Nature, when adorning that lady

Clement Janequin

Nature, when adorning that lady whose gentleness

would compel the most recalcitrant,

bestowed on her all the most beautiful features

that she had been saving up for centuries.

Everything fair and chaste and honourable

that Eros was avariciously guarding under his wings

went to sweeten the immortal graces

of her beautiful eyes which excited the gods themselves.

Scarcely had she descended from heaven

than I saw her, and, distracted,

became crazy about her... Proud Fate engraved her

in my heart with such a sharp arrow

that, whether alive or dead, I will never have the portrait

of any other lady imprinted on my heart.