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Songs to Medieval Latin Lyrics

Song Cycle by Ailsa Dixon (1932 - 2017)

Publisher: Composers Edition (external link)

1. Cuckoo, come!  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
[ ... ]


Then old Palemon spake from kis high seat,
And Daphnis, and the crowd of faithful shepherds.
" Have done, have done, Winter, spendthrift and foul,
And let the shepherd's friend, the cuckoo, come.
And may the happy buds break on our hills,
Green be our grazing, peace in the ploughed fields,
Green branches give their shadow to tired men,
The goats come to the milking, udders full,
The birds call to the sun, each one his note.
Wherefore, O cuckoo, come, O cuckoo, come !
For thou art Love himself, the dearest guest,
And all things wait thee, sea and earth and sky.
All hail, beloved : through all ages, hail !

Text Authorship:

  • by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965), "The Strife between Winter and Spring"

Based on:

  • a text in Latin by Alcuin of York (c735 - 804), "Conflictus Veris et Hiemis"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

2. Cum Splendor Lunae  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: Latin 
Cum splendor lunae fulgescat ab aethere purae,
Tu sta sub divo cernens speculamine miro,
Qualiter ex luna splendescat lampade pura
Et splendore suo caros amplectitur uno
Corpore divisos, sed mentis amore ligatos.
Si facies faciem spectare nequivit amantem,
Hoc saltim nobis lumen sit pignus amoris!
Hos tibi versiculos fidus transmisit amicus;
Si de parte tua fidei stat fixa catena,
Nunc precor, ut valeas felix per saecula cuncta.

Text Authorship:

  • by Walahfrid (c808 - 849), "Ad amicum"

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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

3. When the moon's splendour  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
When the moon's splendour shines in naked heaven
            Stand thou and gaze beneath the open sky.
See how that radiance from her lamp is riven 
            And in one splendour foldeth gloriously
Two that have loved, and now divided far, 
Bound by love's bond, in heart together are.

What though thy lover's eyes in vain desire thee, 
            Seek for love's face, and find that face denied?
Let that light be between us for a token;
            Take this poor verse that love and faith inscribe.
Love, art thou true? and fast love's chain about thee?
Then for all time, O love, give thee joy!

Text Authorship:

  • by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965), no title

Based on:

  • a text in Latin by Walahfrid (c808 - 849), "Ad amicum"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Confirmed with Helen Waddell, Mediaval Latin Lyrics, 5th edition, London : Constable, 1948, p. 117


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 639
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