From “Annot and John”
By Unknown
Ichot a burde in a bour ase beryl so bryht,
Ase saphyr in selver, semly on syht,
Ase jaspe the gentil that lemeth with lyht,
Ase gernet in golde, ant ruby wel ryht,
Ase onycle he ys, on yholden on hyht,
Ase diamaund the dere in day, when he is dyht.
He is coral ycud with cayser ant knyht;
Ase emeraude amorewen, this may haventh myth.
The myth of the margarite haveth this mai mere;
For charbocle Ich hire ches bi chyn ant by chere.
Hire rode is ase rose, that red is on rys;
With lilye-white leres, lossom he is;
The primerole he passeth, the peruenke of pris,
With alisaundre, thereto, ache, ant anys.
Coynte ase columbine, such hire cunde ys,
Glad under gore, in gro ant in grys.
He is blosome opon bleo, brihtest under bis,
With celydoyne ant sauge, ase thou thiself sys:
That syht upon that semly to blis he is broht!
He is solsecle, to sauve ys forsoht!
He is papejai in pyn, that beteth me my bale;
To trewe tortle in a tour, Y telle the mi tale;
He is thrustle thriven in thro, that singeth in sale,
The wilde laveroc, ant wolc, ant the wodewale;
He is faucoun in friht, dernest in dale,
Ant with everuch a gome, gladest in gale.
From Weye he is wisest into Wyrhale;
Hire nome is in a note of the nyhtegale,
In a note is hire nome. Nempneth hit non?
Whose ryht redeth, roune to Johon.
Notes:
Read the English-language translation, “John’s Knot,” and the translator’s note, both by Rachel Linn.
Source: Poetry (May 2023)