‘Bernart, chantars nom ven a grat Ni gaires nom platz nim sab bo; Mas car voletz nostra tenso N’ai era mon talan forsat. Pauc val chans que del cor non ve; E pos jois d’amor laissa me, Eu ai chant e deport laissat.’ ‘Peirol mout i faitz gran foudat S’o laissatz per tal ocaizo; S’eu agues avut cor fello, Mortz fora un an a passat, Qu’enquer non posc trobar merce: Ges per tant de chant nom recre Car doas perdas no m’an at.’ ‘Bernart, ben ai mon cor mudat, Que totz es autres c’anc non fo: Non chantarai mais en perdo; Mas de vos voill chantetz jasse De cellei qu’en grat nous o te, E que perdatz vostr’ amistat.’ ‘Peirol maint bon mot n’ai trobat De leis, c’anc us no m’en tenc pro; E s’il serva cor de leo Nom a ges tot la mon serrat; Qu’en sai tal una, per ma fe, Qu’am mais, s’un baisar mi cove Que de leis sil m’agues donat.’ ‘Bernart, bes es acostumat, Qui mais non pot, c’aissi perdo; Que la volps al sirier dis o: Quan l’ac de totas partz cercat, Las sireisas vic loing de se, E dis que non valion re: Atressi m’avetz vos gabat.’ ‘Peirol, sireisas sont o be Mas mal aja eu si ja cre Que la volps non aja tastat.’ ‘Bernart, nom entramet de re Mas pesam de ma bona fe Car non i ai ren gazaignat.’ TENSO BETWEEN BERNART DE VENTADORN AND SIR PEIROL. ‘Peirol, how is it that for such a long time you have been without making verse or canso? Tell me what is the reason that you have ceased singing. Is it for evil or good, for sorrow or for joy, or for what? for I will know the truth of it.’ ‘Bernart, singing does not come pleasant to me, and I have lost all taste and liking for it. But as you insist upon having a tenso with me, I have forced my inclination. Little worth is the song that does not come from the heart, and as love has left me, I have left song and dalliance.’ ‘Peirol, you commit great folly, if you leave these off for such a reason; if I had harboured wrath in my heart, I should have been dead a year ago, for I also can find no love nor mercy. But for all that I do not abandon singing, for there is no need of my losing two things.’ ‘Bernart, my heart is changed, and wholly different from what it was: I shall no longer sing in vain. But I wish you may sing for ever of her who gives you no thanks, and waste your friendship.’ ‘Peirol, many a good word have I said of her, although none has ever been of any benefit to me. If she wants to keep her lion’s heart, she cannot lock me out from all the world; and I know one of whom I would prefer the grant of a kiss to the free gift of one by her.’