Syx Mynet

From Tolkien Gateway

Syx Mynet is an Old English song by J.R.R. Tolkien, a translation of the English nursery rhyme I Love Sixpence, written around 1924.[1] It is published as the ninth song in Songs for the Philologists in 1936.

The manuscript of the poem was rendered in pen and ink, together with another Tolkien's poem La, Huru, on one leaf. The manuscript is kept in the Tolkien-Gordon Collection at the Library of the University of Leeds.[1]

The song[edit | edit source]

Syx Mynet

Syx mynet lufige ic,
Maðum mynelic,
Syx mynet lufige ic
        ofer selfe lif.
Heora anes ic ann,
Oþer sceal oþer mann
And feower habban freolic wif.

Feower mynet lufige ic,
Maðum mynelic,
Feower mynet lufige ic
        ofer selfe lif.
Heora anes ic ann,
Oþer sceal oþer mann
And twa sceal habban tornmod wif.

Twa mynet lufige ic,
Maðum mynelic,
Twa mynet lufige ic
        ofer selfe lif.
Heora anes ic ann,
Oþer sceal oþer mann
And nawiht habban nahtlic wif.

Nawiht lufige ic,
Maþum mynelic,
Nawiht lufige ic
        bet þanne ic min wif.
Þu nimest naht æt me,
naht nimeð swilce he —
La! næfde ic nawiht þurh min lif.

References