Marcabru

Another medieval poet to try is Marcabru [1130-1150], an influential early troubador writer. Here's an excerpt from his "A la fontana del vergier" ['In an orchard down by the stream'], read more here. Medieval poetry is often appealing to people who enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series. It has a meaningful simplicity that is also very beautiful.

Remember that medieval French poetry is coming from a particular society and focusing on certain themes, so Crusader-like attitudes and an invocation of Western European mostly unified Christianity are everywhere [with only a few groups challenging the block of Catholicism's power and control]. Be sure to interpret the work through the lens of its time period, when few people left the little circle of their homelands. For many, castles, gardens and farm work made up the realities of life.

In an orchard down by the stream,

Where at the edge the grass is green,
In the shade of an apple-tree,

By a plot of flowers all white,

Where spring sang its melody,

I met alone without company

One who wishes not my solace.

[...] When I heard her so, complaining,

I went to her, by fountain’s flowing:

‘Lady,’ I said ‘with too much crying

Your face will lose its colour quite;

And you’ve no reason yet for sighing,

For he who makes the birds to sing,

Will grant you joy enough apace.’




A la fontana del vergier,
On l'erb' es vertz josta·l gravier,
A l'ombra d'un fust domesgier,
En aiziment de blancas flors
E de novelh chant costumier,
Trobey sola, ses companhier,
Selha que no vol mon solatz.

[...] Quant ieu l'auzi desconortar,
Ves lieys vengui josta·l riu clar :
Belha, fi·m ieu, per trop plorar
Afolha cara e colors!
E no vos cal dezesperar,
Que selh qui fai lo bosc fulhar,
Vos pot donar de joy assatz.