The Mysterious Meaning of the Ballad: Maiden in the Moor Lay

One of the more haunting and mysterious ballads of the middle ages is the ballad of the Maiden in the Moor Lay.

The poem of the moor lady has only been preserved in one manuscript found in the Bodleian library in Oxford and tells the strange tale of something that can remind of a haunting of a maiden. The ballad was once set to a melody that are now forever lost along with the name of the author. Probably we will never know what the song is really about and who this lady can be. It is probably from the fourteenth century and this is the lyrics:

Old English

Maiden in the mor lay–
in the mor lay–
Seuenyst fulle, seuenist fulle.
Maiden in the mor lay–
in the mor lay–
Seuenistes fulle ant a day.

Welle was hire mete.
wat was hire mete?

The primerole ant the–
the primerole ant the–
Welle was hire mete.
Wat was hire mete?
The primerole ant the violet.

Welle was hire dring.
wat was hire dring?
The chelde water of the–
the chelde water of the–
Welle was hire dring.
Wat was hire dring?
The chelde water of the welle-spring.

Welle was hire bour.
wat was hire bour?
The rede rose an the–
The rede rose an the–
Welle was hire bour.
wat was hire bour?
The rede rose an the lilie flour.

English Translation

Maiden in the moor lay,
In the moor lay–
Seven nights full, seven nights full.
Maiden in the moor lay-

In the moor lay–
Seven nights full and a day.

Good was her meat.
What was her meat?
The primrose and the–
The primrose and the–
Good was her meat.
What was her meat?
The primrose and the violet.

Good was her drink.
What was her drink?
The chilled water of the–
The chilled water of the–
Good was her drink.

What was her drink?
The chilled water of the well spring.

Good was her bower.
What was her bower?
The red rose and the–
The red rose and the-
Good was her bower.
What was her bower?
The red rose and the lily flower.