What kind of love does the text of Machaut's chanson "Puis qu'en oubli" primarily address?

The text of Machaut's chanson "Puis qu'en oubli" primarily addresses courtly love, which is characterized by an idealized and often unattainable affection directed towards a beloved who is typically noble or of higher social status. In this context, courtly love often involves emotional complexity, including themes of longing, unrequited feelings, and the pain of separation.

Machaut's work exemplifies the conventions of medieval courtly love poetry, where the speaker expresses deep emotions related to love and loss. The text reflects a yearning for a beloved who is distant and may not reciprocate the speaker's affections, highlighting both the beauty and the melancholy associated with this type of love. The focus is less on physical love or friendship and more on the poetic expression of admiration and devotion that was prevalent in the courtly traditions of that era.

This distinct approach to love distinguishes it from other forms, such as unconditional love found among friends or familial bonds, and love for the divine, which would involve spiritual or religious themes rather than the personal and often romantic nature of courtly love.