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ANONYMOUS (1100-2010)

I Sing of a Maiden


              1  I syng of a mayden
              2    That is mak{.e}les;
              3Kyng of all{.e} kyng{.e}s
              4    To here Son{.e} sche ches.

              5  He cam also stylle
              6    There his moder was
              7As dew in Aprylle
              8    That fallyt on the gras;

              9  He cam also stylle
            10    To his moderes bowr
            11As dew in Aprille
            12    That fallyt on the flour;

            13  He cam also stylle
            14    There his moder lay
            15As dew in Aprille
            16    That fallyt on the spray;

            17  Moder and maydyn
            18    Was never non but sche;
            19Wel may swych a lady
            20    God{.e}s moder be.

Notes

1] The "incremental repetition" by which this song is built up is similar to that found in the popular ballads. Cf. "St. Stephen and Herod," from the same manuscript.

2] makeles: without a mate, peerless.

4] ches: chose.

5] also stylle: as quietly.

8] fallyt: falleth.

19] swych: such.

Online text copyright © 2010, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: British Library Sloane MS. 2593; Thomas Wright, ed., Songs and Carols (London: T. Richards, 1856). PR 1120 W3 Victoria College Library
First publication date: 1450
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.3; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/5/8

Composition date: 1450
Rhyme: abab

Other poems by ANONYMOUS

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