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 
I sing of a maiden
That matchless is.
King of all Kings
Was her Son iwis.

He came all so still,
Where His mother was
As dew in April
That falleth on the grass:

He came all so still,
To His mother's bower
As dew in April
That falleth on flower.

He came all so still,
Where His mother lay
As dew in April
That formeth on spray.

Mother and maiden
Was ne'er none but she:
Well may such a lady
God's mother be.

Glossary
iwis = certainly

Composition:

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, from "A Medieval Anthology", edited by Mary Segar

Based on:

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this page: Geoffrey Wieting

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 84