Translations of the vocal pieces from Honey from the Thorn, with track numbers indicated.


2. Salve Virgo

Hail, virgin of virgins, mother of the Father Hail, light of lights, ray of brightness Hail, lily of the valley, drop of the true dew Our hope is in you.

Hail, royal virgin, portal of salvation Not knowing any real man, because it is God That you bring into the world Hail, because you are fruitful with the divine offspring Our hope is in you.

Hail, goal of our hope and salvation Hail to you, through whom the guilty and saved rejoice Hail, ornament of beauty and wholesomeness Our hope is in you.


3. Three Songs of St. Godric

I. Sainte Marie viergene

St. Mary the virgin, mother of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, receive, shield, help your Godric; when received, bring him honorably with you into God's kingdom.

St. Mary, Christ's bed-chamber (virginal purity, flower of mothers), blot out my sin, rule in my spirit, bring me to bliss with the true God.

II. Crist and Sainte Marie

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

Christ and St. Mary thus brought me to the altar table, so that I should not tread on this earth with my bare feet.

III. Sainte Nicholas, Godes druth

St. Nicholas, God's darling, graciously prepare for us beautiful dwellings. By the merits of your birth, by the merits of your bier, St. Nicholas, bring us safely there.


6. Worldes blis

Worldly bliss does not last for a moment; it goes and passes away presently. The longer I know it, the less value I find in it, for it is all mingled with care, with sorrows and ill success. And at the last, it leaves man poor and naked when it departs. All the bliss which is here and there, amounts in the end to weeping and grief.

All the bliss of this life, man, you shall bring to an end in weeping, (those) of house and home, of child and wife. Oh miserable man, take heed of this! For you shall leave here all the property of which you were lord. When you lie, man, on the bier, and sleep that very dreadful sleep, you will have no companion with you but your piled-up deeds.

Man, why do you set mind and heart in worldly bliss that does not last? Why do you allow that you should so often grieve for things that are transitory? You lick honey from a thorn, indeed, who set your love on worldly bliss, for it is full of bitterness. You may well be greatly terrified who mis-spend wealth here, thereby to be cast into hell.

No good deed will be unrequited, and no evil deed will not be paid for. When you lie man, under the earth, you will get what you have earned. Consider well, therefore, I advise you, and cleanse yourself of each misdeed, so that He may help you in your need, who has so dearly redeemed you, and may lead you to the bliss of heaven, which ever lasts and does not fail.

8. Sancta mater gracie / Dou way, Robin

Duplum

Holy mother of grace, star of brightness, visit us today, full of compassion.

Come soon, channel of pardon, to those in prison, as a solace of misery, a source of sweetness.

Remember, mother of Christ, how bitterly you did weep, you did stand beside the cross sighing at the sad site.

Oh Mary, royal flower, among all women nonesuch, in your son unequalled, forgive the sins of our flesh.

Oh with how humble a heart you did speak when you did receive the words of Gabriel the messenger.

"Behold the handmaid of the lord," you quickly said; thereafter, you bore the spring-time of living joy.

Rejoice worthy lady, so gracious, in the throne of heaven. Restore your children, brought low by vice, to the Son.

Tenore

Stop it Robin, the child will weep; stop it Robin.


10. Brid one Brere

Bird on a briar, bright bird on a tree, Nature has come to beg for love from (the god of) Love, "Gracious lady, on me, on me have pity, or prepare, beloved, prepare for me my grave."

I am happy as a bright bird on a briar when I see that gracious one, most gracious in hall. She is white of limb, of limb and face. She is fair, and the flower, the flower of all.

If I could have her, have her at will, steadfast in love, lovely, true (from my sorrow, she can, she can cure me), joy and bliss would be ever, be ever renewed.


12. Miri it is

Merry it is while summer lasts, with the song of birds, but now draws near the wind's blast and harsh weather. Alas, alas! How long this night is! And I, most unjustly, sorrow and mourn and fast.


13. Maiden moder milde


Maiden mother gentle, hear this prayer
Shield me from shame, and from the evil villain
For love of your child, lead me from wrong-doing
I was mad and wild, now I am in prison.

You are fair and noble, and full of gentleness
Of you sprung the noble person, the sovereign Creator
Maid, I beseech you, your holy aid
Meek and mild, be with me, for his love.

Though Judas found Jesus, then kissed him
He was beaten and bound, (he) who made us all
Great were his wounds, which the Jews gave him
He endured suffering, but little did it grieve him.

On the place as you stood, virgin, quite sorrowful
You rested under the cross, and saw your son hanging
You saw his bloody sides, the soul departing from him
He caused fear in every living creature, who was living in the world.

His sides were wounded, the blood ran from him
That land was ruined, but he redeemed it
(He redeemed) each man that was born, (He) descended to hell
He conquered death, therefore, to heaven then ascended.

Though Pilate heard the news, he was a happy nobleman
He commanded before him to bring, Jesus of Nazareth
He was crowned king, for our redemption
Whoever sings this poem, will have great pardon.


15. Maiden in the mor lay

A maid slept in the moor for fully a week and a day.

Well was her food. Well, what was her food? The primrose and the violet.

Well was her drink. Well, what was her drink? The cold water of the well-spring.

Well was her bed. Well, what was her bed? The red rose and the lily flower.


17. With longing I am lad

With longing I am afflicted
On earth I wax mad
A maid injures me
I cry out, I groan, not glad
For seldom I am sated
That fair one for to see
Lady, pity me
You have brought me sorrow
Be the remedy of that I ask
My life is caused by you

Lady of all the land
Loosen me out of this bond
Brought I am in woe
Bring about peace
And send me your message
Quickly, before you slay me.
I am restless as a roebuck
Though men have enmity toward me
I will not hesitate to love
Nor will I refrain because of any of them

Lady with all my might
My love is settled on you
To reverence when I may
You lead and guide me right
To death you have condemned me
I die long before my day
Believe you in my song
I have promised you in truth
To do what I have promised
While my life may last

Lily-white she is
Her complexion like a rose on a branch
That robs me of my rest
Woman, cautious and wise
Of splendor, she is most prominent
Maiden, one of the best
This woman dwells in the west
Brightest under fine linen
Heaven I consider his
That one night were her guest


20. Whanne mine eyhnen misten

When my eyes become dim
And my ears stop up
And my nose becomes cold
And my tongue folds
And my complexion impairs
And my lips blacken
And my mouth grimaces
And my spittle runs
And my hair falls out
And my heart trembles
And my hands shake
And my feet become rigid
All too late, all too late
When the bier as at the gate


Then shall I flit
From bed to floor
From floor to shroud
From shroud to bier
From bier to the pit
And the pit will be shut up
Then (when) my house lies upon my nose
For all this world, I do not give a pea.



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