Lyrics (15th Century English)

Translation



In Aprell and in May,

In the months of April and May



When hartes be all mery,

When all hearts are merry,



Besse Bunting, the millaris may,

Bessie Bunting, the miller's girl,



Withe lippes so red as chery,

With lips red as cherries -



She cast in hir remembrance

She recalls to mind



To passe hir time in daliance

She should spend her time in love-making



And to leve hir thought driery.

And leave dreary thoughts behind her.



Right womanly arayd

In her maidenly dress,



In a peticote of whit,

In a petticoat white,



She was nothing dismayd -

Nothing dismayed her:



Hir countenance was full light.

Her countenance was light.