Corpus Christi Carol

This haunting medieval carol seemed appropriate for today. There is definitely a mystery hidden in this song.


Corpus Christi Carol

Lulley, lully, lulley, lully,
The faucon hath born my mak away.


He bare hym up, he bare hym down,
He bare hym into an orchard brown.


In that orchard ther was an hall,
That was hanged with purpill and pall.


And in that hall ther was a bede,
Hit was hangid with gold so rede.


And yn that bede ther lythe a knyght,
His wowndes bledyng day and nyght.


By that bedes side ther kneleth a may,
And she wepeth both nyght and day.


And by that bedes side ther stondith a ston,
"Corpus Christi" wretyn theron.

Glossary
faucon: falcon
mak: mate, love
bare: bore, carried
purpill: purple (the royal color)
pall: a funeral pall, a cloth spread over a coffin
bede: bed
rede: red
lythe: lieth, lies
wowndes: wounds
bledyng: bleeding
kneleth: kneeleth, kneels
may: maid, maiden
wepeth: weepeth, weeps
stondith: standeth, stands
ston: stone
Corpus Christi: body of Christ (Latin)
wretyn: written