Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900/Alison

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Alison.

c.1300

BYTUENE Mershe ant Averil
When spray biginneth to spring,
The lutel foul hath hire wyl
On hyre lud^[1] to synge:
Ich libbe^[2] in love-longinge
For semlokest^[3] of alle thynge,
He^[4] may me blisse bringe,
Icham in hire bandoun.^[5]
An hendy^[6] hap ichabbe y-hent,^[7]
Ichot^[8] from hevene it is me sent,
From alle wymmen my love is
Ant lyht^[9] on Alisoun.

On heu hire her^[10] is fayr ynoh,
Hire browe broune, hire eye blake;
With lossum^[11] chere he on me loh;^[12]
With middel smal ant wel y-make;
Bote he^[13] me wolle to hire take
For to buen^[14] hire owen make,^[15]
Long to lyven ichulle forsake
Ant feye^[16] fallen adoun.
An hendy hap, etc.

Nihtes^[17] when I wende^[18] and wake,
For-thi^[19] myn wonges waxeth won;^[20]

Levedi,^[21] al for thine sake
Longinge is y-lent me on.^[22]
In world his non so wyter mon^[23]
That al hire bountè telle con;
Hire swyre^[24] is whittore than the swon,
Ant feyrest may^[25] in toune.
An hendy hap, etc.

Icham for wowyng al for-wake,^[26]
Wery so water in wore;^[27]
Lest eny reve me my make^[28]
Ichabbe y-yerned yore.^[29]
Betere is tholien whyle sore^[30]
Then mournen evermore.
Geynest under gore,^[31]
Herkne to my roun^[32]—
An hendy hap, etc.

 

1. on hyre lud] in her language.
2. ich libbe] I live.
3. semlokest] seemliest.
4. he] she.
5. bandoun] thraldom.
6. hendy] gracious.
7. y-hent] seized, enjoyed.
8. ichot] I wot
9. lyht] alighted.
10. hire her] her hair.
11. lossum] lovesome.
12. loh] laughed.
13. bote he] unless she.
14. buen] be.
15. make] mate.
16. feye] like to die.
17. nihtes] at night.
18. wende] turn.
19. for-thi] on that account.
20. wonges waxeth won] cheeks grow wan.
21. levedi] lady.
22. y-lent me on] arrived to me.
23. so wyter mon] so wise a man.
24. swyre] neck.
25. may] maid.
26. for-wake] worn out with vigils.
27. so water in wore] as water in a weir.
28. reve] rob.
29. y-yerned yore] long been distressed.
30. tholien] to endure.
31. geynest under gore] comeliest under woman's apparel.
32. roun] tale, lay.