Lyricist: Clément Marot. Chanson V from L'Adolescence clementine (1532). Although Marot wrote three verses, the settings of this text only print the first verse.
J'attends secours de ma seule pensée;
j'attends le jour, que l'on m'éconduira,
ou que du tout la belle me dira:
ami, t'amour sera récompensée.
Mon alliance est fort bien commencée,
Mais je ne sais comment il en ira:
Car, s'elle veut, ma vie périra,
Quoiqu'en amour s'attend d'être avancé.
Si j'ai refus, vienne mort insensée:
A son plaisir de mon coeur jouira.
Si j'ai merci, adonc s'éjouira
Celui qui point n'a sa Dame offensée.
English translation
I await help from my sole thought;
I await the day that I will be dismissed
or that the loveliest of all will say to me:
friend, your love will be repaid.
My union has begun very well,
but I don't know how it will go:
for, if she wishes, my life will perish,
though it expects to be developed in love.
If I’m refused, come meaningless death:
she plays with my heart at her pleasure.
If I receive mercy, it will be glad,
having never offended his Lady.
French text
English translation