Guiraut d'Espanha

Guiraut d'Espanha (Old Occitan [ɡiˈɾawd desˈpaɲa]^[1] or de Tholoza (fl. 1245–1265) was of the last generation of troubadours, working in Provence at the court of Charles of Anjou and Countess Beatrice.^[2] Many of his poems were addressed to Beatrice.^[2] Guiraut was either from Spain or Toulouse—the manuscripts differ—but ten of his dansas, a pastorela, and a baladeta survive.^[2] One of his dansas, Ben volgra s'esser poges, survives with a melody.^[2] It begins:

Ben volgra, s'esser poges

c'amors si gardes d'aytan

que non feses fin ayman

chausir en luec que.l plages.

I really wish, if possible,

that Love would take care

not to make a true lover

chose what pleases Love itself.^[3]

And ends:

Dansa, car ieu ay apres

que.l reys Karles fay gent chan,

per aquo as el ti man

car de fin pres es apres

Dance, since I have learned that

King Charles composes noble songs.

I send you to him,

for he is of true merit.^[4]

He also wrote Per amor soi gai.

Sources

Aubrey, Elizabeth. The Music of the Troubadours. Indiana University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-253-21389-4.