Sumer is icumen in,
Lhude sing cuccu!
Groweþ sed and bloweþ med
And springþ þe wde nu,
Sing cuccu!
And springþ þe wde nu,
Sing cuccu!
Awe bleteþ after lomb,
Lhouþ after calue cu.
Bulluc sterteþ, bucke uerteþ,
Murie sing cuccu!
Cuccu, cuccu, wel singes þu cuccu;
Ne swik þu nauer nu.
Bulluc sterteþ, bucke uerteþ,
Murie sing cuccu!
Cuccu, cuccu, wel singes þu cuccu;
Ne swik þu nauer nu.
Sing cuccu nu. Sing cuccu.
Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu nu!
þ is "thorn," same as modern th.
Modern English:
Summer has arrived,
Loudly sing, Cuckoo!
The seed grows and the meadow blooms
And the wood springs anew,
Sing, Cuckoo!
The ewe bleats after the lamb
The seed grows and the meadow blooms
And the wood springs anew,
Sing, Cuckoo!
The ewe bleats after the lamb
The cow lows after the calf.
The bullock stirs, the stag farts,
Merrily sing, Cuckoo!
Cuckoo, cuckoo, well you sing, cuckoo;
Don't you ever stop now,
The bullock stirs, the stag farts,
Merrily sing, Cuckoo!
Cuckoo, cuckoo, well you sing, cuckoo;
Don't you ever stop now,
Sing cuckoo now. Sing, Cuckoo.
Sing Cuckoo. Sing cuckoo now!
This video shows the medieval and modern musical notation in parallel.
And here's a medieval stag, possibly farting:
5 comments:
We are heading into Weodmonað according to the old Anglo-Saxon calendar.
Sweeptakeskeys - it is so good to hear from you again. Have you given up on the moving and packing business? And while you are here, what precisely, is a "sweeptakes"?
How loud does a stag fart? Loud enough or often enough to join the cuckoo in summer's song?
YouTube provides the goods, confirming what those who lived closer to nature took for a sign. Perhaps the result of something springy ingested?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB4plZwgdPY
The pic of the Possible Farting Stag brought me back to Sixty's recent Summer Wind Dog, who could also possibly be catching, releasing or scenting something in the breeze!
Fun post, cheerful song, light enough to make me smile at the lilt.
I too, don't want summer to end, yet am starting to hear the August night orchestra warming up.
You want farts?
You came to the right place!
Great post by the way.
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