"When the Nightingale Sings" is a Middle English poem by an unknown author, from the British Library's Harley 2253 manuscript.

Notice the way the poet puns on the multiple meanings of several words, for example "lemmon" (to burn, beloved), "ore" (grace, over), "mihte" (can, might). Middle English was a language in a great state of flux, and the poet takes full advantage. Thus we also see multiple forms of words, such as "think," "pray," and "I," that have since been reduced to single forms.

Try deciphering the poem in the original Middle English first. If you get stuck, slide your mouse over the hardlinks to see my translations. Enjoy!

When že nyhtegale singes že wodes waxen grene.
Lef ant gras ant blosme springes in aueryl y wene,
Ant love is to myn herte gon wiž one spere so kene
Nyht ant day my blod hit drynkes myn herte dež me tene.

Ich have loved al žis er žat y may love namore,
Ich have siked moni syk lemmon for žin ore.
Me nis love never že ner ant žat me rewež sore.
Suete lemmon žench on me--ich have loved že ore.

Suete lemmon y preye že of love one speche,
Whil y lyve in world so wyde ožer nulle y seche.
Wiž žy love my suete leof mi blis žou mihtes eche,
A suete cos of žy mouž mihte be my leche.

Suete lemmon y pre3e že of a love bene
3ef žou me lovest ase men says lemmon as y wene,
Ant 3ef hit ži wille be žou loke žat hit be sene,
So muchel y ženke upon že žat al y waxe grene.

Bituene Lyncolne ant Lyndeseye, Norhamptoun ant Lounde,
Ne wot y non so fayr a may as y go fore ybounde.
Suete lemmon ypre3e že žou lovie me a stounde!
Y wole mone my song
On wham žat hit ys on ylong.

- MS Harley 2253, British Library, Verse 25.