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Medieval Music Database

Quant Theseus, Hercules et Jason; Ne quier veoir la biaute d'Absalon

Four-voice ballade by Guillaume de Machaut

Sources

Chantilly: Bibliothèque du Musée Condé 564, fol. 54 (4/2);
New York: Pierpont Morgan Library M. 396 (text, Voir Dit VII); Wildenstein Collection, fol. 314v (4/2);
Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 843 (text); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1584 (MachA), fol. 282 (text, Voir Dit VII), 471v (4/2); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1585 (MachB), fol. 313v (4/2); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 9221 (MachE), fol. 199v (4/2); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 22545 (MachF), fol. 181v (text, Voir Dit VII); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 22546 (MachG), fol. 146v (4/2); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds nouv. acq. français 6221, fol. 18v, 20 (text); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds nouv. acq. français 6771 (Reina Codex), fol. 54v-55 (4/2);
Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Library, French MS 15, number 178, 179 (text).

Editions

1. LUDWIG, F. 'Die geistliche nichtliturgische, weltliche einstimmige und die mehrstimmige Musik des Mittelalters bis zum Anfang des 15. Jahrhunderts', Handbuch der Musikgeschichte, edited by G. Adler, vol. I, Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurter Verlag, 1924, p. 270.
2. Guillaume de Machaut: Musikalische Werke. Erster Band: Balladen, Rondeaux und Virelais, edited by Friedrich Ludwig, Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926, p. 40.
3. Three Centuries of Choral Music, Renaiassance to Baroque. I. French-Netherland Music. 2. Italian Music, edited by Lehman Engel, New York: Harold Flammer, 1939, p. 6.
4. The Works of Guillaume de Machaut, Second Part, edited by Leo Schrade, Monaco: Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1956. Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century III, p. 124.
5. Norton Anthology of Western Music. Vol. I. Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, edited by Claude V. Palisca, Yale University: W. W. Norton, 1980, p. 78 [R PMFC].

Text Editions

Guillaume de Machaut: poésies lyriques, 2 vols., edited by V. Chichmaref, Paris: 1909, p. 560.

Literature

1. LUDWIG, F. 'Die geistliche nichtliturgische, weltliche einstimmige und die mehrstimmige Musik des Mittelalters bis zum Anfang des 15. Jahrhunderts', Handbuch der Musikgeschichte, edited by G. Adler, vol. I, Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurter Verlag, 1924, pp. 270-272.
2. MACHABEY, Armand. 'Guillaume de Machault'. La revue musicale, XII (1931), pp. 340-341.
3. PERLE, G. 'Integrative devices in the music of Machaut', Musical Quarterly, XXXIV (1948), pp. 170-172.
4. THIBAULT, Geneviève. 'Chanson', Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, II (1952): 1034-1046.
5. MACHABEY, Armand. Guillaume de Machault, 130?-1377: La vie et l'oeuvre musicale, 2 vols, Paris: Richard-Masse-Editeur, 1955. Bibliothèque d'études musicales, p. 48.
6. REANEY, Gilbert. 'The ballades, rondeaux and virelais of Guillaume de Machaut: melody, rhythm and form', Acta Musicologica, XXVII (1955), pp. 54-55.
7. GÜNTHER, Ursula. Der musikalische Stilwandel der französischen Liedkunst in der zweiten Hälfte des 14. Jahrhunderts, dargestelt an Virelais, Balladen und Rondeax von Machaut., Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hamburg: 1957, Chapter 4.1.
8. REANEY, Gilbert. 'Guillaume de Machaut: lyric poet', Music and Letters, XXXIX (1958), p. 42., p. 50.
9. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Die Anwendung der Diminution in der Handschrift Chantilly 1047', Archiv für Musikwissenschaft, XVII (1960), p. 7.
10. REANEY, Gilbert. '"Ars Nova" in France', [chapter 1 of] The New Oxford History of Music. III. Ars Nova and the Renaissance, edited by Dom Anselm Hughes and Gerald Abraham, London: Oxford University Press, 1960, p. 27.
11. REANEY, Gilbert. 'Notes on the harmonic technique of Guillaume de Machaut', Essays in Musicology: A Birthday Offering for Willi Apel, edited by Hans Tischler, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University School of Music, 1968, p. 66.
12. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Zitate in französischen Liedsätzen der Ars nova und Ars subtilior', Musica Disciplina, XXVI (1972), p. 57.
13. DÖMLING, Wolfgang. 'Aspekte der Sprachvertonung in den Balladen Guillaume de Machauts', Die Musikforschung, XXV/3 (1972), p. 303.
14. SWARTZ, Anne. 'A new chronology of the ballades of Machaut', Acta Musicologica, XLVI (1974): 192-207.
15. GALLO, F. Alberto. Il Medioevo, vol. II, Turin: Edizioni di Torino, 1977. [English translation as Music of the Middle Ages, vol. II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985], p. 44, 49-50.
16. REANEY, Gilbert. 'Sequence, hocket, syncopation and imitation in Zacar's mass movements', L'Ars nova italiana del Trecento IV: Certaldo 1975, 1978, p. 348.
17. WILKINS, Nigel. 'Ballade (i)', The New Grove, II (1980): 76-78.
18. ZIINO, Agostino. 'Guillaume de Machaut, fondateur d'école?', Guillaume de Machaut, poète et compositeur. Colloque - Table Ronde, 1978, p. 334.
19. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Contribution de la musicologie à la biographie et à la chronologie de Guillaume de Machaut', Guillaume de Machaut, poète et compositeur. Colloque - Table Ronde, 1978, pp. 95-116.
20. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Sinnbezüge zwischen Text und Musik in Ars nova und Ars subtilior', Musik und Text in der Mehrstimmigkeit des 14. und 15. Jahrhunderts, edited by U. Günther and L. Finscher, Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1984, pp. 229-268.
21. BERGER, Christian. Hexachord, Mensur und Textstruktur, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, 1992, p. 217.

Recordings

1. Guillaume de Machault (c.1300-1377) [secular works], H. Guermant (S), F. Mertens (T), E. Jacquier (B), Brussels P, directed by Safford Cape (1940): Anthologie Sonore AS 67 [78rpm. mx.135-1, 140-1].
2. The Ars Nova in France. Guillaume de Machaut: La Messe de Nostre Dame; Ten Secular Works, Brussels Pro Musica Antiqua, directed by Safford Cape (1956): Archiv ARC 3032 [US].
3. Guillaume de Machault. Balladen - Motetten - Rondeaus - Virelais, Capella Lipsiensis, directed by Dietrich Knothe (1971): Philips 6580 026.
4. Recordings to accompany A History of Western Music and Norton Anthology of Western Music (compiled from other recordings, directed by Thomas Binkley, David Munrow, Denis Stevens
5. Guillaume de Machaut. Chansons II, Early Music Studio, directed by Thomas Binkley (1973): EMI-Reflexe IC063-30-109 (GER)/ IC163-30-107/12 (GER).
6. The Art of Courtly Love. Vol. I. Guillaume Machaut and His Age [Contemporaries], Early Music Consort of London, directed by David Munrow (1973): HMV SLS 863(3) (GB).
7. Guillaume de Machaut: 1. The Musical Art of Machaut. 2. Le Remède de Fortune. 3. Veoir Dit., Ensemble Guillaume de Machaut of Paris (1975-1977): Adés 7078 (3 discs).
8. Denkmäler Alter Musik aus dem Codex Reina (14./15. Jh.), members of Syntagma Musicum, directed by Kees Otten (1979): Telefunken AW6 42357.
9. Ars Magis Subtiliter, Project Ars Nova (1989): New Albion Records NA 021 CD.

Text

I
Quant Theseus, Hercules et Jason
Cercherent tout, et terre et mer parfonde.
Pour accroistre leur pris et leur renon
Et pour veoir bien tout l'estat dou monde.
Moult furent dignes d'onnour.
Mais quant je voy de biaute l'umble flour.
Assevis sui de tout, si que, par m'ame.
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.

Car en veant sa biaute, sa facon
Et son maintieng qui de doucour seuronde.
Je y preing asses bien pour devenir bon.
Car le grant bien de li en moy redonde
Par grace de fine amour
Qui me contraint a hair deshonnour
Et tout vice; si puis dire sans blasme:
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.

Veoir ne quier la doree toison
Ne les Yndes ne de Rouge Mer onde.
N'aus infernaus penre guerre ou tencon
Pour eslongier le regart de la blonde
Dont me vient joye et baudour
Et doulz penser; si tieng pour le millour
Que, a tout conter et bien peser a drame.
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.


II
Ne quier veoir la biaute d'Absalon
Ne de Ulixes le sens et la faconde.
Ne esprouver la force de Sanson.
Ne regarder que Dalila le tonde.
Ne cure n'ay par nul tour
Des yeux Argus ne de joie gringnour.
Car pour plaisance et sans aide d'ame.
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.

De l'ymage que fist Pymalion
Elle n'avoit pareille ne seconde;
Mais la belle qui m'a en sa prison
Cent mille fois est plus belle et plus monde:
C'est uns drois fluns de doucour
Qui puet et scet garir toute dolour;
Dont cilz a tort qui de dire me blame:
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.

Si ne chaut dou sens de Salemon.
Ne que Phebus entermine ou responde.
Ne que Venus s'en mesle ne Mennon
Que Jupiter fist muer en aronde.
Car je di, quant je l'aour.
Aim et desir, ser et crieng et honnour.
Et que s'amour seur toute rien m'enflame:
Je voy asses, puis que je voy ma dame.

Translation

I
When Theseus, Hercules and Jason
Sought everywhere, both on land and the deep sea.
To increase their fame and renown
And to see the whole state of the world.
They were worthy of great honour.
But when I see the humble flower of beauty.
I am satisfied for everything, so that, by my soul.
I see enough, since I see my lady.

For, seeing her beauty, her face
And her bearing which abound in sweetness.
I take from it so much goodness that I become good.
For her great goodness redounds in me
Through grace and noble love
Which constrains me to hate dishonour
And all vice; so I may say without blame:
I see enough, since I see my lady.

I do not wish to see the golden fleece
Nor the Indies nor the waves of the Red Sea.
Nor to take up war and strife against the demons of hell
To put far from me the glances of the fair one
From whom I have joy and gladness
And sweet thoughts; so I hold it best
That, counting everything and weighing it by the dram.
I see enough, since I see my lady.'


II
I do not wish to see the beauty of Absalom
Nor the wisdom and eloquence of Ulysses.
Nor to test the strength of Samson.
Nor to see Delilah fleecing him.
Nor do I care at all
For the eyes of Argus or any greater joy.
For with pleasure and without the aid of anyone.
I see enough, since I see my lady.

As for the statue made by Pygmalion
She had no like or equal.
But the beauty who has me in her prison
Is one hundred thousand times more beautiful and pure:
She is a true river of sweetness
Who can and knows how to cure all sorrow.
Therefore he is wrong who blames me for saying:
I see enough, since I see my lady.

I have no interest in the wisdom of Solomon.
Nor that Phoebus should give orders or reply.
Nor that Venus should interfere, nor Memnon
Whom Jupiter changed into a swallow.
For I say, when I adore her.
When love and desire serve, fear and honour her.
And when the love of her inflames me above all things:
I see enough, since I see my lady.

Text revision and translation © Jennifer Garnham


Content Approved by: MMDB Director
Last updated: Wednesday, 19 March 2003


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