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Introduction to the Text

This fifteenth-century love song is a virelai for three voices. Although it draws on a common theme for French songs of this period—the heartache of someone whose lover is absent—it is somewhat unusual that it is written from a woman’s perspective.

Introduction to the Source

This song has been transcribed from the Chansonnier Nivelle de la Chausée (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département de Musique, Res. Vmc MS 57), ff.79v-80r. The manuscript can be viewed at https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/ btv1b55007270r/f158.item. The same song is also found in Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Française, 1719. Different manuscripts attribute it to either Agricola or Fesneau.

Oh, how it troubles me! | Ha, qu’il m’ennuie!

Ha qu’il menuye

et que Je me treuve esbahye

de ce que Je ne vous puis voir

mon seul tout vueillez y pourvoir

5 se vous amez moy et ma vie

Jay des enuis

qui me tourmentent jours et nuits

tant que Jen suis toute esperdue

car je ne puis [avoir] plaisir ne nulz de puis

10 que je vous ay perdu de veue

Je nay envye

ne mon desir ne my convye

puis que mieulx je ne puis avoir

fors de voz nouvelles savoir

15 dailleurs ne puis estre esjouye

Oh how it troubles me!

I find myself astonished

that I cannot see you.

My one and only, please do what is necessary

5 if you love me and my life.

I have troubles

tormenting me day and night

to such a degree that I feel totally lost,

for I have not been able to have any joy, nor anything else, since

10 I lost you from my sight.

I have no interest in anything,

nor does desire drive me,

because I cannot have anything better

than news of you,

15 and I cannot be happy otherwise.