Ballad Xxi Poem by Christine de Pizan

‘You’re a most welcome sight
My love! Clasp me, now, and kiss me.
How’ve you been, have you been all right,
Since you left? Have you been happy
For all of that time? Come here, see,
Sit by my side, now, tell me more
Of how, for good or ill, it’s been:
Of this I need to know the score.’

- ‘My lady, to whom I’m more tied
Than to others (they’ll pardon me!),
Know that desire held me so tight
I never was so unhappy,
Taking no pleasure I mean
Far away from you: Love he swore,
The heart-tamer: ‘Keep your faith green,
Of this I need to know the score.’

- ‘Then you have kept your word alive:
By Saint Nicaise, have thanks of me.
And since you’re safely here, delight
We’ll know, enough: now be at peace,
Tell me how great your pain has been,
And, if you can say, by how much more
It surpassed the trouble my heart’s seen,
Of this I need to know the score.’

- ‘Greater than yours my pain has been
I say, but tell how great a store
Of kisses I’ll have for it, my queen?
Of this I need to know the score.’