Aymeri de Narbonne (D)

Des charpantiers ont mis a l ovre tant

They have set so many carpenters to the work

C au main tenoient les engins en estant

that by morning they had the engines standing upright.

Vers la cite vont le berfroi traiant

They go hauling the siege tower toward the city;

Desus monterent et archier et sergent

archers and men-at-arms climbed up on top.

Qant veu l ont Sarrazin et Persant

When the Saracens and Persians have seen it,

Dist l un a l autre Molt sont Francois sachant

one said to the other: “The French are very cunning;

Or nos amoinent .j. enchantement grant

now they are bringing a great enchantment against us.

Tuit somes mort vaincu et recreant

We are all dead, beaten and forced to yield.

Nostre mesaje vont la briche querant

Our messengers are on a fool's errand;

Eincois c aions secors de l amirant

before we have help from the emir

Si merveillex com vos m orriez conter

as marvellous as you will hear me tell.

En mi la sale del pales principer

In the middle of the hall of the princely palace

Avoit .j. arbre q an i ot fet ovrer

there was a tree that had been made there;

Fet fu de coivre si l ot en fet dorer

it was made of copper, and they had had it gilded,

Et en un molle si fondre et tresgiter

and melted and cast in a mould.

Soz ciel n a home tant seust porpanser

There is no man under heaven, however well he could imagine

Et la maniere des oisiax esgarder

and observe the ways of birds,

Qu il ne poist sor cel arbre trover

who could not find on that tree

De toz oisiaus la figure prover

the true likeness of every bird.

Et si avoit chascuns oisiax son per

And each bird had its mate.

Li enchanteres fist forment a loer

The enchanter deserved high praise:

Del flum c oez Paradis apeler

from the river that you hear called Paradise

Il fist les pierres venir et asenbler

he had the stones brought and gathered;

En fin esmal les ot fet seeler

he had had them set in fine enamel.

Par nigromance i fait le vent entrer

By necromancy he makes the wind go in

Encontremont par le tuel monter

and rise upward through the pipe;

Qant li vanz sofle les oisiax fet chanter

when the wind blows, it makes the birds sing,

En lor maniere seriement et cler

each in their own way, softly and clearly.

Soz ciel n a home qui s en puist saouler

There is no man under heaven who could have his fill of it.

S il est iriez por coi l oie soner

If he is angry, as long as he hears it sound,

Tout maintenant li fet s ire oublier

at once it makes him forget his anger.

Tant com en veut fet en le son durer

As long as one wishes, one makes the sound last,

Et qant l en veut si le fait en cesser

and when one wishes, one makes it stop.

L amirant servent Sarrazin et Escler

Saracens and Slavs serve the emir;

Forment se fet servir et ennorer

he has himself greatly served and honoured.

La dame l ot si s est vers lui clinee

The lady hears him and has bowed toward him.

Tote la nuit ont grant joie menee

All night long they made great joy.

Cuens Aymeris a la chiere menbree

Count Aymeri, of the bold face,

Manda .j. mire sanz plus de demoree

sent for a physician without further delay;

Paiens fu ja d outre la mer salee

he had once been a pagan, from beyond the salt sea.

Une poison a molt tost destranpee

He very quickly mixed a potion;

A Aymeri a sa plaie bandee

he has bandaged Aymeri's wound

El cors li a la poison avalee

and made the potion go down into his body.

Ainz que venist au main a l ajornee

Before morning came, at daybreak,

Fu il plus sains que n est pome paree

he was sounder than a peeled apple.

Au matinet qant l aube fu crevee

In the early morning, when dawn had broken,

Ont Hermenjart richement acesmee

they have richly adorned Hermengart.