Home > Navigation > Text Groups > Tales > Humorous Tales > The Land of Cockaygne > Specimen

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.
þer is mani swete si3te;
Al is dai, nis þer no ni"te.
þer nis baret noþer strif,
Nis þer no deþ, ac euer lif;
þer nis lac of met no cloþ,
þer nis man no womman wroþ,
þer nis serpent, wolf ne fox,
Hors no capil, kowe no ox ...
(Land of Cockaygne Vv. 1-32)

Fur in see bi west Spayngne
Is a lond ihote Cokaygne.
þer nis lond vnder heuenriche
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;