Translation Help: Middle English

[Lux Vera]

I came across a 15th century Eucharistic prayer in Middle English that I would like to translate into a more literal+thought-for-thought, modern English translation. I am no expert on translating Middle English and I'm doing this more for my own private, devotional use.

I've come across some words or sentences that I haven't been able to really understand or find their definitions online (I have bolded the ones I need help with).


Ihesu Lord, welcome thow be,
In forme of bred as I the se;
Ihesu! for thy holy name,
Schelde me to day fro synne & schame.
Schryfte & howsele, Lord, thou graunte me bo,
Er that I schale hennes go,
And verre contrycyone of my synne,
That I Lord never dye there-Inne,
And as thow of a may I-bore,
Sofere me never to be for-lore,
But whenne that I schale hennes wende,
Grawnte me the blysse wyth-owten end. Amen.


1. I the se= as the eye does see(?); as I see(?)
2. Schryfte= ?
3. Howsele= "housel" (the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread) (?); sele= happiness/good fortune or seal (as on a document) (?)
4. Bo = Middle English "boo" (imitative, exclamation)?
5. Verre= "Hear"? But could also mean "glass" (which doesn't make sense to me in this case)
6. May I-bore= ?
7. Sofere = "So for" (?)
8. Whenne = "when" or "whence" (?)
9. Wende = "Turn," "direct," "change" (?)
10. Wyth-owten = "Without" (?)

The definitions are just either what I've found online or have tried to figure out myself. Some of these have me completely stumped.

Can anyone help me with this? I would appreciate it.

[Jackson Richardson]

Schryte means making confession. Howsele means receiving communion - the two things to do before death. Bo is both.

Verre is probably very. At a guess, May i-bore means born of a virgin, ie Mary.

Wende is to travel or move (or turn etc.)

Wythowten end is without end.

I thee see - as I see thee.

Its quite easy to get the hang of Middle English with experience as the Wife of Bath might say.

[OrphanPip]

I came across a 15th century Eucharistic prayer in Middle English that I would like to translate into a more literal+thought-for-thought, modern English translation. I am no expert on translating Middle English and I'm doing this more for my own private, devotional use.

I've come across some words or sentences that I haven't been able to really understand or find their definitions online (I have bolded the ones I need help with).


Ihesu Lord, welcome thow be,
In forme of bred as I the se;
Ihesu! for thy holy name,
Schelde me to day fro synne & schame.
Schryfte & howsele, Lord, thou graunte me bo,
Er that I schale hennes go,
And verre contrycyone of my synne,
That I Lord never dye there-Inne,
And as thow of a may I-bore,
Sofere me never to be for-lore,
But whenne that I schale hennes wende,
Grawnte me the blysse wyth-owten end. Amen.


1. I the se= as the eye does see(?); as I see(?)
2. Schryfte= ?
3. Howsele= "housel" (the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread) (?); sele= happiness/good fortune or seal (as on a document) (?)
4. Bo = Middle English "boo" (imitative, exclamation)?
5. Verre= "Hear"? But could also mean "glass" (which doesn't make sense to me in this case)
6. May I-bore= ?
7. Sofere = "So for" (?)
8. Whenne = "when" or "whence" (?)
9. Wende = "Turn," "direct," "change" (?)
10. Wyth-owten = "Without" (?)

The definitions are just either what I've found online or have tried to figure out myself. Some of these have me completely stumped.

Can anyone help me with this? I would appreciate it.

Hello Lux, my expertise is eighteenth century fiction so this is outside of my area. However, I think I can help a little.

I the se: I think is "I thee see". A poetic form of I see thee. A formal form of I see you.

A glossary I have lists Schryfte as confession. Given the context I think your first deduction of housel meaning the eucharist is accurate.

My guess for Bo is it's some regional variant of boon, meaning blessing. So through confession and the eucharist the speaker gains God's blessing.

Verre here I think is an alternate spelling of "verray" meaning true. Verray contrycyone pops up as a phrase in a few middle English religious texts I found online.

May I-Bore is strange syntax, but I think he's saying to Jesus "thow can carry me."

Sofere is suffer.

Whenne is when.

Wende is form of the verb go.

Ya bliss without end. ie. heaven.

The little prayer seems to be about taking the eucharist and then going out into the world in true contrition and faith in God so that He may grant him eternal bliss in the afterlife.

Edit: A both, it's so obvious now. The possibility of May I-bore being a reference to Mary is logical as well, I couldn't find any reference or other usages of the phrase.

[prendrelemick]

Could Schryfte be a forerunner of Shrive? ie. hear my confession and forgive me.

Could bo mean both? it would fit in the context.

Verre could simply be very. Or aver both would fit at a pinch.

Edit: I see I'm a bit late.

[Lux Vera]

Thanks for everyone's help!


Here's my poor attempt at a modern English rendition:

Lord Jesus Christ, welcome You be!
In the form of bread, You I do see.
Lord Jesus Christ, with Your Holy Name,
Shield me today from my sins and shame.
Confession and the Holy Eucharist, Lord, You grant me both.
Before that, I shall go;
And with sincere contrition of my sins,
That I, Lord, will never die therein.
As You have born
Me, suffer me to never be forlorn.
But when I shall go,
Grant me the joys of heaven with infinite glow.

[mona amon]

"Er that I schale hennes go, " - You have translated it as "before that, I shall go." I think it is more like "before I shall go from here" ( before I depart this life).

"And as thow of a may I-bore,
Sofere me never to be for-lore,
But whenne that I schale hennes wende,
Grawnte me the blysse wyth-owten end. Amen"

And as you are of a maiden born (Thanks, JR)
suffer me never to be forlorn,
but when I shall depart from hence,
Grant me eternal bliss. Amen

[Jackson Richardson]

Wende gives the modern word "wander" I guess.

[Jackson Richardson]

The anthology of medieval verse I know is Medieval English Lyrics edited by R T Davies, published Faber, which is still in print. It gives the poem in a slightly different version, but confirms my guess about the reference to Mary. Anyone wanting to know more of this genre of poetry would be well advised to have a look.

If Lux Vera wants to recite the poem devotionally, s/he could well do so in the original now they know what it means. Just remember to sound every letter.

The background of late medieval English devotion is covered in some detail in Eamonn Duffy’s The Stripping of the Altars.

[Jackson Richardson]

Thanks for everyone's help!

You're welcome! You've inspired me to dig out my copy of Davies.

Strictly speaking "shrive" is to give absolution rather than make confession - it is the priest pronouncing pardon after the sin has been confessed.

[Lux Vera]

Can anyone explain to me what the "y-" prefix means in Middle English? I know I've come across it when reading Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales:"

"Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle."

or

"Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with bras."

[OrphanPip]

It's a hold over from Old English used for verbs in the passive tense.

[Lux Vera]

Here's a different (improved?) translation, taking into mind some of the corrections others made:

Lord Jesus Christ, welcome You be!
In the form of bread, You I do see.
Lord Jesus Christ, with Your Holy Name,
Shield me today from my sins and shame.
Absolution and the Holy Eucharist, Lord, You grant me both.
Before I shall go from here;
And with sincere contrition of my sins,
That I, Lord, will never die therein.
And as you are of a maiden born,
Suffer me to never be forlorn.
But when I shall go,
Grant me the joys of heaven with infinite glow.