A Ballade (AAB form) by King Richard the Lionhearted in a foreign prison (1096-1250 CE)

Ja Nus Hons Pris  No Prisoner Will Ever State His Case

Ja nus hons pris ne dira sa raison adroitment, 
se dolantement non;
mes par confort puet il fere chancon. 
Moult ai amis, mes povre sont li don;   
hounte en avront, se por ma reancon     
sui ces deus yvers pris.                 
No prisoner will ever state his case.
Cleverly, he will put it in a sorrowful way,
he can, however, write a song to comfort himself.
I have many friends, but their gifts are few in number.
They will be shamed if I remain in captivity these two
winters because my ransom is not paid.