17-24. The sequence of thought in this strophe is confused and paradoxical. It may be paraphrased as follows: Whatever she commands I do. When I first wooed her, she promised to ask me a favor. She has not done so. That’s too bad; but not so bad as retracting the promise would be. Not asking is retracting; but yet not retracting is asking.
41. I have preferred here the reading Guilhems of CJ to Conratz of ADIKS, because William Malaspina is often mentioned in other songs by Aimeric (for example, in 11, 12, 25, 34, 41), Conrad never (except possibly indirectly in 40). Aimeric’s fine elegy (10, 10), Ara par be que valors se desfai,is aplanh for William’s death (1220). For the Malaspina family at this time and its relations with the troubadours, see O. Schultz-Gora, Die Briefe des Trobadors Raimbaut de Vaqueiras an Bonifaz I, Markgrafen von Monferrat (Halle, 1893), pp. 122-132. That the MSS. J, which goes in general with ADIK here agrees with C, is very significant.
45. Beatrice of Este, daughter of Azzo VI, born 1191, took the veil about 1220, died 1226. She is often mentioned by Aimeric, for example in Nos, 2, 3, 12, 15, 16, 33, 34, 41, 45. She was also praised by the Bolognese troubadour Rambertino Buvalelli. See F. Bergert, Die von den Trobadors genannten oder gefeierten Damen (Halle, 1913), pp. 81-85. |
