|
Text
A wayle whyt
ase whalles bon,
A grein in golde that godly shon,
A tortle that min herte is on,
In tounes trewe, |
Translation
A beauty
white as ivory,
A gem set in gold, shining brightly,
A turtle-dove my heart is set on,
Known for truth everywhere, |
| 5 |
Hire
gladshipe nes neuer gon
Whil Y may glewe.
When heo
is glad
Of al this world na more Y bad
Then beo with hire myn one bistad,
|
Her
happiness is never neglected
While I can make songs.
When she
is happy,
I would ask no more of all this world
Than to be put with her on my own,
|
| 10
|
Withoute strif.
The
care that Icham yn ybrad
Y wyte a wyf.
A wyf nis non
so worly wroht;
When heo ys blythe to bedde ybroht |
Without
any argument.
The misery I am racked by
I blame on a woman.
There is
no woman so beautifully made;
When she is willingly brought to bed |
| 15 |
Wel were him that wiste hire thoht,
That
thryuen ant thro!
Wel Y wot heo nul me noht;
Myn herte is wo.
Hou shal
that lefly syng
|
It
would be a joy to have an understanding with her,
That excellent woman!
I know well that she doesn't want me;
I am heartbroken.
How is
someone to sing gladly
|
| 20 |
That thus is marred in mournyng?
Heo
me wol to dethe bryng
Longe er my day.
Gret hire wel, that swete thing
With eyen
gray.
|
Who
is so brought down by grief?
She will be the death of me
Long before my time.
Give my regards to her, that sweet creature
With bright eyes. |
| 25 |
Hyre
heye haueth wounded me, ywisse,
Hire bende browen that bringeth blisse.
Hire comely mouth that mihte cusse,
In muche murthe he were;
Y wolde chaunge myn for his |
Her
eyes have really wounded me,
Her arched eyebrows which give delight.
Anyone who could kiss her lovely mouth
Would be full of joy;
I would exchange mine for the man's |
| 30 |
That
is here fere.
Wolde hyre
fere beo so freo
Ant wurthes were that so myhte beo,
Al for on Y wolde yeue threo
Withoute chep.
|
Who
is her partner.
If her
partner would be so generous,
And there could be equivalents,
I would certainly give three for one
Without haggling.
|
| 35 |
From
helle to heuene ant sonne to see
Nys
non so yeep
Ne half so freo.
Wo-se wole of loue be trewe, do lystne me.
Herkneth
me, Y ou telle, |
From
hell to heaven, and sun to sea
There is no-one so wise
Or half so noble.
Anyone who wants to be true in love, listen to me.
Listen to
me, I tell you,
|
| 40 |
In
such wondryng for wo Y welle,
Nys no fur so hot in helle
Al to mon
That loueth derne ant dar nout telle
What him ys on.
|
I
burn in such distress through grief,
There is no fire so hot in hell
Kept for the man
Who loves secretly and dares not say
What the matter is. |
| 45 |
Ich
vnne hire wel ant heo me wo;
Ycham hire frend ant heo my fo;
Me thuncheth min herte wol breke atwo
For sorewe ant sy[t]e.
In Godes greting mote heo go, |
I
wish her well, she wishes me ill;
I am her friend and she my enemy;
It seems to me that my heart will break in two
Out of grief and distress.
May she walk with God's blessing, |
| 50 |
That
wayle whyte.
Ich wolde
Ich were a threstelcok,
A bountyng other a
lauercok,
Swete bryd!
Bituene hire curtel ant hire smok
|
That
white-skinned beauty.
I wish I
were a song-thrush,
A bunting or a lark,
Sweet bird!
Between her gown and her shift
|
| 55 |
Y
wolde ben hyd.
|
I
would like to be hidden. |
