irish i may

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

25 Poems of Christmas: December 7

I have taken a few days off, but here is one fo the Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  This was written in the 15t century as a lyric, but the original musical setting did not survive.   I 
have it here  in the original Middle English because if you ever hear it sung these are the word that you will hear. when I was in college I had to read in Middle English.  Now there's a skill I've put to good use over the years!


I Sing of a Maiden















20
I sing of a maiden
That is makeles:
King of alle kinges
To her sone she chees.

He cam also stille
Ther his moder was
As dewe in Aprille
That falleth on the gras.

He cam also stille
To his modres bowr
As dewe in Aprille
That falleth on the flowr.

He cam also stille
Ther his moder lay
As dewe in Aprille
That falleth on the spray.

Moder and maiden
Was nevere noon but she:
Wel may swich a lady
Godes moder be.

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