Floovant (G)

« Aï ! Maonmot sire , ce droit lor recevez ;

“Ah! Lord Muhammad, take this justice on them;

« En vostre merci sont , quant pandre le vorez .

they are at your mercy, whenever you wish to hang him.”

Lai ot .I. Sarazin qui ot non Jacobé ,

There was a Saracen there named Jacobé,

Tot vaz et tot chenu , car .C. anz ot passez .

all old and all white-haired, for he had passed a hundred years.

De la loi Maonmont fut si argumantez

He was well versed in the law of Muhammad,

Et si sout des estoiles et dou cours de la mer ,

and he knew about the stars and the course of the sea;

Si lor trait les sarmons à granz festes annez

he delivered the sermons to them at the great yearly feasts

De la loi Maonmot et d' Apolin lor dé ,

on the law of Muhammad and of Apollin their god,

Si com il vint an terre por lou pouple sauver .

how he came to earth to save the people.

« Barons , dit li cuvers , à moi ann antandez :

“Barons,” says the wretch, “listen to me in this:

« Maonmoz nostre sire est mult gantiz et bers ;

Muhammad our lord is very noble and valiant;

« Qui mon seignour traïrent par mout grant felenie ;

who betrayed my lord with very great treachery;

« Dé , consantez , biau sire , que voingance an soit prise . »

God, fair Lord, grant that vengeance be taken for it.”

A pié est desçanduz par desor .I. olive .

He has dismounted by an olive tree.

Une fontene en ist qui est clere et serie ;

A spring rises there that is clear and still;

Lai a une herbe prise que li donai .I. mires ,

there he took a herb that a physician had given him,

Si en a oint son cors , son vis et sa poitrine :

and anointed his body with it, his face and his chest:

Plus ot noire la char que poiz qui est bolie .

his skin was blacker than boiled pitch.

Or porai bien auler antre gant paanie

Now he will be able to go about freely among the pagan people

Et parler ce langaige dont bien sait la maitrie ;

and speak that language, of which he knows the mastery well;

Maudaranz ne Maudoire ne lo quenoitront mie .

Maudarant and Maudoire will not recognise him at all.

Pase trex et aucubes , que sa rene ne tire ,

He passes tents and pavilions without drawing rein,

Et trovai l' amiraul ; o lui de son anpire

and found the emir; with him, from his empire,