power of youth, joy, and the feminine earth force. Text: Karl Bartsch, 6th ed. E. Koschwitz (Elwert, 1904), p. 122; many other editors use a North French version. For music: Telefunken Das Alte Werk 6.41126(2); Archiv 14018 APM; Harmonia Mundi HMC 90396."
(I had JJ Wilhelm as an instructor for a class on "Arthurian Romance" my freshman year of college. He was quite the character.)
Original text on p. 308. (I'm going to use c? for the C-with-a-squiggle until I learn the HTML code for it.)
A l'entrada del tens clar, eya
per joia recomenc?ar, eya
e per jelos irritar, eya
vol la regina mostrar
qu' e' es si amoroza.
A la vi, a la via, jelos,
laissaz nos, laissaz nos
ballar entre nos, entre nos
El' a fait per tot mandar, eya
non sia jusqu'a la mar, eya
piucela ni bachelar, eya
que tuit non venguan danc?ar
en la dansa joisoza
A la vi, a la via, jelos...
Lo reis i ven d'autra part, eya
per la dansa destrorbar, eya
que el es en cremetar, eya
que om no li violl' emblar
la regin' avrilloza
A la vi, a la via, jelos...
Mais per nient lo vol far, eya
qu'ela n'a sonh de viellart, eya
mais d'un leugier bachelar, eya
qui ben sapcha solac?ar
la domna savoroza
A la vi, a la via, jelos...
Qui donc la vezes danc?ar, eya
e son gent cors deportar, eya
ben pogra dir de vertat, eya
qu'el mont non aia sa par
la regina joioza
A la vi, a la via, jelos...
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