Ja nus hons pris [English translation]

Never can a prisoner tell his mind,

Openly, without sadness,

But, vehemently, he can write a song,

I have many friends, but poor are the gifts,

Shame on them, if to gather my ransom,

I am here for two winters.

They know well, my men and barons,

English, Normans, Poitevins and Gascons,

That I have no companion, no matter how poor,

That I would leave in prison without acting,

I am not criticising,

But I am still prisoner.

Never can a prisoner tell his mind,

Openly, without sadness,

But, vehemently, he can write a song,

I have many friends, but poor are the gifts.