 | The Harley Lyrics |  |
37
7 THE FAIR MAID OF RIBBLESDALE
Mosti ryden by Rybbesdale,
wilde wymmen forte wale,
ant welde whuch ich wolde,
founde were þe feyrest on
þat euer wes mad of blod ant bon,
in boure best wiþ bolde.
Ase sonnebem hire bleo ys briht;
in vche londe heo leomeþ liht,
þourh tale as mon me tolde.
Þe lylie lossum is ant long,
wiþ riche rose ant rode among,
a fyldor fax to folde.
wilde wymmen forte wale,
ant welde whuch ich wolde,
founde were þe feyrest on
þat euer wes mad of blod ant bon,
in boure best wiþ bolde.
Ase sonnebem hire bleo ys briht;
in vche londe heo leomeþ liht,
þourh tale as mon me tolde.
Þe lylie lossum is ant long,
wiþ riche rose ant rode among,
a fyldor fax to folde.
Hire hed when ich biholde apon,
þe sonnebéém aboute nóón
me þohte þat y seȝe;
hyre eyȝen aren grete ant gray ynoh;
þat lussom, when heo on me loh,
ybend wax eyþer breȝe.
Þe mone wiþ hire muchele maht
ne leneþ non such lyht anaht
(þat is in heouene heȝe)
ase hire forhed doþ in day,
for wham þus muchel y mourne may,
for duel to deþ y dreyȝe.
þe sonnebéém aboute nóón
me þohte þat y seȝe;
hyre eyȝen aren grete ant gray ynoh;
þat lussom, when heo on me loh,
ybend wax eyþer breȝe.
Þe mone wiþ hire muchele maht
ne leneþ non such lyht anaht
(þat is in heouene heȝe)
ase hire forhed doþ in day,
for wham þus muchel y mourne may,
for duel to deþ y dreyȝe.
Heo haþ browes bend an heh,
whyt bytuene ant nout to neh;
lussum lyf heo ledes;
hire neose ys set as hit wel semeþ;
y deȝe, for deþ þat me demeþ;
hire speche as spices spredes;
hire lockes lefly aren ant longe,
for sone he mihte hire murþes monge
wiþ blisse when hit bredes;
hire chyn ys chosen ant eyþer cheke
whit ynoh ant rode on eke,
ase roser when hit redes.
whyt bytuene ant nout to neh;
lussum lyf heo ledes;
hire neose ys set as hit wel semeþ;
y deȝe, for deþ þat me demeþ;
hire speche as spices spredes;
hire lockes lefly aren ant longe,
for sone he mihte hire murþes monge
wiþ blisse when hit bredes;
hire chyn ys chosen ant eyþer cheke
whit ynoh ant rode on eke,
ase roser when hit redes.
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Heo haþ a mury mouht to mele,
wiþ lefly rede lippes lele,
romaunȝ forte rede;
hire teht aren white ase bon of whal,
euene set ant atled al,
ase hende mowe taken hede;
swannes swyre swyþe wel ysette,
a sponne lengore þen y mette,
þat freoly ys to fede.
Me were leuere kepe hire come
þen beon pope ant ryde in Rome,
styþest vpon stede.
wiþ lefly rede lippes lele,
romaunȝ forte rede;
hire teht aren white ase bon of whal,
euene set ant atled al,
ase hende mowe taken hede;
swannes swyre swyþe wel ysette,
a sponne lengore þen y mette,
þat freoly ys to fede.
Me were leuere kepe hire come
þen beon pope ant ryde in Rome,
styþest vpon stede.
When y byholde vpon hire hond,
þe lylie-white, lef in lond,
best heo mihte beo;
eyþer arm an elne long,
baloygne mengeþ al bymong;
ase baum ys hire bleo;
fyngres heo haþ feir to folde;
myhte ich hire haue ant holde,
in world wel were me.
Hyre tyttes aren anvnder bis
as apples tuo of Parays,
ouself ȝe mowen seo.
þe lylie-white, lef in lond,
best heo mihte beo;
eyþer arm an elne long,
baloygne mengeþ al bymong;
ase baum ys hire bleo;
fyngres heo haþ feir to folde;
myhte ich hire haue ant holde,
in world wel were me.
Hyre tyttes aren anvnder bis
as apples tuo of Parays,
ouself ȝe mowen seo.
Hire gurdel of bete gold is al,
vmben hire middel smal,
þat trikeþ to þe to,
al wiþ rubies on a rowe,
wiþinne coruen, craft to knowe,
ant emeraudes mo;
þe bocle is al of whalles bon;
þer wiþinne stont a ston
þat warneþ men from wo;
þe water þat hit wetes yn
ywis hit worþeþ al to wyn;
þat seȝen, seyden so.
vmben hire middel smal,
þat trikeþ to þe to,
al wiþ rubies on a rowe,
wiþinne coruen, craft to knowe,
ant emeraudes mo;
þe bocle is al of whalles bon;
þer wiþinne stont a ston
þat warneþ men from wo;
þe water þat hit wetes yn
ywis hit worþeþ al to wyn;
þat seȝen, seyden so.
Heo haþ a mete myddel smal,
body ant brest wel mad al,
ase feynes wiþoute fere;
eyþer side soft ase sylk,
whittore þen þe moren-mylk,
wiþ leofly lit on lere.
Al þat ich ou nempne noht
hit is wonder wel ywroht,
ant elles wonder were.
He myhte sayen þat Crist hym seȝe
þat myhte nyhtes neh hyre leȝe,
heuene he heuede here.
body ant brest wel mad al,
ase feynes wiþoute fere;
39
whittore þen þe moren-mylk,
wiþ leofly lit on lere.
Al þat ich ou nempne noht
hit is wonder wel ywroht,
ant elles wonder were.
He myhte sayen þat Crist hym seȝe
þat myhte nyhtes neh hyre leȝe,
heuene he heuede here.
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