Reis Glorios
Estampie Lyrics


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Reis glorios, verais lums e clartatz
deus poderos, senher, si a vos platz
Al meu compan siatz fizels ajuda
Qu'eu no lo vi pos la nochs fo venguda
et ades sera l'alba

Bel companho si dormetz o veillatz
No dormatz plus, suau vos ressidatz
Qu'en orien vei l'estella creguda
Qu' amena'l jorn qu'eu l'ai ben coneguda
Et ades sera l'alba

Bel companho, issetz al feneszel
e regardatz las ensenhas del ciel
connoisseretz sius soi fizels messatge
sinon o faitz, vostres n'er lo dampnage
Et ades sera l'alba

Bel companho, pos me parti de vos
eu nom dormi ni mog de genolhos
anz pregi dieu, lo fil santa Maria
qu'eus mi rendes per lejal compania
Et ades sera l'alba

Bel dos compan, tan soi en riq sojorn
qu'eu no volgra mais fos alba ni jorn
car la gensor qu'e anc nasques demaire




tenc e abras, per qu'eu non prezi gaire
Lo fol gelos ni l'alba

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Estampie's song "Reis Glorios" speak of a journey into the dawn, with references to divine power and the beauty of nature. The singer implores their companion to wake up and join them on their journey, offering reassurance and guidance along the way. The singer invokes the help of God and expresses a desire for the safety and well-being of their companion. Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and anticipation for what lies ahead.


The first verse of the song sets the tone for the rest of the piece, with references to the "brightness and clarity" of the journey ahead. The second verse urges the companion to join in the journey and takes comfort in the presence of the "believable" star guiding the way. The third verse offers practical advice to the companion, encouraging them to observe the signs in the sky and accept the message of the angels. The fourth and final verse is a reflection on the journey thus far, with the singer expressing gratitude for the companionship and seeking divine intervention for their ongoing safety.


Overall, "Reis Glorios" offers a rich tapestry of imagery and metaphor, combining elements of Christian theology and naturalistic observation. The piece reflects the medieval worldview, which saw the divine and the natural worlds as entwined and often inseparable.


Line by Line Meaning

Reis glorios, verais lums e clartatz
Glorious king, true light and brightness


deus poderos, senher, si a vos platz
Powerful God, Lord, if it pleases you


Al meu compan siatz fizels ajuda
Be a loyal help to my companion


Qu'eu no lo vi pos la nochs fo venguda
Since I didn't see him when the night came


et ades sera l'alba
And now it will be dawn


Bel companho si dormetz o veillatz
Good companion, if you sleep or watch


No dormatz plus, suau vos ressidatz
Don't sleep anymore, rest softly


Qu'en orien vei l'estella creguda
For I see the believed star in the east


Qu' amena'l jorn qu'eu l'ai ben coneguda
That brings the day that I have come to know well


Et ades sera l'alba
And now it will be dawn


Bel companho, issetz al feneszel
Good companion, sit at the window


e regardatz las ensenhas del ciel
And look at the heavenly signs


connoisseretz sius soi fizels messatge
You will recognize whether it is a true message from our messenger


sinon o faitz, vostres n'er lo dampnage
If you don't, you will be responsible for it


Et ades sera l'alba
And now it will be dawn


Bel companho, pos me parti de vos
Good companion, since I left you


eu nom dormi ni mog de genolhos
I didn't sleep or bend my knees in prayer


anz pregi dieu, lo fil santa Maria
Instead, I prayed to God, the son of Saint Mary


qu'eus mi rendes per lejal compania
To reward me for my loyal companionship


Et ades sera l'alba
And now it will be dawn


Bel dos compan, tan soi en riq sojorn
Good fellow companion, I am staying in a rich land


qu'eu no volgra mais fos alba ni jorn
Where I don't need anything at all, day or night


car la gensor qu'e anc nasques demaire
For the greatest gift that I was ever born with


tenc e abras, per qu'eu non prezi gaire
I hold and cherish, so I don't value much


Lo fol gelos ni l'alba
The foolish jealousy or dawn




Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@TheFamousFlower

This is not a religious song (although the original certainly contains religious references in the prayer of the lover, in a verse not included in this arrangement), but as a previous commenter noted, it is an alba, a "dawn song," a particular genre of troubadour poetry. "Reis Glorios" was written by a troubadour from Limoges named Guiraut de Bornelh sometime between 1165 to 1199. Below is a translation of THIS arrangement of the song, using W.D. Snodgrass' translation found in "Lark in the Morning: The Verses of the Troubadours," edited by Robert Kehew:

"Day's glorious Lord, true clarity and light,
Earth's Emperor, in majesty and might, [x2]
Protect my friend who vanished from these eyes' sight
Leaving me here on guard in fading twilight;
Now soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, there where you sleep or rise,
Sleep you no more; in safety lift your eyes. [x2]
Far Orient, the morning star stands gleaming
Leading the day that drives us all from dreaming
And soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, I sing what you must hear
So sleep no more. The skylark's cries ring clear; [x2]
He seeks the light, beneath the branches flying.
Some jealous soul might find you where you're lying;
And soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, while parting on the stair
Last night you pled and made your heart-felt prayer [x2]
I'd wake all night to keep my watch untiring;
But care and song seem far from your desiring
Though soon outshines all dawn's light."

The doubling appears to be a feature of this particular arrangement. The missing verses, which occur just before the last one above, are as follows:

"My faithful friend, sit by your window high;
Come recognize day's banners through the sky;
Learn how your friend has kept his night-watch loyal;
Open your eyes or see your swift betrayal;
For soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, since last you left me here
I paced on guard or bent my knee in prayer
That our dear Lord, the spotless son of Mary,
Return you safe; then wake, no longer tarry;
Now soon outshines all dawn's light."



All comments from YouTube:

@ReginaMuse93

Reis Glorios is a medieval dawn song, an alba, of two lovers departing at dawn. Very hauntingly beautiful, I agree :)

@nikkili8944

Incredible! This song is so beautiful! 💕 Definitely one of Estampie's best songs. 😊

@Kangurek-Kao

Muzyka która leczy moją duszę, zapełnia kielich moich zmysłów, koi me uszy, daje mi rozkosz rozmyślań oraz jest diamentem wśród innych nut i pieśni, a słowa same owy klejnot szlifują, ofiarując dla człowieka ideał muzyczny, któryż pozwala na otwarcie najpiękniejszych zmysłów o Bogu.

@nellymacquinghen1783

Quelle belle musique apres tant d'annees et quelle jolie voix

@TheFamousFlower

This is not a religious song (although the original certainly contains religious references in the prayer of the lover, in a verse not included in this arrangement), but as a previous commenter noted, it is an alba, a "dawn song," a particular genre of troubadour poetry. "Reis Glorios" was written by a troubadour from Limoges named Guiraut de Bornelh sometime between 1165 to 1199. Below is a translation of THIS arrangement of the song, using W.D. Snodgrass' translation found in "Lark in the Morning: The Verses of the Troubadours," edited by Robert Kehew:

"Day's glorious Lord, true clarity and light,
Earth's Emperor, in majesty and might, [x2]
Protect my friend who vanished from these eyes' sight
Leaving me here on guard in fading twilight;
Now soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, there where you sleep or rise,
Sleep you no more; in safety lift your eyes. [x2]
Far Orient, the morning star stands gleaming
Leading the day that drives us all from dreaming
And soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, I sing what you must hear
So sleep no more. The skylark's cries ring clear; [x2]
He seeks the light, beneath the branches flying.
Some jealous soul might find you where you're lying;
And soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, while parting on the stair
Last night you pled and made your heart-felt prayer [x2]
I'd wake all night to keep my watch untiring;
But care and song seem far from your desiring
Though soon outshines all dawn's light."

The doubling appears to be a feature of this particular arrangement. The missing verses, which occur just before the last one above, are as follows:

"My faithful friend, sit by your window high;
Come recognize day's banners through the sky;
Learn how your friend has kept his night-watch loyal;
Open your eyes or see your swift betrayal;
For soon outshines all dawn's light.

My faithful friend, since last you left me here
I paced on guard or bent my knee in prayer
That our dear Lord, the spotless son of Mary,
Return you safe; then wake, no longer tarry;
Now soon outshines all dawn's light."

@olgaradulovic7684

This is incredible. Thank you so much for this ethereal, beautiful translation.

@Z0mbicore

so it could have been way better

@ANGELSVEN

Sigrid Hausen's voice sounds so beautiful.

@undrentide1972

this has to be one of my favourite Estampie songs, an 8 minute epic

@vonhercynius9524

The way it builds is lovely indeed

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