When the king comes into the court
To greet the ladies there,
One has stolen away his heart,
The one who is most fair.

“Whose wife is she, my gentlemen?”
A marquis proud replied:
“That fairest lady of them all
Is my wedded bride.”

“Marquis is happier than king
With a lady so divine;
But I swear to you upon my faith
I must have your wife for mine.”

The good marquis has answer made:
“King's justice is but short;
My wife has promised faith to me.
Sire, I leave the court.”

The king has taken her by the hand
In court before them all;
But as he leads her up the stair,
Her tears like thick rain fall.

“Weep not so bitterly,” he said;
“My noble Marchioness;
Of all my silver and my gold
You shall be mistress.”

The queen gives her a fair nosegay
Sweet with the rose's breath;
The odor of that fair nosegay
Brings her to her death.

The king has built for her a tomb
In the province of Baïse;
Above is cut into the stone
The name of the marquise.

The folk have bid the good marquis:
“Now pray for your dead bride.”
“God shuts her out of Paradise;
I 've nor king nor wife,” he cried.