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by Richart de Semilli (flourished c1200)
Translation © by Grant Hicks
Je chevauchai
Language: Old French (Ancien français)
Our translations: ENG
Je chevauchai l'autrier la matinee; Delez un bois, assez pres de l'entree, Gentil pastore truis. Mes ne vi onques puis Si plaine de deduis Ne qui si bien m'agree. Ma tres doucete suer, Vos avez tout mon cuer, Ne vous leroie a nul fuer; M'amor vous ai donee. Vers li me tres, si descendi a terre Pour li vöer et por s'amor requerre. Tout maintenant li dis: «Mon cuer ai en vos mis, Si m'a vostre amor sorpris, Plus vous aim que riens nee». Ma tres doucete suer, Vos avez tout mon cuer, Ne vous leroie a nul fuer; M'amor vous ai donee. Ele me dist: «Sire, alez vostre voie! Vez ci venir Robin qui j'atendoie, Qui est et bel et genz. S'il venoit, sanz contens N'en iriez pas, ce pens, Tost avrïez mellee». Ma tres doucete suer, Vos avez tout mon cuer, Ne vous leroie a nul fuer; M'amor vous ai donee. «Il ne vendra, bele suer, oncor mie, Il est dela le bois ou il chevrie.» Dejoste li m'assis, Mes braz au col li mis; Ele m'a geté un ris Et dit qu'ele ert tuee. Ma tres doucete suer, Vos avez tout mon cuer, Ne vous leroie a nul fuer; M'amor vous ai donee. Quant j'oi tout fet de li quanq'il m'agree, Je la besai, a Dieu l'ai conmandee. Puis dist, qu'en l'ot mult haut, Robin qui l'en assaut: «Dehez ait qui en chaut! Ç'a fet ta demoree». Ma tres doucete suer, Vos avez tout mon cuer, Ne vous leroie a nul fuer; M'amor vous ai donee.
Text Authorship:
- by Richart de Semilli (flourished c1200) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Richart de Semilli (flourished c1200), "Je chevauchai" [ alto and lute ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "I Went Riding", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-02
Line count: 50
Word count: 259
I Went Riding
Language: English after the Old French (Ancien français)
I went riding the other morning; Beside a wood, right by the entrance, I found a gentle shepherdess. Never since have I seen One so full of delights Nor who pleases me so. My sweetest sister, You have my whole heart, I will not leave you at any price, I have given you my love. I drew near to her, then I dismounted To pledge myself to her and seek her love. Straightaway I said to her: "I have set my heart on you, So seized am I by love of you, I love you more than anyone in the world." My sweetest sister, You have my whole heart, I will not leave you at any price, I have given you my love. She said to me, "Sire, go on your way! Here comes Robin, for whom I was waiting, Who is both handsome and charming. If he came, you would not leave without a fight, I think, You would soon have a battle." My sweetest sister, You have my whole heart, I will not leave you at any price, I have given you my love. "He will come no closer, lovely sister, He is across the wood playing the bagpipe." I sat down beside her, Put my arms around her neck; She tossed a laugh at me And said that she would be killed. My sweetest sister, You have my whole heart, I will not leave you at any price, I have given you my love. When I had done with her all that I pleased, I kissed her, bade her farewell. Then she said, loud enough for Robin, Who was assailing her for it, to hear: "Whoever worries about it be damned! Your delay made it happen." My sweetest sister, You have my whole heart, I will not leave you at any price, I have given you my love.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Old French (Ancien français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Old French (Ancien français) by Richart de Semilli (flourished c1200)
This text was added to the website: 2026-05-31
Line count: 50
Word count: 311