End of Europe's Middle Ages Troubadour Poetry Written by an anonymous author, Alba is an example of a troubadour song. In orchard where the leaves of hawthorn hide, A lady holds a lover by her side, Until the watcher in the dawning cried. Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. "Ah, would to God that never night must end, Nor this my lover far from me should wend, Nor watcher day nor dawning ever send! Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. Come let us kiss, dear lover, you and I, Within the meads where pretty song-birds fly; We will do all despite the jealous eye: Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. Sweet lover come, renew our lovemaking Within the garden where the light birds sing, Until the watcher sound the severing. Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. Through the soft breezes that are blown from there, From my own lover, courteous, noble and fair, From his breath have I drunk a draught most rare." Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. Gracious the lady is, and debonaire, For her beauty a many look at her. And in her heart is loyal love astir. Ah God, ah God, the dawn! It comes how soon. From The Middle Ages Volume I, p.199-200. Taken from a 1950 translation. Return to Language & Literature The End of Europe's Middle Ages / Applied History Research Group / University of Calgary Copyright © 1997, The Applied History Research Group