LL-L "Seasonal" 2005.12.20 (06) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
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20 December 2005 * Volume 06
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Seasonal

Dear Lowlanders,

The holidays are almost upon us. Before we all get too busy and get 
scattered to the winds, here are my season's greeting to you all: Merry 
Christmas, Chanukka and New Year!

Also, beginning tomorrow, happy winter to those of you in the north, and 
happy summer to the rest!

Enjoy and be safe, whatever you do!
Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***


   WINTER: A DIRGE

   (Scottish, Traditional)

   The wintry west extends his blast,
      And hail and rain does blaw;
   Or the stormy north sends driving forth
      The blinding sleet and snaw:
   Wild-tumbling brown, the burn comes down,
      And roars frae bank to brae:
   And bird and beast in covert rest,
      And pass the heartless day.

   The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast,
      The joyless winter day
   Let others fear, to me more dear
      Than all the pride of May:
   The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul,
      My griefs it seems to join;
   The leafless trees my fancy please,
      Their fate resembles mine!

   Thou Pow'r Supreme, whose mighty scheme
      These woes of mine fulfil.
   Here, firm I rest, they must be best,
      Because they are Thy will!
   Then all I want (O do Thou grant
      This one request of mine!):
   Since to enjoy Thou dost deny,
      Assist me to resign.

***

   THE BRAES O' GLENIFFER

   (Scots, Robert Tannahill, 1774-1810)

   Keen blaws the wind o'er the Braes o' Gleniffer.
   The auld castle's turrets are cover'd wi' snaw;
   How chang'd frae the time when I met wi' my lover
   Amang the broom bushes by Stanley green shaw:
   The wild flow'rs o' simmer were spread a' sae bonnie,
   The mavis sang sweet frae the green birken tree:
   But far to the camp they hae march'd my dear Johnnie,
   And now it is winter wi' nature and me.

   Then ilk thing around us was blithesome and cheery,
   Then ilk thing around us was bonny and braw;
   Now naething is heard but the wind whistling dreary,
   And naething is seen but the wide-spreading snaw.
   The trees are a' bare, and the birds mute and dowie,
   They shake the cauld drift frae their wings as they flee,
   And chirp out their plaints, seeming wae for my Johnnie,-- 
   'Tis winter wi' them, and 'tis winter wi' me.

   Yon cauld sleety cloud skiffs alang the bleak mountain,
   And shakes the dark firs on the stey rocky brae,
   While down the deep glen bawls the snaw-flooded fountain,
   That murmur'd sae sweet to my laddie and me.
   'Tis no its loud roar on the wintry wind swellin',
   'Tis no the cauld blast brings the tears i' my e'e,
   For, O gin I saw but my bonny Scotch callan,
   The dark days o' winter were simmer to me!
   ***
      Meaning of unusual words:
      brae=hillside
      mavis=song thrush
      birken=birch
      ilk=every
      dowie=sad, mournful
      skiffs=blow over
      gin=if
      callan=lad

***

   NOWELL

   (Late Middle English ~ Early Modern English, Tudor)

             Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell
             Who ys there that syngith so nowell, nowell?

   1. I am here, syre cristsmasse;
       Well come, my lord sr cristsmasse,
       Welcome to all vs all both more and lasse,

             Com ner, nowell.

   2. Dievs wous garde, brewe srs, tydÿgs y zow bryng,
       A mayde hath born a chylde full zong,
       The weche causeth zew for to synge,

             Nowell.

   3. Criste is now born of a pure mayde,
       In an oxe stalle he ys layde,
       Wher'for syng we all atte abrayde,

             Nowell.

   4. Bevvex bien par tuttle la company,
       Make gode chere and be ryght mery,
       And syng wt vs now ioyfully,

             Nowell.

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