Woman whom I know not how to name

Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net

If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465)

Translation © by Grant Hicks

Celle que je ne sçay nommer

Language: Middle French

Our translations: ENG

Celle que je ne sçay nommer 
Com à mon gré desireroye, 
Ce jour de l’an, de biens et joye 
Plaise à Dieu de vous estrener. 

S’amie vous vueil appeller, 
Trop simple nom vous bailleroye,
Celle que je ne sçay nommer
Com à mon gré desireroye. 

De ma Dame nom vous donner, 
Orguilleuse je vous feroye ; 
Maistresse point ne vous vouldroye ; 
Comment donc doy je à vous parler, 
Celle que je ne sçay nommer ?

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Poésies Complètes de Charles d'Orléans. Revues sur les manuscrits avec préface, notes et glossaire par Charles d'Héricault, Paris, Flammarion, 1915, pages 12-13.

Text Authorship:

by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465), "Rondeau CLXXXVII" [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 Raoul Laparra (1876 - 1943), "Celle que je ne sais nommer", published 1927 [ medium voice and piano ], from Le Missel Chantant, Suite de mélodies sur de vieilles poésies françaises - 7ème volume, no. 10, Éd. 'Au Ménestrel' Heugel
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Grant Hicks) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2026-09-28
Line count: 13
Word count: 73

Woman whom I know not how to name

Language: English after the Middle French

Woman whom I know not how to name
As I would like, if I had my way,
This New Year's Day, wealth and joy
May it please God to grant you.

If I were to call you friend,
That would too plain a name to give,
Woman whom I know not how to name
As I would like, if I had my way.

If I gave you the title of my Lady
I would make you arrogant;
I would not want you as my mistress;
How then should I address you, 
Woman whom I know not how to name?

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"Celle que je ne sais nommer" = "Woman whom I know not how to name"
"Rondeau CLXXXVII" = "Rondel CLXXXVII"

Text Authorship:

Translation from Middle French 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Middle French by Charles, Duc d'Orléans (1394 - 1465), "Rondeau CLXXXVII"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-09-29
Line count: 13
Word count: 99