Cantigas translated from the Galician-Portuguese by Vicente Chavarría
Llibre vermell translated from the Latin, Occitan, and Catalan by Dick Wursten
 
Cantigas de Santa Maria
 
CSM 7: “Santa Maria amar”
 
Santa Maria amar
devemos muit’ e rogar
que a sa graça ponna
sobre nos por que errar
non nos faça nen pecar
o demo sen vergonna
 
Por ende vos contarei
un miragre que achei
que por ũ’abadessa
fez a madre do gran Rei
ca per com’ eu apres’ ei
era xe sua essa.
Mas o demo enartar
a foi por que emprennar
s’ ouve dun de Bolonna
ome que de recadar
avia e de guardar
seu feit’ e sa besonna.
 
As monjas, pois entender
foron esto e saber,
ouveron gran lediça;
ca, porque lles non sofrer
quería de mal fazer,
avian-lle maíça.
E fóron a acusar
ao Bispo do logar,
e el ben de Colonna
chegou y; e pois chamar
a fez, vẽo sen vagar,
leda e mui risonna.
 
O Bispo lle diss’ assi:
“Dona, per quant’ aprendi,
mui mal vossa fazenda
fezestes; e vin aqui
por esto, que ante mi
façades end’ emenda.”
Mas a dona sen tardar
a Madre de Deus rogar
foi; e, come quen sonna,
Santa Maria tirar
lle fez o fill’ e crïar
lo mandou en Sanssonna.
 
Pois s’ a dona espertou
e se guarida achou,
log’ ant’ o Bispo vẽo;
e el muito a catou
e desnüá-la mandou;
e pois lle viu o sẽo,
começou Deus a loar
e as donas a brasmar,
que eran d’ordin d’Onna,
dizendo: “Se Deus m’anpar,
por salva poss’ esta dar,
que non sei que ll’aponna.”
 
–English Translation–
 
We must love St. Mary
very much, and pray
that her grace falls
over us, so that devil
make us either err
nor sin in shame.
 
I thus will tell you
of a miracle that was made
for an abbess
by the mother of the great God
for, after all,
the abbess was hers.
But the demon
made her to become pregnant
of a man from Bologna,
a man who should have recanted
and kept silent
his misdeed.
 
The nuns, after finding out
about this, and knowing,
they were overjoyed,
for since she would not suffer them,
they wanted to wrong her,
for they felt malice toward her.
And they went to accuse her
to the Bishop of the region,
And he, coming from Cologne,
arrived and, after calling her
before him, she came without delay,
happy and smiling.
 
The Bishop said unto her:
“Lady, from what I have learned,
a very bad deed
you have done; and I came here
thus, so that before mi
you should right your wrong.”
But the lady, without tarrying,
went to pray to the Mother of God,
and, as if in a dream,
St. Mary delivered the child,
and had him sent to be raised
in Soissons.
 
Then she awoke,
and went to her place of comfort
before going before the Bishop;
and he chided her much,
and had her stripped naked;
then, after seeing her body,
began to praise God
and to berate the nuns,
who were from the order of Onna,
saying: “If God be with me,
I declare her saved,
for I know not of what she be accused.”
 
 
CSM 353: “Quen a omagen da Virgen”
 
Quen a omagen da Virgen e de seu Fillo onrrar,
deles será muit’ onrrado no seu ben, que non á par.
 
E de tal razon com’ esta vos direi, se vos prouguer,
miragre que fez a Virgen, que sempre nosso ben quer,
per que ajamos o reyno de seu Fill’, ond’ a moller
primeira nos deitou fora, que foi malament’ errar
 
Este miragre mui grande foi, segundo que oý
dizer a omees bõos, que o contaron a my,
dun ric-ome que morava en terra de Venexi,
a que morrian os fillos, que non podian durar.
 
E con mui gran pesar desto, u deles, que lle ficou,
g u abade mui santo dun mõesteir’ enviou
o deu-llo que llo criasse, e tan muito o rogou,
que o fillou por seu rogo e feze-o ben criar.
 
Consigo no mõesteiro; e, per com’ aprendi eu,
cada que o faagava chamava-lle “fillo meu’
e dizia-ll’ ameude: “Quant’ aqui á, tod’ é teu.”
E mandava-lle que fosse pela claustra trebellar.
 
Andand’ assi trebellando, na eigreja ‘ntrou e viu
omagen da Virgen santa con seu Fillo, e cousiu
com’ era mui fremosinno, e cató-o e rïiu,
e log’ en sa voontade o fillou muit’ a amar.
 
Que comesse, e dizendo: “Cada dia t’ adurey
desta raçon que me deren e tigo a partirey;
e poren te rog’, amigo, que cômias, ca mui ben sei
que sse desto non comeres, outro non cho verrá dar.”
 
Depois ben a quinze dias o menynno esto fez
cada dia; mais o Fillo da Virgen de mui bon prez
lle diss’ un dia: “Contigo non comerei outra vez,
se cras mig’ e con meu Padre non quiseres ir jantar.”
 
O abad’ ao menynno viu-lle cambiar a faz
e ar enmagrecer muito, e disso com’ en solaz
ao meno: “Meu fillo, se tu non comes assaz,
eu te darei ben que cómias, ca te vejo magr’ andar.”
 
Enton respos o meno: Carne e vinno e pan
vossos omees, ai, padre, me dan ben e sen afan;
mas eu ao bon meno daquelo que mi a min dan
dou end’ a mayor partida e vou-llo sempre levar.
 
Quand’ est’ oyu o abade, disse-ll’: “Ai, fill’ e sennor!
E qual é aquel meno a que fazes ess’ amor?”
Diss’ el: “O fillo da dona que sé no altar mayor,
a que non dan ren que cómia, e vejo-o lazerar.”
 
Enton lle diss’ o abade, a que chamavan Fiíz:
“Meu fillo, o que lle levas come-o, ou que che diz?”
Diss’ el: “Come cada dia; mas des que ll’aquesto fiz,
nunca m’ante falou nada, mais foi-m’ oje convidar…
 
Que con el e con seu padre eu fosse a jantar cras.”
Enton lle diss’ o abade: “Pois que tu est’ oyd’ ás,
e creo certãamente que con eles jantarás,
rogo-t’ eu que vaa tigo comer de tan bon manjar.”
 
Enton sse foi o abade e chamou os monges seus
e disse-lles: “Ai, amigos, cras m[e] irei eu, par Deus,
esto sei certãamente; e porend’ a Don Mateus,
vosso monge, por abade escolled’ en meu logar.”
 
E contou-lles en qual guisa esto sabia e qual
razon en con seu criado ouvera, e diss’: “Atal
galardon aos que ama a Sennor esperital
dá, con seu Fillo beito, a quena ben sab’ amar.”
 
Aquela noite passada, outro dia ant’ a luz
o abad’ e o menynno enfermaron, com’ aduz
o feito deste miragre; e à sesta, quand’ en cruz
morreu por nos Jhesu-Christo, morreron eles a par.
 
–English Translation–
 
Whosoever honors the image of the Virgin and Child shall be greatly honored and have peerless greatness.
 
And for this reason, I will tell you, if you wish,
about a miracle by the Virgin, that always loves us well,
so that we may find the kingdom of her Son, to which the first woman excluded us, for she erred greatly.
 
This great miracle was, as I heard tell
to good people, told to me,
of a rich man who lived in Venice,
whose children died, and would not last.
 
And with great sadness, one of them, whom he loved,
he sent to a holy abbot, to a monastery,
to be raised, and he prayed so much
that the abbot pray for him and raise him well.
 
With him in the monastery and, as I learned it,
the abbot always called him “my son”
and oft said to him: “What I have here is all yours.”
And he sent him to work in the cloister.
 
He went working thus into the church, entered and saw
an image of the holy Virgin with her Son, and observed
how delightful He was, and he saw and laughed,
and thereafter in his goodwill he loved the Son.
 
He encouraged him to eat, saying, “Every day I shall give you of this ration they give me, and share it with you, and I pray you, Friend, to eat, for I know that if you don’t eat this, another will not want to give it to you.”
 
After fifteen days of the child doing this every day,
then the Child of the Virgin, in goodwill,
said to him one day: “With you I will not eat again,
if soon with me and my Father you won’t come eat.”
 
The abbot saw the child’s face change
and grow thin, and said one day
to the child: “My child, if you are not eating well,
I will give you enough to eat, for I see you growing thin.”
 
Then the child answered: “Meat and wine and bread your men, O Father, give me well and without complaint; but I to the good Child, from my part,
always give him the better part and always wish to take it to him.”
 
When the abbot heard this, he cried: “O son and lord!
And who is this child to whom you show such great love?” Said the child: “The child of the lady on the great altar, to whom no one gives anything to eat, and whom I see bleeding.”
 
Then the abbot said to him, whom the called Fitz, “My son, when you give him to eat, what did he say?”
Said the child, “He eats every day, but up until today, he never said anything to me, but this time he bid me join him…
 
…that with Him and His Father I should go and share a meal.” Then the abbot said to him: “Now that you have heard this, and I believe certainly that you will dine with them, I pray that I may go with you to eat of such good food.
 
Then the abbot went and summoned his monks and said to them: “O friends, soon I will go to God, this I know for sure; and I appoint Don Mateus,
one of your own, as abbot in my place.”
 
And he told them how he knew this and for what reason he and his charge would leave, and said, “Such an honor those who love the Lord he gives, with his blessed Child, to whosoever loves him well.
 
That night passed, another day before light,
the abbot and child became ill, as happened in this miracle; and at the sixth hour, just as when Jesus Christ died for us, they both died together.
 
 
CSM 139: “Maravillosos e pïadosos”
 
Maravillosos e piadosos
e mui fremosos
miragres faz
Santa Maria,
a que nos guia
ben noit’ e dia
e nos dá paz.
 
E dest’ un miragre vos contar quero
que en Frandes aquesta Virgen fez,
Madre de Deus, maravillos’ e fero
por ha dona que foi ha vez
a sa eigreja
desta que seja
por nos, e veja-
mo-la sa faz
no Parayso,
u Deus dar quiso
goyo e riso
a quen lle praz.
 
Aquesta dona levou un meninno,
séu fillo, sigo, que en ofreçôn
déu aa Virgen, muï pequeninno,
que de mal llo guardass’ e d’oqueijôn
e lle fezesse
per que dissesse
sempr’ e soubesse
de ben assaz,
que, com’aprendo,
seu pan comendo
foi. Mui correndo
parou-s’en az.
 
Cabo do Fillo daquela omagen
e diss’ o meninno: “Queres papar?”
Mais la figura da Virgen mui sagen
diss’ a seu Fillo: “Di-lle sen tardar
que non s’espante,
mais tigo jante
u sempre cant’ e
aja solaz
e seja quito
do mui maldito
demo que ‘scrito
e por malvaz.”
 
Quand’ esto diss’, a omagen de Cristo
respôs ao meninno: “Paparás
cras migu’ en Ceo; e pois que me visto
ouveres, sempre pois migo seerás
u ouças quanto
cada un santo
canta, que chanto
e mal desfaz.”
Esto comprido
foi, e transsido
o moç’ e ido
a Deus vïaz.
 
–English Translation–
 
Wonderful and holy
and most beautiful
[are the] miracles
that St. Mary does,
she who guides us
well night and day
and gives us peace.
 
And I wish to tell you of a miracle
that in Flanders this Virgin made,
Mother of God, a great and wondrous act,
on behalf of a lady who once went
to her church,
which is given
to us, that we might see
the Virgin’s face
in Paradise,
where God gives willingly
joy and laughter
to whom he pleases.
 
This woman brought a child,
her son, with her as an offering,
to the Virgin, small though he was,
that she might protect him from evil and illness,
and make him
speak
and always know
what is good.
As I learned it,
he went eating his bread;
Running, he
halted before her image.
 
The boy went up to the Christ Child in the image
and he said to him, “Would you like a bite?”
But the figure of the wise Virgin
said to her Son: “Tell him without delay
to not fear,
but to dine with you
where he can always sing
and find solace,
and be removed
from the accursed
demon, who, it is written,
is full of malice.
 
Having said this, the image of the Christ Child
said to the boy: “You shall eat
with me in heaven; now that you have seen me,
always with me you shall be
where you will hear
who each saint
sings, how I sing
and be delivered from evil.”
This being fulfilled,
the boy died
and arrived straight
in heaven before God.
 
 
CSM 10: “Rosa das rosas”
 
Rosa das rosas e Fror das frores,
Dona das donas, Sennor das sennores.
 
Rosa de beldad’ e de parecer
e Fror d’alegria e de prazer,
Dona en mui piadosa ser
Sennor en toller coitas e doores.
 
Atal Sennor dev’ ome muit’ amar,
que de todo mal o pode guardar;
e pode-ll’ os peccados perdõar,
que faz no mundo per maos sabores.
 
Devemo-la muit’ amar e servir,
ca punna de nos guardar de falir;
des i dos erros nos faz repentir,
que nos fazemos come pecadores.
 
Esta dona que tenno por Sennore
de que quero seer trobador,
se eu per ren poss’ aver seu amor,
dou ao demo os outros amores.
 
–English Translation–
 
Rose of roses and Flower of flowers,
Lady of ladies, Eldest of elders.
 
Rose of beauty and fine appearance
And flower of joy and pleasure,
lady of most merciful bearing,
And Eldest for relieving all woes and cares;
 
Such a Mistress everybody should love,
For she can ward away any evil
And she can pardon any sins
To create a better savor in this world.
 
We should love and serve her much,
For she can guard us from falling;
She makes us repent the errors
That we have committed as sinners.
 
This lady whom I acknowledge as my Mistress
And whose troubadour I’d gladly be,
If I could in any way possess her love,
I’d give up all my other loves.
 
 
CSM 166: “Como poden per sas culpas”
 
Como poden per sas culpas
os omes seer contreitos,
assi poden per la Virgen
depois seer saos feitos.
 
Ond’ aveo a un ome,
por pecados que fezera,
que foi tolleito dos nembros
d’unha door que ouvera,
e durou assi cinc’ anos
que mover-se non podera,
assi avia os nembros
todos do corpo maltreitos.
 
Con esta enfermidade
atan grande que avia
prometeu que, se guarisse,
a Salas logo iría
e una livra de cera
cad’ ano ll’oferería;
e atán toste foi são,
que non ouv’ i outros preitos.
 
E foi-se logo a Salas,
que sol non tardou nïente,
e levou sigo a livra
da cera de bõa mente;
e ía mui lédo, como
que se sen nïún mal sente,
pero tan gran temp’ ouvera
os pes d’ andar desafeitos.
 
Daquest’ a Santa María
deron graças e loores,
porque livra os doentes
de maes e de doores
e demais está rogando
sempre por nós pecadores;
e porên devemos todos
sempre seer sus sogeitos.
 
–English Translation–
 
As, through their faults
men can be contrite,
so can they, through the Virgin,
later be healed.
 
There was once a man,
because of sins he committed,
suffered from twisted limbs
and great pain,
and he lasted that way five years
during which he could not move,
for he had the limbs
badly twisted round his body.
 
With this illness,
so great it was that he had,
he promised, if he were made well,
that he would go to Salas
and offer a pound of wax
every year [to St. Mary];
and instantly he was healed
that there were no other complaints.
 
And he went then to Salas,
without tarrying,
and took his pound
of wax in good faith;
and we went easily, as if
he did not feel any illness,
though he had long had
no use of his feet.
 
From here to St. Mary
they gave thanks and praise,
for she liberates those who suffer pain
from ills and pains
and moreover she is praying
always for us sinners;
and we all should thus
always be her subjects.
 
 
Llibre vermell de Montserrat
 
“O Virgo splendens”
 
O Virgo
Splendens hic in monte celso
Miraculis serrato
fulgentibus ubique
Quem fideles
conscendunt universi,
Eya pietatis oculo placato,
Cerne ligatos fune peccatorum
Ne infernorum ictibus graventur
Sed cum beatis tua prece vocentur.
 
–English Translation–
 
O Virgin,
shining brightly, on this high
serrated mountain,
with splendid miracles all around,
where the believers
from everywhere ascend,
Ah, with your gentle loving eye
behold those caught in the bonds of sin,
that they not be vexed by the blows of hell
but be called among the blessed by your prayer.
 
 
“Stella splendens in monte”
 
Stella splendens in monte ut solis radium miraculis serrato, exaudi populum.
 
Concurrunt unvisersi gaudentes populi,
divites et egeni, grandes et parvuli,
ipsum ingregiuntur, ut cernunt oculi,
et inde revertuntur gracijs repleti.
 
Principes et magnates ex stirpe regia,
saeculi potestates optenta venia
peccaminum proclamant tundentes pectora.
Poplite flexo clamant hic: Ave Maria.
 
Prelati et barones, comites incliti,
religiosi omnes atque presbyteri,
milites, mercatores, cives, marinari
burgenses, piscatores praemiantur ibi.
 
Rustici, aratores, nec non notarii,
Advocati, scultores, cuncti ligni fabri,
sartores et sutores, nec non lanifici,
artifices et omnes gratulantur ibi.
 
Reginae, comitissae, illustres dominae,
potentes et ancillae, juvenes, parvulae
virgines et antiquae, pariter viduae
conscendunt et hunc montem, et religiosae.
 
Coetus hii aggregantur hic ut exhibeant,
vota regratiantur, ut ipsa et reddant
aulam istam ditantes, hoc cuncti videant,
iocalibus ornantes, soluti redeant.
 
Cuncti ergo precantes sexus utriusque,
mentes nostras mundantes oremus devote
virginem gloriosam, matrem clementiae,
in coelis gratiosam sentiamus vere.
 
–English Translation–
 
Splendid star on the serrated mountain, with miracles shining like a sunbeam, hear the people.
 
From all around they rally, rejoicing,
rich and poor, young and old,
they assemble here to see with their own eyes,
and return from it filled with grace.
 
Rulers and magnates of royal lineages,
the mighty of the world, having obtained indulgence
for their sin, they cry out and beating their breast
they kneel and cry thus: Ave Maria.
 
Prelates and barons, famous counts,
all kinds of monks and priests,
soldiers, merchants, citizens, sailors,
burgers and fishermen are rewarded here.
 
Peasants, ploughmen and also scribes,
advocates, stone-masons and all carpenters,
tailors and shoemakers, and weavers as well,
all kinds of craftsmen rejoice here.
 
Queens, countesses, illustrious ladies
powerful and maidens, teenagers and girls,
virgins, old women and widows equally,
climb this mountain; so do nuns.
 
All these groups assemble here to present themselves,
to remember their vows and keep them as well
by enriching this temple so that all may see this
adorning it with jewels, and return home released.
 
Therefore, everybody, of all sexes, beseeching and cleansing our minds, let us devoutly pray that we may truly experience the glory of the virgin, the clemency of the mother, and her gracefulness in heaven.
 
 
“Laudemus Virginem – Splendens ceptigera”
[Caça de duobus vel tribus]
 
Laudemus virginem mater est
Et eius filius Ihesus est.
Plangamus scelera acriter
Sperantes in Ihesum iugiter.
 
Splendens ceptigera
Nostri sis advocata
Virgo puerpera,
Tudentes pectora
Crimina confitentes
Simus altissimo.
 
–English Translation–
 
Let us praise the virgin Mother
and her son Jesus.
Let us steadfastly mourn our sins,
constantly hoping in Jesus.
 
Shining sovereign,
Be our advocate,
Virgin Mother,
Beating our breast
Confessing our guilt
Let us be in the highest heaven.
 
 
“Los set goytxs”
 
Ballada dels goytxs de Nostre Dona en vulgar cathallan a ball redon
 
Los set goytxs recomptarem et devotament xantant
humilment saludarem la dolça verge Maria.
Ave Maria gracia plena
Dominus tecum Virgo serena.
 
R./
Ave Maria gracia plena
Dominus tecum Virgo serena.
 
Verge fos abans del part
pura e sens falliment
en lo part e prés lo part
sens negun corrumpiment.
Lo Fill de Déus Verge pia
de vós nasque verament.
 
Verge tres reys d’Orient
cavalcant amb gran coratge
al l’estrella precedent
vengren al vostré abitatge.
Offerint vos de gradatge
Aur et mirr’ et encenç.
 
Verg’estant dolorosa
per la mort del Fill molt car
romangues tota joyosa
can lo vis resuscitar.
A vos maire piadosa
prima se volch demostrar.
 
Verge lo quint alegratge
que’n agues del fill molt car
estant al munt d’olivatge
al cel l’on véès pujar.
On aurem tots alegratge
si per nos vos plau pregar.
 
Verge quan foren complitz
los dies de pentecosta
amb vos eren aunits
los apostols et de costa.
Sobre tots sens nula costa
devallà l’espirit sant.
 
Verge’l derrer alegratge
que’n agues en aquest mon
vostre Fill amb coratge
vos munta al cel pregon.
On sots tots temps coronada
Regina perpetual.
 
–English Translation–
 
“The seven joys”
 
Ballada of the joys of Our Lady in the vulgar Catalan, in a round dance
 
We tell you of the seven joys and sing with devotion,
humbly greeting the sweet Virgin Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord be with you, serene Virgin.
 
Refrain:
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord be with you, serene Virgin.
 
O Virgin, before your labour
you were pure and faultless,
from your labour and after it
you remained uncorrupted (1);
The son of God was truly born of you,
pious Virgin. (2)
 
O Virgin, three Kings from the Orient,
riding with great courage,
following the star,
they arrived at your house.
They offered you—one after the other—
gold and myrrh and incense. (3)
 
O Virgin, being grieved
by the death of your beloved son,
you are now full of joy,
having seen him revive. (4)
He wanted to appear first to you,
merciful mother.
 
O Virgin, the fifth joy
that you received from your beloved son
happened when, on the Mount of Olives,
you saw him ascend to Heaven.
We will be full of joy
if you pray for us. (5)
 
O Virgin, after the days
of Pentecost,
the apostles and the others
were united with you.
Above all
came the Holy Spirit. (6)
 
O Virgin, the last joy
is not found in this world;
your son, with great courage,
takes you to heaven,
where you will remain crowned for all time
perpetual Queen. (7)
 
 
“Polorum regina”
 
Polorum regina omnium nostra
Stella matutina dele scelera
 
Ante partum virgo deo gravida.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
 
Et in partu virgo deo fecunda.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
 
Et post partum virgo mater enixa.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera.
 
–English Translation–
 
Our queen encompassing all of heaven,
Morning star, take away our sins.
 
Before birth, Virgin, pregnant by God,
you remained always inviolate:
Morning star, take away our sins.
 
And in labour, Virgin, fertile by God,
you remained always inviolate:
Morning star, take away our sins.
 
And after birth, Virgin, child-bearing mother
you remained always inviolate:
Morning star, take away our sins.
 
 
“Mariam Matrem Virginem”
 
R./
Mariam Matrem Virginem
attollite
Ihesum Christum extollite
concorditer.
 
Maria seculi asilum
defende nos.
Ihesu totum refugium
exaudi nos.
Iam estis nos totaliter
diffugium
totum mundi confugium
realiter.
Ihesu suprema bonitas
verissima.
Maria dulcis pietas
gratissima.
Amplissima conformiter
sit caritas
Ad nos quos pellit vanitas
enormiter.
 
Maria virgo humilis,
te colimus,
Ihesu desiderabilis,
te querimus,
Et volumus mentaliter
in superis
Frui cum sanctis angelis
perenniter.
 
Ihesu, pro peccatoribus
qui passus es,
Maria, sta pro omnibus,
quae mater es,
Nam omnes nos labiliter
subsistimus,
Iuvari unde petimus
flebiliter.
 
Maria facta saeculis
salvatio.
Ihesu dam[p]nati hominis
redemptio.
Pugnare quam viriliter
pro famulis
Percussis duris jaculis
atrociter.
 
–English Translation–
 
Refrain:
Mary, the Virgin Mother,
exalt her,
and extol Jesus Christ,
concordantly.
 
Mary, asylum for the world,
defend us.
Jesus, total refuge,
hear us.
You are, while we are totally
dispersed,
a complete safe haven from the world
truly.
Jesus, supreme goodness,
Full of truth,
Mary, sweet mercy
Full of grace,
May similarly superabound
Your love
Towards us who the vanity of life strikes
Enormously
 
Mary, humble virgin,
we honour you.
Desirable Jesus,
we long for you.
And mentally we want
in heaven
to delight with the holy angels
eternally
 
Jesus, who for sinners,
Did suffer,
Mary, stand for [us] all
as you are a mother,
Because insecure is our
existence
therefore we beg for help,
weeping.
 
Mary, used to procure for generations
Salvation.
Jesus, for damned mankind
redemption.
Fight as ardently
for your servants,
as they are being struck hard
atrociously
 
 
“Inperayritz de la ciutat ioyosa”
 
Discantus:
Imperaytritz de la ciutat joyosa
de paradis amb tot gaug eternal
neta de crims de virtutz habundosa
mayre de Déu per obra divinal
verges plasent amb fas angelical
axi com sotz a Déu molt graciosa
plaçaus estar als fidels piadosa
preyan per lor al rey celestial.
Rosa flagran de vera benenança
fons de mercè jamays no defallent
palays d’onor on se fech l’aliança
de deu e d’hom per nostre salvament.
 
Tenor:
Verges ses par misericordiosa
de vos se tany quens defentas de mal
é no siats devas nos endenyosa
pels fallimentz que fem en general.
Mas quens cubratz amb lo manto real
de pietat pus quen etz cupiosa
car totz som faytz d’avol pasta fangosa
per que’l fallir es de carn humanal.
Vexell de patz corona d’esperança
port de salut bé segur de tot vent
vos merexets de tenir la balança
on es pesat bé dreyturerament.
 
–English Translation–
 
Empress of the joyous city
of paradise, eternally happy,
purified of sin, abounding in virtues,
Mother of God, by divine order;
pleasing Virgin with angelic face,
because you are so gracious for God,
be pityful with the faithful, pious one,
praying for them to the celestial king.
Fragrant rose of true goodness,
source of virtues which never failed,
palace of honour, where the alliance was made,
between God and man, to save us.
 
Virgin out of mercy,
trusted by those who are to be defended from evil.
And do not be enraged by the failures
which we always commit,
but give us shelter under your royal coat
of mercy, because who is abounding
in virtues can improve ordinary mud,
since failure is of human flesh.
Vessel of peace, crown of hope,
port of health, certain for all,
you merit to hold the scale
on which virtue is weighed.
 
 
“Ad mortem festinamus”
 
R./
Ad mortem festinamus peccare desistamus.
 
Scribere proposui de contemptu mundano,
ut degentes seculi non mulcentur in vano.
Iam est hora surgere a sompno mortis pravo.
 
Vita brevis breviter, in brevi finietur,
mors venit velociter quae neminem veretur.
Omnia mors perimit et nulli miseretur.
 
Ni conversus fueris et sicut puer factus,
et vitam mutaveris in meliores actus,
intrare non poteris regnum Dei beatus.
 
Tuba cum sonuerit dies erit extrema
et judex advenerit, vocabit sempiterna
electos in patria prescitos ad inferna.
 
Quam felices fuerint qui cum Christo regnabunt,
facie ad faciem sic eum adspectabunt,
Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Sabaoth conclamabunt.
 
Et quam tristes fuerint qui eterne peribunt,
pene non deficient nec propter has obibunt:
Heu, heu miseri numquam inde exibunt.
 
Cuncti reges seculi et in mundo magnates
advertant et clarici omnesque postestates
fiant velut parvuli dimitant vanitates.
 
Heu, fratres karissimi, si digne contemplemus
passionem Domini, amare et si flemus,
ut pupillam oculi servabit ne peccemus.
 
Alma Virgo virginum, in celis coronata,
apud tuum filium sis nobis advocata,
et post hoc exilium occurrens mediata.
 
–English Translation–
 
We hurry towards death, let us desist from sin.
 
I will write about the contempt of the world, that the now living will not bide their time in vain things. Now is the hour to rise from the evil sleep of death.
 
Life is short, and shortly it will end;
death arrives faster than anyone fears.
Death annihilates all and has mercy on no-one.
 
If you don’t convert and become pure as a child,
And change your live by doing better deeds,
you cannot as a blessed one enter the kingdom of God.
 
When the horn sounds the last day will be there,
And the Judge will appear, and he will forever call
home the chosen and the other ones to hell.
 
How happy will those be, who will reign with Christ,
they will see him face to face and
Holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, they will shout.
 
And how miserable will the eternally damned be;
no escape from retribution, they will perish.
Woe, the wretched will never get out from there.
 
All earthly kings, all mighty men of this world must change, And the clerics and all powerful officials
have to become like children, renouncing vainglory.
 
Alas, dearest brothers, les us so decently contemplate
the Lord’s passion, and also bitterly weep and ask, that he will guard the apple of his eye, that we sin no more.
 
Nourishing virgin among virgins, crowned in heaven,
be our advocate with your son,
and after this exile meet us halfway.
 
 

 
Vile cadaver eris, cur non peccare vereris.
Vile cadaver eris, cur intumescere quearis.
Vile cadaver eris, ut quid peccuniam quearis.
Vile cadaver eris, quid vestes pomposas geris.
Vile cadaver eris, ut quid honores quearis.
Vile cadaver eris, cur non paenitens confiteris.
Vile cadaver eris, contra proximum non leteris.
 
-English Translation-
 
You will be a worthless cadaver! Why do you not avoid sinning? Why do you seek for anger?
Why want money?
Why wear splendid clothes?
Why look for signs of glory?
Why confess without repentance?
You shall not kill your neighbor.