"trop tôt i arrive l'hiver"

Trop tôt i arrive l’hiver.
Le ciel gris de bleu palist
Et las fleures font a faner.
Laient les feuilles comme vie partist.
La nege blanc sol la terre gist,
Mais c’escut, ce cape,
L’ame du monde n’eschape.
Et m’amor,
La coiffe d’or,
La chaleur brille mai le retor.

Les oisels sont partissant,
Ses nids tot abandonnent.
Las eaux fraises sont glacent,
Les poissons ses dormissent.
Las étoiles plus cleres masquent.
Remaint ils en l’ombre
Quant la terre est sombre.
Et m’amor,
La coiffe d’or,
La chaleur brille mai le retor.

translation:

The winter comes very soon.
The gray sky fades from blue
And the flowers begin to wilt.
They shed their petals as life departs.
The white snow alone protects the earth
But this shield, this cloak,
The soul of the earth cannot escape.
And my love,
The golden-haired,
Her warmth shines to reinstate May.

The birds have departed,
They abandon their nests completely.
The fresh waters are frozen over,
The fish are sleeping.
The clearest of stars are hiding.
They remain in the shadows
While the earth remains so dull.
And my love,
The golden-haired,
Her warmth shines to reinstate May.