Sage seroit qui se saroit garder                         She's wise, I think, the lady who knows how
  Des faulx amans qui adès ont usage                       to guard against false lovers--men who try
  De dire assez pour les femmes frauder;                   sweet, plaintive words on women, meant for show
  Trop se plaignent de l'amoureuse rage                    and for deceit.  They coo so piteously,
  Qui plus les tient que l'oisellet la cage,               these doves cooped up in love's captivity,
  Et vont faignant qu'ilz en ont couleur fade;             pleading as though their fevers left them wan.
  Mais quant a moy tiens de certain corage,                But here's a thing I know with certainty:
  Qui plus se plaint n'est pas le plus malade.             The loudest moans don't make the sickest man.

  Qui les orroit jurer et bien bourder,                    So when you hear one swear and see him go
  Faire semblant d'estre plus serf qu'un page,             around, obedient as a servant boy,
  Aler, venir, muser et regarder,                          back-and-forthing, look-and-thinking so,
  Et en parlant recouper leur langage                      recutting the design of what he'll say,
  Pour decepvoir, a pou n'est il si sage                   it's all a ruse--though wrought so charmingly
  Eulx guermenter a la plaisant et sade!                   everyone's fooled. Such ardor! Such elan!
  Mais on peut bien jugier a leur visaige,                 But judge them by their faces and you'll see
  Qui plus se plaint n'est pas le plus malade.             the loudest moans don't make the sickest man.

  De telz amans Dieux les vueille amender.                 May God correct such lovers! Sadly, though,
  Il en est moult, je croy, dont c'est dommage,            there are so many of them.  Soon they'll be
  Qui partout vont aux dames demander                      everywhere, begging ladies to bestow
  Grace et mercy, ou envoyent message,                     grace, or sending love notes for merci,
  Qui ne le font fors pour querre avantage                 for their own selfish ends. And this is why
  En certains lieux; pour ce dit ma balade,                my song is sung, to help you understand:
  Qu'en ce cas cy, tant soit de hault parage,              In such a case, no matter his degree,
  Qui plus se plaint n'est pas le plus malade.             the loudest moans don't make the sickest man.