Delkiow Sevi (A Cornish Song)

From Archaeologia Cornu-Britannica; or, an essay to preserve the Ancient Cornish Language (1790), edited by William Pryce, M.D. of Redruth, Cornwall.

A Cornish Song.

Pelea era why moaz, moz, fettow, teag,
Gen agaz bedgeth gwin, ha agaz blew mellyn ?
Mi a moaz tha'n venton, sarra wheag,
Rag delkiow sevi gwra muzi teag.

Pea ve moaz gen a why, moz, fettow, teag,
Gen agaz bedgeth gwin ha agaz blew mellyn ?
Greuh mena why, sarra wheag,
Rag Delkiow sevi grwa muzi teag.

Fatla gûra ve agaz gorra why en dowr,
Gen agaz, &c.
Me vedn sevel arta sarra wheage,
Rag, &c.

Fatla gûra ve agaz dry why gen flo,
Gen agaz bedgeth gwin, &c.
Me vedn ethone, sarra wheag,
Rag, &c.

Pew vedn a why gawas rag seera rag guz flo,
Gen agaz, &c.
Why ra boz e seera, sarra wheag,
Rag, &c.

Pen dre vedd a why geil rag lednow rag 'as flo,
Gen agaz pedn du, ha agaz blew mellen ?
E seera veath trehez, sarra wheag,
Rag delkiow sevi gwra muzi teag.

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Whither are you going pretty fair mad, said he,
With your white face, and your yellow hair ?
I am going to the well, sweet Sir, she said,
For strawberry leaves make maidens fair.

Shall I go with thee pretty fair maid, he said,
With your white face, and your yellow hair ?
Do if you will, sweet Sir, she said,
For strawberry leaves make maidens fair.

What if I do lay you down on the ground,
With your, &c.
I will rise up again, sweet Sir, she said,
For, &c.

What if I do bring you with child,
With your white face, &c.
I will bear it, sweet Sir, she said,
For, &c.

Who will you have for father for your child,
With your, &c.
You shall be his father, sweet Sir, she said,
For, &c.

What will you do for whittles for your child,
With your white face, and your yellow hair ?
His father shall be a taylor, sweet Sir, she said,
For strawberry leaves make maidens fair.

☞ This was the first Song that ever I heard in Cornwall ; it was sung at Carclew, in 1698, by one Chygwyn, brother-in-law to Mr. John Grose, of Penzance. — (TONKIN.)