Ô ma belle maistresse
Language: French (Français) after the French (Français)
Ô ma belle maistresse à tout le moins prenez
De moy vostre servant ce Rossignol en cage,
Il est mon prissonnier et je vis en servage
Sous vous qui sans mercy en prison me tenez.
Allez donc Rossignol en sa chambre sonnez
Mon dueil à son oreille avec vostre ramage,
Et s'il vous est possible esmouvez son couvie.
Seulement je me hays et me plains de ma vie
Qui languit en prison et si ne peut mourir.
Non ne venez point, que feriez vous chez moy,
Sans aucun confort vous languiriez d'esmoy,
Un prisonnier ne peut un autre secourir,
Je n'ay pas Rossignol sur vostre bien enrage
Et s'il vous est possible esmouvez son courage
A me faire merci puis vous en revenez.
The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , "O my fair mistress", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: David Wyatt
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-26
Line count: 15
Word count: 123
O my fair mistress
Language: English after the French (Français)
O my fair mistress, whatever you do take
From me, your servant, this nightingale in a cage;
He is my prisoner, and I live in service
To you who, without mercy, keep me in prison.
On then, nightingale, and in her bedroom sing
Warbling of my sorrow into her ear,
And if you can, move her to fondness [for me].
Alone, I hate myself and bemoan my life
Pining away in prison, and yet unable to die.
No, do not come back, what would you do here with me?
With no comfort you would pine away from your agitation;
One prisoner cannot help another.
I am not angry, nightingale, about your good fortune,
And if you can, stir up her courage
To grant me pity -- and then come back.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by David Wyatt, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-26
Line count: 15
Word count: 129
