42v La Complainte dou conte Hue de Nevers

for he left behind many towns and many villages
to die in the service of
That Lord who renders justice to all.
And God repays him hansomely
—do not think this is a trick—
for He performs many great miracles.
It truly appears that God took his soul
to place him in his royal council.

The Count arranged that at his death
he would be as one with the most poor.
He wished to be counted among the poorest.
When Death bites such a man
how can She have no remorse for
devouring such a count so early in life?
For, if truth be told,
I think that no man
has ever mounted a horse, either weak or strong,
who so feared shame,
or better understood the meaning of honor.
Is this not a tale of sadness and pain?

The heart of the count is at Citeaux
and the soul, in the saintly heavens above,
and the body lies beyond the sea.^{1See the discussion of the term Outremer in the introduction}
This division is good and beautiful
for we now have three precious jewels
that every good person should revere.
There, in heaven on high, it is good to sow seeds^{2There may be a temporal element to the idiom "fait boen semeir" meaning that now is the time to go on crusade.} ;
one need not fertilize the soil,
nor can birds feed upon them.
Since he allowed himself to be torn apart in God's name,
what claim can God make against him,
when He judges the good and the evil.

Ah, Count John, fine, sweet lord
may as many great things be said about you
as one can say about the count Eudes.

For in him, we have such good material^{3"Matyre" can refer both to Eudes's own person as well as the stories and ideas about him that circulated among people of his time, a reference to the French-language "matiere," suggesting that Rutebuef imagines that God is an audience for such tales.}
which God can rejoice and delight in,
and with which that saintly paradise is brightened.
It is good to pursue such an end,
for no one can find any wrong in it;
it is good to choose that kind of life.
People found him to be
sweet and pious and noble in all regards;
wise is the one who sees himself in his [Eudes'] deeds.

My lord, Erard, may God preserve you
and keep you well,
for in that Land^{4Rutebeuf is referring to the Holy Land} there is great need.
But should He take you early
I fear those lands would remain
in a state of great suffering and war.
Oh how your heart tightens in your chest
knowing that God brought the count,
with his much-feared standard, to His side so soon.
Where would you seek such a companion?
For I do not think, either in France or in England
anyone will point one out to you.

Ah! King of France, King of France
Acre daily hangs in the balance.
Send help to her, for it is needed.
Serve God with all you have.
Do not remain here any longer,
neither you, nor the Count of Poitiers.
God will be pleased to see you there,
for the path that others were able
to clear as penance has become overgrown.
He who will be a wholehearted friend of God,
go then, and confront these who wield the ax
and undermine our faith!

Knights, what are you doing here?
Count of Blois, Lord of Coucy