Read the text (PDF)

Introduction to the Text

This anonymous love song comes from a fifteenth-century song book (‘chansonnier’) of polyphonic music (music where several voices sing different musical lines at the same time). It is somewhat unusual in that the lyrics are written from the perspective of a woman reflecting on the bond she shares with her distant lover.

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.25v-26r. The manuscript can be viewed here: [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ ark:/12148/btv1b55007270r/f50.item]. Another version with minor variants and a different final line is contained in London British Library Lansdowne 380.

The trust that I have in you | La fiance que j’ay en vous

La fiance [que j’ay en vous]

Mon amy sans ung autre eslire

Me fait oublier le martire

Que Jay et tout mon grant courroux

5 Car une foiz nous verrons nous

Mais quest ce qui le me fait dire

La fiance [que j’ay en vous]

Pardieu voire et maugre tous

Ceulx qui ont voulu contredire

10 Autre que dieu ne nous puet nuyre

Car a ce Jay tout mon recours

La fiance [que j’ay en vous]

The trust that I have in you,

my love, without wanting to choose anyone else,

makes me forget the torture

that I suffer and all my great anguish.

5 For one day we will see each other

But what is it that tells me that?

The trust [that I have in you].

By God! Truly, despite all

those who wanted to say otherwise,

10 no one but God can do us harm

because all my strength comes from this:

The trust [that I have in you].