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Au novel tans
The single first verse of “Au novel tans” (figure 9.3) is a classic Natureingang,
painting a picture of the many delights of spring in contrast to the sorrows of
winter. Presumably, the singer would have gone on to express the hope that his
love would prosper in parallel with the season. The song employs an eight-line
stanza.
Au novel tans, quant je voi la muance,
Qu’yvers remaint, nois et glace et gelée,
Cist oiseillon sunt en grant revelance,
Retentist fait lor chans bois et ramée,
De douçor est la terre enluminée,
Partot trueve on flors de mainte samblance.
Et por ce vueill chanter, en esperance
Qu’autrement... vrée.3939 “In the springtime when I see the changes, how winter is left behind with its snow and ice
and frost, how the birds are in great jubilation with songs ringing out through the woods
and trees, that the earth is illuminated with sweetness, and everywhere there are flowers
of many kinds, then because of this I want to sing, in the hope that otherwise... ”
figure 9.2 Loiaus amours, musical notation. (Edited and transcribed by Paul Leigh).