YEARBOOK OF THE ALAMIRE FOUNDATION

TRIPLUM (TRANSLATION)
Domine
ainz qe j’aie digné
mende la brunete a cors gent
a la bouche riant
a la clere face
lors bevons
et menjons
luz et autres poisons
et chars et venoisons
lors coument au povre fouchier
q’il liet sus dou mengier
sa viele afetier
en chantant
note et die
la melodie
qe je tant
es sainz oie
Saint Pere de Sanz
or le fet bien
... et Pous et Baudouins
au gros mallos
Saveniens
les baste trop
qant j’es oi
si m’en esjoi
de la grant doulcor m’esblai
einsi vif et joienz
DRINKING MOTETS IN MEDIEVAL ARTOIS AND FLANDERS 15
This triplum takes place at a dining table, possibly in the hall of a lord, who calls for
the lovely brunette, for drinks, and for pike, venison and other fish and meat. Then
he commands the poor trencherman to leave his meal and prepare his fiddle. The
melody that the minstrel sings and plays soon transports the speaker into a reverie.
The second half of the poem is the most difficult to understand. Its first editor, Albert
Stimming, 19 thought that two minstrels, Paul and Baldwin, were playing bagpipes,
while Savinien hastened them on. My understanding of this passage, however, is quite
19 STIMMING, Die altfranzösischen Motette, pp. 183–184.
Lord:
Before I will have dined,
Send for the brunette with the fair body,
With the laughing smile,
With the clear face.
Then let us drink
And eat
Pike and other fish
And meat and venison.
Then I command the poor trencherman
That he leave his sweet meal
To prepare his viele,
Singing
With notes and words
The melody
That I so long
heard from the bells
Of Saint-Pierre of Sanz
Now let him do it well.
... and Paul and Baldwin,
With great mallets,
Savinien
Would beat them very much.
When I hear them
I rejoice greatly.
I am amazed at the great sweetness,
So lively and joyous.