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Introduction to the Text

This anonymous love song comes from a large songbook (called a ‘chansonnier’), most likely compiled for a wealthy client between 1460 and 1470 CE. Although this song has no named composer, many of the other 160 songs do, and they show that this book sought to capture the latest trends in French songwriting. This song is a rondeau written for three voices, who were to sing their different parts simultaneously. The lyrical content—sorrow at separation from a lover—is typical for a medieval love song, but this song is somewhat unusual in that it adopts a woman’s perspective.

Introduction to the Source

The song can be found in the Dijon Chansonnier (Dijon, Bibliothèque Municipale, 517), ff.127v-128r (new foliation: 130v-131r). The manuscript is available to view at http://patrimoine.bm-dijon.fr/pleade/img-viewer/MS00517/viewer. html?ns=FR212316101_CITEAUX_MS00517_130_V.jpg.

Two or three days ago | Depuis deux ou trois jours enca

Depuis Deux ou trois jours enca /

Sen est alle mon doux ami

Sans ce quil ait parle a my /

helas quy me confortera

5 Ne scay se vuel retournera

Mais il ma mise en grant soussi

Demander le me conviendra

A ceulx quy sont amis de luy

Car par ma foi je vous dis

10 Quen temps mieulx con cuer ne lama

Two or three days ago

my sweet love went away

without saying anything to me.

Alas, who will comfort me?

5 I don’t know whether he wants to return

but he has made me very worried.

I will have to ask

those friends of his about it

because, truly, I say to you

10 that my heart never loved him better.