I. Now, when rain and cold have come and icy winds and frost draw near, swoop down and strip the alder of its leaves, I compose a sirventes in mockery of Love, who has gone to hell, for the girls have lured him into the taverns. Those girls have become so light-minded that they sell their favors three at a time. They are hotter than a lantern-flame. May the true Father of all confound you, young, pestiferous girls! May he who rules the world bury you deep! By all the saints of Palermo, Sir Jausbert is not so sure of you that he won’t leave some of his hair with you in the mix-up, if he keeps on following in your footsteps.
II. Audebert, it is foolish of you to leave my school. If you trust the girls, the Holy Vase itself will not help you any. I used to be in the dance with them, and I know every one of them can hurt. They are worse robbers than a murderous highwayman from Aspes. No epidemic upsets us worse than they do, if we pet them. Even in a church a stole cannot protect us from them. Whoever has a liking for the girls is totally ignorant of how fickle they are, and whoever kisses them puts his estate in jeopardy. Their ships are so light [i.e., their ways are so frivolous] that lay or viol-play please them no less [and no more] than a tune on a rote in which everybody has a part [??].
III. Young blood turns to futility, love to a common possession, for the girls get their living from it. My friend Audebert tries in vain to help them, since they will quickly bring him down to ruin. Whoever puts young girls on a level with old ladies, whose worth is indisputable, seems really to lack sense, for they [the old ladies] jest agreeably and also understand how to give a man a good, undisturbed rest and pleasant company, by which he may improve his reputation. But a girl, although she may promise all that, will never lose a cent for it [?]. On the contrary, she strives to reduce her lover to uselessness.
IV. Any lover who courts a girl has great lack of sense, for she brings down the richest to poverty. Rather should one strive to gain the love of the middle-aged dame. The more full of days she is, the worthier she is in every way. They [the middle-aged ladies] aren’t always wishing to go to market or a fair. Their companionship is pure gain, even though one doesn’t deserve it [?]. She [the middle-aged lady] will willingly furnish good lodgings, whoever ruin himself [?]. I would prefer that one should not seek for me such a hostess who costs me nothing [I should prefer to seek her myself??]. She gives me a better bed and better company than any young and quarrelsome girl can do.
V. Now I know not how to act —whether to cease loving or to keep on with it. Needs must I choose the better of the two activities. Love! May an ill sword gird you and also him who reigns in your court! You are not of so great a power that my lady may be overcome by you. I am wretched, for she does not deign to love me so much that I may become all hers; and yet she torments me worse than fire does wood. I am far less wise than the grammarian who teaches the folk, for I am sure to be shamed, and may thatnot come to pass [??]. If the girl does not reward me and mark me for her own, may God do me harm if I don’t stir up such a scandal that no good may come to her from her conduct.
