The Corpus Christi Carol (traditional)
He bore him into an orchard brown.
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
In that orchard there was a hall
That was hanged with purple and pall;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
And in that hall there was a bed:
It was hanged with gold so red;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
And in that bed there lies a knight,
His wounds bleeding day and night;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
By that bed's side there kneels a maid,
And she weeps both night and day;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
And by that bed’s side there stands a stone,
"The Body of Christ" written thereon.
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away.
This blog will be going white from now till Sunday (at least).
A excerpt is given in the English language breviary. I'd often used it without knowing that it was a condensed version of a longer poem;I suppose the repetitive parts don't serve the purpose of an opening hymn.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting! I actually never knew this poem was so popular and that so many modern renditions exist. I came across it in the Norton Anthology of Poetry many years ago and it leaped out me. It has a pleasantly eerie character.
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