Bernart de Ventadorn was from Limousin, from the castle of Ventadour. He was a man of humble origin, the son of a servant who was a baker, and who heated the oven to bake the bread of the castle. And he became a handsome and an able man, and he knew how to sing and how to invent poetry well, and he became courtly and learned.
And the Viscount of Ventadour, his lord, grew very fond of him and of his inventing and his singing, and greatly honored him. And the Viscount of Ventadour had a wife who was young, noble, and lively. And she also grew fond of Bernart and of his songs, and fell in love with him. And he fell in love with the lady, and composed his songs and his poems about her, about the love which he had for her, and about her merit. Their love lasted a long time before the viscount or other people became aware of it. And when the viscount perceived it, he banished Bernart from him and had his wife locked up and guarded. And the lady then gave Lord Bernart permission so that he would go away and leave that region.
And he left and went to the Duchess of Normandy, who was young and of merit, and who understood merit and honor and beautiful words of praise. And the songs and the poems of Lord Bernart pleased her very much, and she received him and welcomed him very well. He was in her court for a long time, and he fell in love with her, and she with him. And he composed many good songs about her. And while he was with her, King Henry of England took her for his wife and also moved her away from Normandy and took her to England.
Lord Bernart remained here, sad and grieving, and he came to the good Count Raimon of Toulouse and stayed with him until the count died. And Lord Bernart, on account of the sadness he felt, joined the order of Dalon, and there he died.
And what I, Lord Uc de Saint Circ, have written about him was told to me by the viscount Lord Ebles de Ventadorn, who was the son of the viscountess whom Lord Bernart loved. And Bernart composed these songs which you will hear and which are written below.
Vida #14, quoted from:
Egan, Margarita, The Vidas of the Troubadours, Vol. 6 Series B, Garland Library of Medieval Literature, NY, 1984, pages 11-12.