La cortesia voi, donne, predicate
ma mai non l’osservate, vi so dire: R: Voi lo vedete s’è come dico io? Sol ch’io ti parlo, dici: "va' con Dio!"
Se la dicete perchè non me amate
et hai pietà di tanto mio martire?
R.
Quando vi tengo mente, ve n’entrate,
e senza causa me vòi far morire.
R.
Va', figlia mia, se vòi predicare
l’opere bone, ti bisogna fare.
R.
German translation
1. Die Höflichkeit, die ihr Frauen predigt,
haltet ihr selbst nicht ein,
das kann ich euch sagen;
R.:
willst du sehen, daß es so ist, wie ich sage?
Ich brauche dich nur anzusprechen
und schon sagst du: Geh mit Gott!
2. Wenn ihr so sagt, warum liebt ihr mich also nicht
und lasst mich grundlos sterben?
R.
3. Wenn ich euch halte, wenn ihr hereinkommt,
habt ihr Mitleid mit meinem grossen Martyrium?
R.
4. Geh, meine Tochter, auch wenn ihr predigt,
die guten Werke wollen getan sein.
R.
English translation
You ladies preach courtesy
but never observe it, I can assure you. You know I'm telling it exactly as it is, yet when I talk to you, you say, "Get lost".
You say that ["Get lost"] because you don't love me,
and you pity my great suffering? You know…
When I pay attention to you, you go inside
and, for no reason at all, you wish me dead. You know…
Go, my girl, because if you want to preach,
you've got some good deeds to do. You know…
You women preach kindness,
but never display any yourselves, let me tell you. Refrain: Wouldst thou see whether what I say is true?
If I but speak to thee, at once thou biddest me farewell.
If this is how you talk, why do you not love me?
not take pity on so much suffering? Refrain
When I hold you in my arms as you come in,
Without cause thou seekest to bring about my death. Refrain
Come, my girl, to preach is all very fine,
But good works must be performed as well. Refrain Translation by Mick Swithenbank
Note: The mixture of singular/familiar and plural/polite 'you' forms in this text seems rather arbitrary, but I have reflected it in the translation. 'Cortesia' can mean 'courtesy', 'kindness' or 'graciousness'.