A
Pearl of goodnesse, Ishoot of Admirinda,
That al hire bountee telle can
Heo so blithe, so bright, Admirinda
In world nis noon so witer,
semlokest of alle things, Merye sing,
Hire limb pullth true the string,
With lossum cheere heo mak the mark
And wunderliche heo mak the feaste,
that we mak merie with drinche and an meat
Sevant trewe, of wise virtue
Herkne to our roun, To Alle sweetness sae
That Lady Adminanda Howard be.
Ymende. þet þis boc is uolueld ine þe Hunt in þe Barony of Endewearde on þe day of Saint Comgan of Iona in ane Kenric Cyng and Avelina Quene of þe East, ine þe yeare of oure Society beringe 48.
MODERN ENGLISH
A
Pearl of goodness,
I speak of Admiranda, Muse of Aranmor
That all her excellence can tell
She so blithe, so bright, Admiranda
In the world is none so witty
Seemliest of all things, we merry sing
Her arm pulleth true the string
With lovely cheer she makes the mark
And wonderfully she makes the feast
That we make merry with drink and meat
Servant true, of wise virtue
Hark to our song,
To all sweetness see
That Lady Admiranda Howard be
And give her arms for her alone
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Let it be known that this work was fulfilled in the Hunt in the Barony of Endewearde on the day of Saint Comgan* of Iona by Kenric King and Avelina Queen of the East, in the year of the society 48.
Words based on the earliest English I could manage (a mix of 13th/14th c inspired by period lyric verses in praise of women, for example, “Alesone”) with a finishing phrase from the English translation by Michael of Northgate from 1340, from the French “Somme le Roi” to the English “Ayenbite of Inwyt” (or ‘the again-biting of inner wit’, Remorse (or Prick) of Conscience. 12th Century English is actually Anglo-Saxon, and it’s beyond my ability without major reading and research. I tried to read some and …it looks like I should be able to read it but I can’t. It made me feel like I was going sort of insane.
*October 13th is the feast day