Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Chansonnier Cordiforme

The Chansonnier Cordiforme (1470s) or Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu is a cordiform (heart-shaped) music manuscript, Collection Henri de Rothschild MS 2973, held in the Bibliothèque Nationale.

Now indeed can I cry ‘alas’
and flood my eyes with tears
for I can no longer see her
as I used to, woe is me.
No indeed can I cry ‘alas’.
O accursed tongue, evil and sinful,
that caused me so much pain,
you have brought me to such straits that
life has become a misery.
Now indeed can I cry ‘alas’.
If I cannot believe that I shall ever again
see my dear treasure as I used to,
with a golden noose
around my neck my life shall end.

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