Douce Dame Jolie

"Douce Dame Jolie", sometimes referred to only as 'Douce Dame', is a song from the 14th century, by the French composer Guillaume de Machaut. The song is a virelai, belonging to the style ars nova, and is one of the most often heard medieval tunes today. Many modern recordings omit the lyrics, however.

One of the most famous musical pieces of the Middle Ages, 'Douce Dame' has been performed by a plethora of artists, mostly but not always in medieval style. Among others are Annwn (with lyrics), Ayragon (with lyrics), Theo Bleckmann (with lyrics), Els Berros de la Cort, Corvus Corax, Schelmish (with lyrics), Dr Cosgill, Fable of the Bees, Filia Irata, Två fisk och en fläsk (with lyrics), Wisby Vaganter, A La Via! (with lyrics), Lisa Lynne, John Renbourn Group (with English lyrics), WirrWahr, Wolfenmond, Saltatio Mortis, Angels of Venice (soprano Christina Linhardt, harpist Carol Tatum) and Legião Urbana (no lyrics, named "A Ordem dos Templários" (The Templar Order))

Full French lyrics

 MIDI rendering 

From: http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/composers/machaut/v4.html

English translation

Sweet, lovely lady

for God's sake do not think

that any has sovereignty

over my heart, but you alone.

For always, without treachery

Cherished

Have I you, and humbly

All the days of my life

Served

Without base thoughts.

Alas, I am left begging

For hope and relief;

For my joy is at its end

Without your compassion.

Sweet, lovely lady....

But your sweet mastery

Masters

My heart so harshly,

Tormenting it

And binding

In unbearable love,

[My heart] desires nothing

but to be in your power.

And still, your own heart

renders it no relief.

Sweet, lovely lady....

And since my malady

Will not

Be annulled

Without you, Sweet Enemy,

Who takes

Delight of my torment

With clasped hands I beseech

Your heart, that forgets me,

That it mercifully kill me

For too long have I languished.

Modern French translation

Douce dame jolie,

Pour (l’amour de) Dieu, ne pensez pas

Qu’en dehors de vous seule

Une autre règne sur moi

(et songez) Que toujours sans tricherie

Chérie

(je ) vous ai humblement

Servie

Tous les jours de ma vie

Sans viles arrière-pensées.

Hélas! Et je mendie

L’espoir d’un réconfort

Et ma joie va s’éteindre

Si vous ne me prenez en pitié

Douce dame jolie

Mais votre douce domination

Domine

Mon cœur si durement

Qu'elle le contrarie

Et le lie

En amour grandement

Qu'il n'a d’autre envie

Que d’être en votre compagnie

Mais votre cœur

Ne me donne aucun signe d’espoir.

Douce dame jolie.

Et ma maladie

Guérie

Jamais ne sera

Sans vous, douce ennemie,

Qui vous régalez de mon tourment.

À mains jointes, je prie

Votre cœur, puisqu'il m'oublie,

Qu’il me tue, par pitié,

Car il a trop langui.

Douce dame jolie,

See also

• Courtly love
• Medieval music
• Guillaume de Machaut
• List of compositions by Guillaume de Machaut

References

• Stanley, John. Classical Music: An Introduction to Classical Music Through the Great Composers & Their Masterworks, 1994 John Stanley.
• Hindely, Geoffrey, editor. Larousse Encyclopedia of Music, 1971 The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited