Blow, Northern Wind Comments

Middle English lyrics are short poems, almost all anonymous, written in English during the 13th,14th and early 15th centuries. Their themes are generally love, nature or religious devotion.

1 Ichot: Ich wot, I know (of) . 1b burde: maiden. 1c boure bryht: bright bower. 2 fully semly... syht: very pleasing to sight. 3 menskful: worshipful. 4 feir: fair. 5 fonde: deal with. 6 wurhliche: worthy. 7 won: multitude. 8 y nuste: I knew not. 9 lussomore in londe: lovelier on earth. 10 suetyng: sweetling, sweetheart. 11 lefliche: lovely. 12 fonge: finger, take between hands. 13 murthes: mirths, joys. 14 mote heo monge: may she mingle. 15 brid: bird. 16 breme: glorious. 16b lossom: lovesome, lovely. 17 rode: the rood, the cross. 18 lure: face. 19 lumes: beams. 20 bleo: colour. 21 suetly swyre: darling neck. 22 hue, heo: she. 23 clannesse: cleanness, purity. 24 parvenke: periwinkle. 25 solsecle: sunflower. 25b lealté: loyalty. 26 carke: care, worry. 26b dare: am in dismay. 27 won: wan. 28 slake: lessen.