Mirie it is while summer y-last
With fugheles son
Oc nu neheth windes blast
And weder strong.
Ei, ei! What this nicht is long
And ich with wel michel wrong
Soregh and murne and fast.
[Beginning of the 13th century]
.
Mirie – merry
y-last – lasts
fugheles – birds
son – sound, song
Oc – but
nu – now
neheth – neareth, draws closer
weder strong – fierce weather
What… long – Oh but how long
ich – I
wel michel – “well mickle,” very much
Soregh – sorrow, grieve
murne – mourn