The Star
I am going wild about [a girl] the colour of foam,
God knows everyone's thoughts.
If I should go because of love for her,
4 my lovely darling, to her region,
I have no intention of sending in my place
an expensive love messenger to her house yonder,
nor of paying a fierce grey-headed old woman
8 (licentious job) to act as a bawd,
nor of carrying lanterns before me,
nor wax torches, when it is late,
instead of sleeping at home by day
12 and roaming around the town at night.
No one will see me, nor recognise me,
I am mad, until it is day.
Lest I should get lost on my own tonight
16 I will get without hindrance
the candles of the Man who owns the world
to lead me to a jewel of fair countenance.
Blessed be the name of the Lord Creator
20 who made the craftmanship of the stars,
so that there is nothing brighter
than the round pure-white little star.
Sun of the high heavens,
24 it is a clear-minded candle.
The candle's countenance will not disappear,
and it cannot be stolen by deceit.
The wind of autumn's course will not extinguish it,
28 consecrated wafer from the height of heaven.
Water will not drown it, wet torrents,
watcher, feast-dish of the saints.
No thief can reach it with his hands,
32 base of the Trinity's bowl yonder.
It is no use for a man from his place
to hunt Mary's pearl.
It is bright in every region,
36 a coin of yellow burnished gold.
True buckler of light,
sun's form, it is a dew-drop of the sky.
It will show me without concealment,
40 proud golden jewel, where Morfudd is.
Christ will extinguish it from where it is
and send it, it will not be short,
shape of a lovely whole white loaf,
44 to sleep in the sky's shade.