Five Norman Songs

I found at daybreak yestermorn,
close by the house where she was born,
A tender turtle dove. 
Oha! Ohésahé! Ohé!

She fluttered but she could not fly;
I heard, but would not heed her cry.
She had not learned to love.
Oha! Ohésahé! Ohé.

Now she is quiet on my breast,
And from her new and living nest,
She doth not seek to rove.
Oha!  Ohésahé!  Oha!

Beneath the branch of the green May 
with joy my heart sleeps happily
Waiting for him who promised me 
to meet me here again this day.

And what is that I would not do
To please my love so dear to me?
He love's me with leal heart and true,
And I love him no less, pardie!

Perchance I see him but a day;
Yet maketh me my heart so free
His beauty so rejoiceth me
That months thereafter I am gay.

Now who is he on earth that lives,
Who knows or with his tongue can say
What grief to poor lovers it gives
To love with loyal heart always?

So bitter is their portion, yea, so hard their part!
But this doth more confound my heart;
Unloved to love, and still to pray!
Thinking there on I swoon away.

Before my lady's window gay,
The little birds they sing, they sing all day,
The lark, the mavis and the dove,
But the sweet nightingale of May,
She whiles the silent hours away
Chanting of sorrow, joy and love.

O Love, my love and perfect bliss!
God in His goodness grant me this --
I see thee soon again.
Nought else I need to take away
The grief that for thy sake away
Doth keep me in great pain.

Alas! I know not what to do,
Nor how to get good news and true:
Dear God, I pray to Thee:
If else Thou canst not comfort me,
Of thy great mercy make that he
Send speedy news to me.

Within my father's garden walls
There is a tree, -- when April falls
It blossometh away.
There wend I oft in winter drear,
Yea, and in spring, the winds to hear,
The sweet winds at their play.