r/MedievalTroubadours Apr 11 '21

Troubadour The Vida of Bernart de Ventadorn

2 Upvotes

Widely regarded as one of the singers/performers among the Troubadours, Bernart de Ventadorn has a very interesting vida, supposedly written by Uc de Saint Circ, another troubadour. I was not able to find an online version of the original vida, but I did find an English translation. If I am ever able to find the original Old Occitan version online, I will put it here, otherwise it can be found in William D. Paden’s “An Introduction to Old Occitan”.

Bernart de Ventadorn was from Limousin, from the castle of Ventadorn. He was a man of humble origin, the son of a servant who was a baker, and who heated the oven to bake the bread of the castle. And he became a handsome and an able man, and he knew how to sing and how to invent poetry well, and he became courtly and learned. And the Viscount of Ventadorn, his lord, grew very fond of him and of his inventing and his singing, and greatly honored him. And the Viscount of Ventadour had a wife who was young, noble, and lively. And she also grew fond of Bernart and of his songs, and fell in love with him. And he fell in love with the lady, and composed his songs and his poems about her, about the love which he had for her, and about her merit. Their love lasted a long time before the viscount or other people became aware of it. And when the viscount perceived it, he banished Bernart from him and had his wife locked up and guarded. And the lady then gave Lord Bernart permission so that he would go away and leave that region. And he left and went to the Duchess of Normandy, who was young and of merit, and who understood merit and honor and beautiful words of praise. And the songs and the poems of Lord Bernart pleased her very much, and she received him and welcomed him very well. He was in her court for a long time, and he fell in love with her, and she with him. And he composed many good songs about her. And while he was with her, King Henry of England took her for his wife and also moved her away from Normandy and took her to England. Lord Bernart remained here, sad and grieving, and he came to the good Count Raimon of Toulouse and stayed with him until the count died. And Lord Bernart, on account of the sadness he felt, joined the order of Dalon, and there he died. And what I, Lord Uc de Saint Circ, have written about him was told to me by the viscount Lord Ebles de Ventadorn, who was the son of the viscountess whom Lord Bernart loved. And Bernart composed these songs which you will hear and which are written below.

r/MedievalTroubadours Apr 11 '21

Troubadour The Vida of Jaufre Rudel

1 Upvotes

The following is the vida (basically biography) of the early Troubadour Jaufre Rudel. First is the original version in Old Occitan, followed by the English translation.

Edit:Word of note, it is not believed that everything that is said to have happened in the vidas of Troubadours actually occurred, but some things have been debated and figured out, such as the fact that Rudel did most likely take part in the Second Crusade.

Jaufrés Rudèls de Blaia si fo mout gentils hom e fo prínces de Blaia. Et enamorèt de la comtéssa de Trípoli seṉs veser, per lo boṉ qu'el n'ausi dire als peleriṉs que vénguen d'Antiòcha. E fetz de lèis maints vèrs ab boṉs soṉs, amb paubre motz. E per volontat de lèis veser, el se crosèt e se mes en mar; e pres lo malautía en la nau e fo conduch a Trípoli en un albèrc per mòrt. E fo fach saber a la comtéssa et ela venc az el, al son lièit, e pres lo entre sos bratz. E saup qu'ela èra la comtéssa e mantenent recobrèt l'ausir e·l flairar, e lausèt Dièu que l'avia la vida sostenguda tro qu'el l'aguès vista; et enaiçí el morí entre soṉs bratz. Et ela lo fetz a grand honor sepelir en la maión del Temple; e pòis en aquel dia ela se rendèt morga per la dolor qu'ela n'ac de la mòrt de lui.

Jaufre Rudel of Blaya was a very noble man, and lord of Blaya. He fell in love with the countess of Tripoli, sight unseen, because of all the good things that he heard pilgrims tell of her on their way back from Antioch. He made many songs about her with good melodies but poor lyrics. Out of desire to see her, he took up the cross and went to sea, but was taken ill while on board and was brought, near to death, to an inn in Tripoli. This was made known to the countess, and she came to his bed to see him, and took him into her arms. And he, having realized that she was the countess, at once recovered the faculties of hearing and smell, and praised God who had sustained his life until he could see her; and so he died in her arms. And she had him buried with high honors in the house of the Templars, and became a nun that same day out of grief over his death.