18 Layssies moy coy je vous en prye

Johannes le Grant (fl. 1420-1440)

Layssies moy coy je vous en prye
Et ne me parles de chanter.
J’ay mieux cause de lamenter,
Que voules vous que je vous dye.

Fortune me fait par envye
Souvent main grief mal endurer.
Layssies moy coy je vous en prye…

Et de cela ne doubtes mye,
Aimsy me fault le temps passer,
Je n’ay confort, fors de plourer,
Attendant la fym de ma vie.
Layssies moy coy je vous en prye …

 

 

Leave me be, I beg you,
And do not speak to me of singing.
I have better cause to lament.
What would you have me say to you?

Fortune, in her envy,
Has often made me endure grievous woe.
Leave me be, I beg you…

And of that do not doubt me at all,
Thus, I require the passage of time.
I have no comfort, swept by tears,
Awaiting the end of my life.
Leave me be, I beg you…