Medieval Lyric is a colourful collection of lyrical poems, carols, and traditional British ballads written between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, together with some twentieth-century American versions of them. A lively and engaging collection of lyrical poems, carols, and traditional British ballads written in between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, together with some twentieth-century American versions of them. Introduces readers to the rich variety of Middle English poetry. Presents poems of mourning and of celebration, poems dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and to Christ, poems inviting or disparaging love, poems about sex, and more. Reader-friendly - uses modernized letter forms, punctuation and capitalization, and side glosses explaining difficult words. Opens with a substantial introduction by the editor to the medieval lyric as a genre, and features short introductions to each section and poem. Also includes an annotated bibliography, glossary, index of first lines, and list of manuscripts cited.

Medieval Lyric is a colourful collection of lyrical poems, carols, and traditional British ballads written between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, together with some twentieth-century American versions of them.* A lively and engaging collection of lyrical poems, carols, and traditional British ballads written in between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, together with some twentieth-century American versions of them.* Introduces readers to the rich variety of Middle English poetry.* Presents poems of mourning and of celebration, poems dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and to Christ, poems inviting or disparaging love, poems about sex, and more.* Reader-friendly - uses modernized letter forms, punctuation and capitalization, and side glosses explaining difficult words.* Opens with a substantial introduction by the editor to the medieval lyric as a genre, and features short introductions to each section and poem.* Also includes an annotated bibliography, glossary, index of first lines, and list of manuscripts cited.

List of Illustrations.Preface.List of Abbreviations.Introduction.I. Poems of Mourning, Fear, and Apprehension.1 O Glorius God, redemer of mankynde.2 Mirie it is while sumer i-last.3 Now goth sonne vnder wod.4 If man him bithocte.5 Wen the turuf is thy tuur.6 As I went in a mery mornyng.7 Thegh thou habbe casteles and toures.II. Poems of Joy and Celebration.8 Svmer is i-cumen in.9 Adam lay i-bowndyn.10 My gostly fadir, Y me confesse.11 Lett no man cum into this hall.12 Witte hath wondir that resoun ne telle kan.III. Poems Inscribed to the Blessed Virgin.13 I syng of a mayden.14 Of on that is so fayr and brigt.15 Haill, Quene of Hevin and Steren of Blis.16 I saw a fayr mayden.IV. Poems of Narrative Reflection.17 In the vaile of restles mynd.18 Alas, alas, and alas, why.19 I wolde witen of sum wys wiht.V. Poems Whose Meanings Are Hidden (but Not NecessarilyUnknown).20 Maiden in the mor lay.21 Foweles in the frith.22 Ich am of Irlaunde.23 I seche a youthe that eldyth noght.24 He bare hym vp, he bare hym down.VI. Poems about Christ's Life and Passion.25 A child is boren amonges man.26 Al other loue is lych the mone.27 Wose seye on rode.28 O man vnkynde.29 Ihesu, my spowse good and trewe.30 Causa materialis huius rubricacionis est.VII. Poems Inviting or Disparaging Love.31 Bytuene Mersh and Aueril.32 Goe, lytyll byll, and doe me recommende.33 I haue a yong suster.34 Goo, lyttell ryng, to that ylke suehte.35 Vnto you, most froward, this lettre I write.36 O fresch floure, most plesant of pryse.VIII. Poems about Sex.37 Westron wynde, when wyll thow blow.38 Al nist by the rose, Rose.39 I haue a gentil cok.40 Ladd Y the daunce.IX. Ballads.41 Sir Patrick Spens.Patrick Spencer (American version).42 Bonnie Barbara Allan.Barbara Allen (American version).43 Lord Randal.Jimmy Randal (American version).44 The Unquiet Grave.The Wind Blew Up, the Wind Blew Down (American version).45 The Three Ravens.Willie McGee McGaw (American version).X. Carols.46 Go day, Syre Cristemas, our kyng.47 I shall you tell a gret mervayll.48 Off seruyng men I wyll begyne.49 Owre kynge went forth to Normandy.50 As the holly grouth grene.Appendix A. Some Lyrics of Geoffrey Chaucer.A1 Truth.A2 The Complaint of Chaucer to his Purse.A3 To Rosamounde.A4 Lak of Stedfastnesse.A5 Embedded Lyric A.A6 Embedded Lyric B.A7 To Adam, My Scribe.Appendix B. Poems of William Hereberet, Richard Rolle, andJohn Audelay.B1 Alma Redemptoris Mater (Holy Moder, that bere Cryst).B2 Jesus Our Ransom (Iesu our raunsoun).Richard Rolle.B3 A Song of Love-Longing to Jesus (Ihesu, God sone, Lord ofMageste).B4 A Prose Lyric: Spiritual Joy in Jesus (Gastly gladnes inIhesu).B5 Embedded Lyric A (Ihesu, be thou my ioy).B6 Embedded Lyric B (A, Lord, kyng of myght).B7 Embedded Lyric C (To loue the).John Audelay.B8 Of the Love of God (I haue a loue is heuen kyng).B9 Of Our King, Henry VI (A! Pereles Pryns to the we pray).Appendix C. Three Poems from the Findern Anthology.C1 Where Y haue chosyn, stedefast woll Y be.C2 Whatso men seyn.C3 Continvaunce.Glossary.A Short Bibliography of the Middle English Lyric.First Line Index.Manuscript Index.