Ja Nuns Hons Pris
I enjoy early music, so Bancalari’s Medieval and Renaissance Music for the Recorder was a natural choice after I mastered my beginner’s book. The greatest learning curve was reading musical notes without the hint of letters, and not being able to depend on an accompanying recording to find the proper beat and tempo. Discouraged by my attempts at the first tune—”Or La Truix”—I put the book aside for a time. When I picked it up again recently, I chose to work on “Ja Nuns Hons Pris.”
I enjoyed the plaintive tune, and was intrigued to find it was attributed to Richard Coeur de Lion, so I looked it up on the internet. It is said that during his captivity in Austria, Richard wrote this song, addressed to his sister Marie de Champagne. In it, he grieved for his long imprisonment, but he grieved “still more” for the many friends who had shamefully failed to pay the (quite formidable) ransom. “They loved me much, but they have not loved me long.” Richard accuses them of betrayal and villainy.
Here is Henry Adams’s translation into English from the original Old French. (King Richard was a Norman king and did not speak English.)
No prisoner can tell his honest thought
Unless he speaks as one who suffers wrong;
But for his comfort he may make a song.
My friends are many, but their gifts are naught.
Shame will be theirs, if, for my ransom, here
—I lie another year.
They know this well, my barons and my men,
Normandy, England, Gascony, Poitou,
That I had never follower so low
Whom I would leave in prison to my gain.
I say it not for a reproach to them,
—But prisoner I am!
The ancient proverb now I know for sure;
Death and a prison know nor kind nor tie,
Since for mere lack of gold they let me lie.
Much for myself I grieve; for them still more.
After my death they will have grievous wrong
—If I am a prisoner long.
What marvel that my heart is sad and sore
When my own lord torments my helpless lands!
Well do I know that, if he held his hands,
Remembering the common oath we swore,
I should not here imprisoned with my song,
—Remain a prisoner long.
They know this well who now are rich and strong
Young gentlemen of Anjou and Touraine,
That far from them, on hostile bonds I strain.
They loved me much, but have not loved me long.
Their plans will see no more fair lists arrayed
—While I lie here betrayed.
Companions whom I love, and still do love,
Geoffroi du Perche and Ansel de Caieux,
Tell them, my song, that they are friends untrue.
Never to them did I false-hearted prove;
But they do villainy if they war on me,
—While I lie here, unfree.
Countess sister! Your sovereign fame
May he preserve whose help I claim,
—Victim for whom am I!
I say not this of Chartres' dame,
—Mother of Louis!
The recording below is excellently performed by Moda Antiqua under the direction of Bettina Hoffman. I like to accompany it with my recorder, though I am not yet up to speed for that final rush of notes!
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HEIDI said...
No matter how much I study music, there’s always something new to discover. Thanks for introducing me to this piece!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 05:55 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
You’re welcome, Heidi. I love discovering new music, too.
Friday, June 1, 2008 06:46 PM
Tuesday, May 29, 2012