A woman facing two choices
Who sets aside the better one, against her judgment,
Choosing for herself the worse,
Demonstrates, I do believe,
Extreme folly.

I
I have reason to consider
That I have served—
Alas!— and still do, a faithful lover,
Wise, refined, highly discreet,
Of mature conduct,
And noble, worthy, and bold,
And who over all others has my love.
I am often favored with
The love of another, but in vain.
Yet I am bestowed to my advantage,
So I will remain with him.
[A woman facing two choices
Who sets aside the better one, against her judgment,
Choosing for herself the worse,
Demonstrates, I do believe,
Extreme folly].

II
Alas, it turned so badly
Into pain and suffering
When I chose so poorly
That I must, against my will,
By rightful necessity,
Distance myself from the one
To whom I give myselfwithout folly,
And without being committed to another
From the heart; but it is a vain endeavor,
For a leaf should not be prized
As much as a flower.
[A woman facing two choices
Who sets aside the better one, against her judgment,
Choosing for herself the worse,
Demonstrates, I do believe,
Extreme folly].

III
Now love has dealt me a blow;
But, since such is its will,
It is better that it not concern me.
I should always have based
My desire on loyalty,
Putting my hope in the love I now have,
For the one I love
Exceeds everything in value;
Of such a fortunate turn of events
I should be considered wise,
If I cherish the honor that has come to me.
[A woman facing two choices
Who sets aside the better one, against her judgment,
Choosing for herself the worse,
Demonstrates, I do believe,
Extreme folly].

(Doss-Quimby, Trasker Grimbert, Pfeffer, Aubrey, Songs of the women Trouvères)