Matthaeus Pipelare (c.1450-c.1515): Vray dieu d’amours, Ballade à 4 (performed by the Huelgas Ensemble, directed by Paul Van Nevel)

From one of my new discs that arrived yesterday, this gorgeous piece by the Flemish composer Pipelare.  It is full of deceptive cadences, which makes sense, given the subject of the text.

~ ~ ~

True god of love, comfort the lover
Who lives night and day in great suffering
For the beauty with the lovely and graceful form,
For her who is unwilling to grant me joy or play,
To tell you truly without lying in any way.
If you desire that I should have relief,
Joy and solace instead of grief and torment,
Help me and do not wander away,
For I have pains full of groaning,
Anxious aching, immeasurable madness.

If it became possible for my desire
To attain its happiness,
No other lover could be so virtuous,
If love were willing to agree to my deed.
But he makes me endure anguish.
I can have no rest at all
Because of the beauty who sets me afire
And inflmaes me playing the desperate woman.
For her sake I have bitter discomfort
Anxious aching, immeasurable madness.

Her sweet expression, pleasant and joyous,
And her lovely form give me great displeasure.
When I see her I am very careful
To honour her and please her.
Then I wish to serve her when I have time and leisure
But I am without any merriment,
Sad, dreamy, sorrowing completely.
All of this is a very harsh fate.
O god of love, swiftly remove me from
Anxious aching, immeasurable fury.

Prince of love, I humbly beg you
That in answer to my prayer, the woman of my desire
May be willing to drive from me quickly
Anxious aching, immeasurable madness.