by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

I syng of a mayden
Language: Middle English 
Our translations:  FRE
I syng of a mayden
þat is makeles,
kyng of alle kynges
to here sone che ches.

He came also stylle
þer his moder was
as dew in aprylle,
þat fallyt on þe gras.

He cam also stylle
to his moderes bowr
as dew in aprille,
þat fallyt on þe flour.

He cam also stylle
þer his moder lay
as dew in Aprille,
þat fallyt on þe spray.;

Moder & mayden
was neuer non but che --
wel may swych a lady
Godes moder be.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, first published c1400

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-01-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 84

Language: English  after the Middle English 
Our translations:  FRE GER
I sing of a maiden 
that is makèles:
King of all kings 
to her son she ches.

He came al so stille 
there his moder was,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the grass.

He came al so stille 
to his moder bour,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the flour.

He came al so stille 
there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the spray.

Moder and mayden 
was never none but she;
Well may such a lady 
Goddes moder be.
Glossary
makèles = matchless
ches = chose
bour = bower
flour = flower

Composition:

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Comme la rosée en avril", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Wie Tau im April", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Tom White

This text was added to the website: 2007-10-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 87