giraut: If I ask your advice, dear Alamanda,
do not refuse the request of a man in dire straits;
for your treacherous lady has told me
that I have strayed so far from her commands that
she now denies and withdraws what she granted me before.
What do you advise?
For my heart almost burns within me from sorrow,
I am so very sad.

alamanda: In God’s name, Giraut,
a lover’s wishes cannot be granted or guaranteed all at once;
for if one does wrong, the other must be indulgent,
lest their mutual distress grow and increase.
So if she tells you that a high mountain is a plain,
you must believe it, and accept willingly
the good and the ill which she allots to you;
then you will be loved.

giraut: I cannot help resenting such arrogance,
pretty and blonde though you are, young lady.
You have little cause for sorrow and little joy is plenty for you;
but you come neither first nor second!
But as for me, in danger of being driven to distraction by sorrow,
what do you advise me?
That if I am afraid of drowning I should go nearer the waves?
This is poor advice I think!

alamanda: If you ask me about such a profound matter,
then in God’s name, Giraut, I do not know how to reply;
but, if you think it takes little to make me joyful, I would rather mow
some of my own meadow than have someone else mow all of it.
And though I was anxious to reconcile you today,
still you insist
on how she withdraws and denies her goodwill;
I can see how distracted you are!

giraut: Young lady, don’t be so talkative now!
If she has lied to me more than a hundred times already,
do you think I should continue to put up with it?
It would seem that I was doing so
for lack of any other love.
Now I feel like hitting you,
if you don’t keep quiet!
Lady Berengera would give me better advice than you do.

alamanda: I can see the time coming, Giraut, when she will pay you back
for calling her fickle and wanton;
do you think that will make her seek a reconciliation?
I do not think she will be as tractable as that;
or else it will be the last promise she makes,
whatever you say,
if she forces herself to offer you
truce, terms, or peace.

giraut: Fair one, in God’s name, do not refuse your help,
for you know very well what I promised.
If I have done wrong while I was overwrought,
let me not suffer for it;
if you have ever observed how readily a lover’s mood changes,
my dear, and if you have ever been a lover,
think about a reconciliation; for I tell you truly,
I am a dead man if I have lost her – but keep that a secret!

alamanda: Sir Giraut, I would already have sought your reconciliation,
but she tells me that she is right to be angry,
since you foolishly court another, quite openly,
who is not her equal, either clothed or naked.
Would it not then be craven of her not to leave you,
when you court another?
I will certainly help you, I have said so already,
provided you keep out of that.

giraut: Fair one, in God’s name, if you are in her confidence,
assure her of that on my behalf.

alamanda: I will; but when you have regained
her love, do not cast it away.