Se la face ay pale (Guillaume Dufay)

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• CPDL #16003:  (NoteWorthy Composer)

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2008-02-15).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 23 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.

General Information

Title: Se la face ay pale
Composer: Guillaume Dufay

Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: STT

Genre: Secular, Chanson

Language: French
Instruments: A cappella

Published:

Description: This chanson is the source of the cantus firmus for Missa Se la face ay pale.

External websites:

Original text and translations

French text

Se la face ay pale,
la cause est aimer,
c’est la principale
Et tant m’est amer aimer,
qu’en l'amer me voudroye voir.
 
Or scet bien de voir,
la belle a qui suis
que nul bien avoir
sans elle ne puis.

C’est la plus reale
qu’on puist regarder,
De s’amour leiale
ne me puis guarder,
fol sui de agarder.
 
Ne faire devoir
d’amours recevoir
fors d’elle, je cuis.
Se ne veil douloir,
sans elle ne puis.

English translation

 
If my face is pale, the cause is love,
that is the principal reason,
And to love is so bitter
that I want to throw myself into the sea.
 
Now, she knows well, the lady whom I serve,
that without her I cannot be happy.
 
It is the most real that one can regard:
I cannot guard myself from loyal love,
I am mad from it.
 
Don’t make a duty of receiving
love so strongly from her.
If one does not desire pain,
without her, I cannot.