Balade of the Litel Boxes

Chaucer, being dead, still speaketh.

If you aren’t following Chaucer Doth Tweet, you should be. A few moments ago, he shared his latest offering:

Balade of the Litel Boxes

Litel boxes on the hillsyde

Litel boxes made of buildinge stuffe

Litel boxes on the hillsyde

Litel boxes al alyke.

 

Ther a box vert, ther a box rose,

Ther a box blewe or a yellowe box,

Ech on ys ymaad of buildinge stuffe

And al of hem al alyke.

 

And the folke yn thos dwellinges

Al went to the universitee

Yn which thei were putte yn boxes

Litel boxes al alyke.

 

Lo physiciens, lo folke of lawe,

Lo businesse executyves

And thei al aren ymaad of buildinge stuffe

And thei al ben al alyke.

 

And thei al wacche roial joustinge

And thei drynke the fyne Rhenish wyne

And childer have thei fayre and good

And the childer goon to scole

 

And the childer go to somer campe

And than to the universitee

Wher thei y-putte be yn boxes

And thei al growe al alike

 

And sum of hem serche for ducats

And marrye and make a householde

Yn boxes ymaad of buildinge stuffe

And thei al are al alyke

 

Ther a box vert, ther a box rose,

Ther a box blewe or a yellowe box,

Ech on ys ymaad of buildinge stuffe

And al of hem al alyke.

~FIN~

Thys hath been Geoffrey Chauceres translacioun of the balade of the Litel Boxes