Aller m'y faut sur la verdure,
Chercher parti en quelque bonne part,
Etre hardi, joyeux, frisque et gaillard,
Oncqu' ne trouva couard pâture.
Ami je n'ai qui me procure,
Aller m'y faut sur la verdure.
Ami je n'ai qui me procure.
Du jeu d'amour, las tant j'endure,
Aller m'y faut sur la verdure.
Du jeu d'amour, las tant j'endure.
Si trouvais un gallois,
De mon vouloir ferait ouverture.
Si j'entrais en ce bois,
Rencontrais quelque créature.
Aller m'y faut sur la verdure,
Aller m'y faut sur la verdure.
English translation
I need to lie in meadows green,
To find myself a man in some fine place,
Someone bold, merry, lively and sturdy:
No coward ever found nourishment.
I have no friend to find one for me,
so I need to lie in meadows green.
I have no friend to find one for me.
The game of love makes me suffer so
that I need to lie in meadows green.
The game of love makes me suffer so.
If I were to find good company,
Whoever he was, he would overcome my will.
If I went into these woods,
I would meet some creature.
I need to lie in meadows green,
I need to lie in meadows green. Translation by Mick Swithinbank (with thanks to Benoît Huwart for his advice.)