He: Hear me, sweet lady,
and grant me your favour,
for I’m of the king’s household.
I am well bred,
and eat no more than another,
a genuine noble
from the town of Santaren.
Hear me without disdain
and grant me your favour,
for I’m of the king’s household.

She: What a fine speech
for a courtier!
Your advances are clearly
based on fickleness.
Allow me to speak openly
in the manner of my kind,
for I’m of the king’s household.

If you really are, as you say,
a knight and a courtier,
certainly I wish to know you,
but you approach very freely,
with much presumption and conceit,
so you must be of low birth:
for I’m of the king’s household.

He: I beg you out of politeness
not to make a fool of me;
the devil take me, I’m dying
for the sake of your charm.
Know that I’m noble by birth,
and I’ll say it one more time:
for I’m of the king’s household.

She: He who gives himself airs
is well and truly stupid;
you could be a duke or a marquis
for all I care;
you can boast all the trappings
but the real thing is not to be seen:
for I’m of the king’s household.

He: I’m highly offended
at your taking that line,
I can prove I’m a servant of the king
by my hens for the table.
I find in you harsh rejection,
I swear I don’t know why,
for I’m of the king’s household.

She: The chickens from my part of the world
are wont to dine on crumbs,
but not for men to bring up
with big baskets at table.
Enough of this rubbish,
I don’t believe a word of it,
for I’m of the king’s household.