I NEVER SAW SO RED A MOUTH

In a previous post I made mention of the mediaeval dukes of Brabant.

The most famous of which is Duke John of Brabant, 1254 - 1294. A great warrior, statesman, and, above all, courtly poet. A very accomplished gentleman all round. The school I attended was named after him, and the town where I grew up is particularly associated with him.

[He's also one of my ancestors, but that is no particular distinction - several million fellow-Americans can validly say the same.]


For your enjoyment, here's a poem written by him.


Ic sach noyt so roden mont

Ic sach noyt so roden mont
--I never saw so red a mouth--
Noch oec so minlike oegen,
--Nor such adorable eyes--
Als si heeft, die mi heeft gewont
--As she has, who has wounded me--
Al in dat herte dogen.
--In the depths of my heart.

Doch leve ic in hogen
--But yet I live on high--
Ende hope des loen ontfaen:
--And hope to receive reward--
Geeft si mi qualen dogen
--If she lets me suffer so,
Si mach mis beteren saen.
--She can also make me better.

Lief, mi hevet u minne
--Love, I have you dear,
So vriendelike bevaen,
--So amicably founded--
Dat ic u met sinne
--That I, with all capabilities--
Moete wese onderdaen.
--Must be your subject.


Mi es wale, als ic mach syn
--It is well with me if I may be--
Bi min're scone vrouwen,
--By my beautious lady--
Ende ic danne haer claer anscyn
--And I then, her clear panim--
Ende haer gelaet mach scouwen.
--And her visage may enjoy.

God verde si van rouwen!
--God ware her from rueing!
Si es so wale gedaen,
--She is so well favoured--
Dat ic haer bi trouwen
--That I loyally--
Moete tallen dienste staen.
--Must do much for her.

Lief, mi hevet u minne
--Love, I have you dear,
So vriendelike bevaen,
--So amicably founded--
Dat ic u met sinne
--That I, with all capabilities--
Moete wese onderdaen.
--Must be your subject.


Notes on orthography: The double vowels look harder than they are. Ae is a long A, ie is like ee in English, oe is pronounced like o in English. In modern Dutch they are written aa, ie, and oo respectively. The double E is similar to ay in English, the Y is the ey in hey.

One peculiarity of which you must be especially observant is that single vowels followed by a single consonant which is followed by a vowel are pronounced like the double vowels, but if in front of double consonants OR an ending consonant are short: ah, ih, eh, oh, etcetera.

The C is pronounced like a K (well, it didn't used to be - but it is best to think of it as a K).

The CH is like in German or transcribed Yiddish - a northerner would pronounce it like he's retching out his guts XKHGGXHXKHXXCCCCHH!, but a civilized person, such as Brabander, Limburger, or Fleming, would give it a soft Hhhhhhh sound. If you speak Yiddish, pronounce it like you normally would.