Quant je fuz prins au pavillon
de ma dame, tres gente et belle,
je me brulé a la chandelle
ainsi que fait le papillon.

Je rougy comme vermeillon
aussi flambant qu’une estincelle,

quant je fuz prins au pavillon
de ma dame, tres gente et belle.

Si j’eusse esté esmerillon
ou que j’eusse eu aussi bon elle,
je m’eusse bien gardé de celle
qui me bailla de l’esguillon.

Quant je fuz prins au pavillon
de ma dame, tres gente et belle,
je me brulé a la chandelle
ainsi que fait le papillon.

When I was caught in the meshes
of my lady, most noble and beautiful,
I burned myself by the flame,
just like the moth does.

I turned red as vermillion,
blazing like a spark,

when I was caught in the meshes
of my lady, most noble and beautiful.

If I had been a merlin
or I had wings as good,
I could have escaped her
who drove me into the trap.

When I was caught in the meshes
of my lady, most noble and beautiful,
I burned myself by the flame,
just like the moth does.