Manuscript Page London, British Library, MS Harley 913, f. 3r

The Land of Cokaygne (c.1330) (MS Harley 913, ff. 3r-6v)

Garden of Earthly Delight Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516)

Text Fur in see bi west Spayngne Is a lond ihote Cokaygne. þer nis lond vnd' heuen riche Of wel, of godnis, hit iliche. þo3 Paradis be miri and bri3t, Cokaygn is of fairir si3t. What is þer in Paradis Bot grasse and flure and grene ris? þo3 þer be ioi and gret dute, þer nis met bote frute; þer nis halle, bure, no bench, Bot watir manis þurst to quench. Beþ þer no men bot two Hely and Enok also; Elinglich mai hi go Whar þer woniþ men no mo. In Cokaigne is met and drink Wiþvte care, how, and swink; þe met is trie, þe drink is clere, To none, russin, and sopper. I sigge forsoþ, boute were, þer nis lond on erþe is pere; Vnder heuen nis lond, iwisse, Of so mochil ioi and blisse.

Translation Far in the sea to the west of Spain There is a land that we call Cokaygne; Under God's heaven no other land Such wealth and goodness has in hand Though paradise be merry and bright, Cokaygne is yet a fairer sight. For what is there in paradise But grass and flowers and green rice? Though there be joy and great delight, There is no food for the appetite; There is no hall, nor room, nor bench, Nothing but water man's thirst to quench. There are only two people there, Elijah and Enoch with him. Tediously are they able to lead their lives In a place where no other people dwell! In Cokayne there is food and drink Without care, anxiety and labor. The food is excellent, the drink is splendid, At dinner, snack time, and supper. I say in truth, without doubt, There is no land on earth its equal. Indeed, there is no land under heaven Which has so much joy and bliss.

Complete text and translation: http://www.thegoldendream.com/landofcokaygne.htm
About the poem: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~wpwt/trans/cockaygn/cockaygn.htm
Is there a Land of Cockaygne? http://www.languedoc-france.info/
About "Cockaygne": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockaigne
A 16th century Italian map of Cockaygne: http://utopia.nypl.org/I_sources_9b.html
Cockaygne - The Musical: http://www.thegoldendream.com/dream.htm
Recipe for "Fruit Cake Cockaygne": http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/recipex

A scholar, a peasant and a knight under a tree in the Land of Plenty.
(Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Land of Cockaygne; 1567)

Source: http://www.wga.hu/html/b/bruegel/pieter_e/painting/cockayne.html
About Pieter Bruegel the Elder: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Brueghel