Chanson de Croisade (A Song of the Crusades)
by Thibaut de Champagne (1201-1253)

Seigneurs, Sachiez   Lords, Know that Whoever Does Not Go

Seigneurs sachiez qui or ne s'en ira       
En cele terre ou Dex fu morts et vis,
Et qui la crois d'outremer ne prendra            
A paines mes ira en paradis.
Que a en soi pitie ne ramenbrance              
Au haut Seigneur doit querre sa venjance       

Et delivier sa terre et son pais. pais.      
Tuit li mauves demorront par deca,
Qui n'aiment Deu, bien ne honor ne pris;       
Et chascuns dit: "Ma fene, que fera? 
Je ne lairoje a nul fuer mes amis.           
Cil sont cheoit en trop fole atendance,          
Qu'il n'est amis fors que cil, sans doutance. 
Que por nos fu en la vtaie crois mis.       
Ors'en iront eil vaillant bacheler 
Qui aiment Deu et l'ennor de cest mont. 
Qui sagement vuelant a Dieu aler.
Et li moveus, li cendreus demorront;  
Avugles est, de ce ne dout je moe,  
Qui in cecors ne fait Dieu en sa vie   
Et por si pou pert la gloire dou mont.    


Lords, know that whoever does not go
to the land where God died and lived,
and does not take up the cross overseas,
Hardly will he get into paradise.
Whoever has in himself pity or remembrance
of the high Lord must wish to avenge him
And to deliver his land and country.

All the bad ones will remain here, those who love
neither God nor good nor honour their worth;
And they will say: "My wife, what shall she do?"
I will quit my friends for no prize." 
These people are fallen into a vain worry.
For without a doubt we have no friend except him
Who for us was put on the true cross.  
Now they go, all the valiant young men
Who love God and the glory of this world,
Who wisely wish to go to God.
and the soot-nosed ones, the cowards will stay behind;  Of this, I have no doubt'
that whosoever does not help God to his life is blind, and for little loss of the glory of the world.