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A wayle whyt ase whalles bon

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A wayle whyt ase whalles bon
Text contains the second part of Most I ryden by Rybbesdale, and the start of A wayle whyt as whalles bon
Writtenlate-13th or early-14th century
LanguageMiddle English

"A wayle whyt ase whalles bon" ('A beauty white as whale's bone'), also titled after the opening of its refrain "Ich wolde ich were a threstelcok" ('I wish I were a throstle-cock'), is an anonymous late-13th or early-14th century Middle English lyric poem.[1] The text forms part of the collection known as the Harley Lyrics (MS. Harley 2253, f. 67r).[1]

Summary

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The persona praises, and carnally desires, a beautiful woman (wayle; lit.'selection' or 'preference') who is very white (as 'whale's bone').

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Fein, ed. 2014.

Sources

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  • Fein, Susanna Greer, ed. (2014). "Art. 36, A wayle whyt ase whalles bon: Introduction". The Complete Harley 2253 Manuscript. TEAMS Middle English Texts. Vol. 2 (online ed.). Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute Publications.

Further reading

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