The Land of Cokaygne

1. Far in the sea to the west of Spain2. There is a land that we call Cokaygne;3. Under God's heaven no other land4. Such wealth and goodness has in hand5. Though paradise be merry and bright,6. Cokaygne is yet a fairer sight.7. For what is there in paradise8. But grass and flowers and green rice?9. Though there be joy and great delight,10. There is no food for the appetite;11. There is no hall, nor room, nor bench,12. Nothing but water man's thirst to quench.13. There are only two people there,14. Elijah and Enoch with him.15. Tediously are they able to lead their lives16. In a place where no other people dwell!17. In Cokayne there is food and drink18. Without care, anxiety and labor.19. The food is excellent, the drink is splendid,20. At dinner, snack time, and supper.21. I say in truth, without doubt,22. There is no land on earth its equal.23. Indeed, there is no land under heaven24. Which has so much joy and bliss.25. Many a pleasing sight is there;26. It is always day, there is no night.27. There is no conflict or strife;28. There is no death, but life forever;29. There is no lack of food or clothing;30. There no woman is angry at no man;31. There is no snake, wolf, or fox;32. No horse, cow or ox;33. There is no sheep, no swine, no goat;34. There is no dirt, God knows,35. Nor horse-breeding farm nor stud farm.36. The land is full of other goods.37. There is no fly nor flea, nor louse,38. In clothing, village, bed or house.39. There is no thunder, no hail,40. There is no vile worm nor snail,41. And no storm, rain nor wind.42. There no man nor woman is blind,43. But all is play, joy and mirth;44. Well is it for him who can be there!45. There are rivers great and fine46. Of oil, milk, honey and wine;47. Water there serves no purpose48. Except to be looked at and to wash with.49. There is all manner of fruit;50. All is amusement and delight.51. A very lovely abbey is there52. Of gray and white monks 7.53. There are private rooms and large halls;54. The walls are all of pies,55. Of meat, of fish, and rich food,56. The most pleasing that a person can eat.57. All the shingles are cakes made of flour,

58. On the church, the cloister, and the hall.59. The pegs 8 are fat sausages,60. Rich food fit for princes and kings.61. One cannot eat enough of them,62. And can eat justifiably, without blame.63. Everything is shared by young and old,64. By the proud and fierce, meek and bold.65. There the cloister is lovely and full of light,66. Spacious and long, of pleasant sight.67. All the pillars of that cloister68. Are made out of crystal,69. With their base and capital70. Of green jasper and red coral.71. In the cloister garden there is a tree72. Very pleasant to see.73. The root is ginger and galingale;74. The shoots are all setwall.75. The flowers are choice maces,76. The bark is cinnamon of sweet odor,77. The fruit are cloves of fine taste.78. There is no lack of cubebs.79. There are roses of red color80. And lilies pleasant to see.81. They never wither by day or night;82. This has to be a sweet sight!83. There are four springs in the abbey,84. Of ointment and healing potion,85. Of balm and spiced, sweet wine,86. Always flowing to true profit,87. They drench all the soil there,88. Precious stones and gold.89. There is sapphire and pearl,90. Carbuncle and aster 9, 91. Emerald, ligure, and prasine,92. Beryl, onyx, topaz,93. Amethyst and chrysolite,94. Chalcedony and hepatite. 1095. There are many and plentiful birds: 96. Song thrush, thrush, nightingale,97. Lark and golden oriole98. And other birds without number99. Which never, in keeping with their power, stop100. Singing merrily day and night.101. I'll cause you to know still more:102. The geese roasted on the spit103. Fly to that abbey, God knows,104. And cry out: "Geese, all hot, all hot!"105. They bring along plenty of garlic,106. The best prepared that one can see.107. The larks -- this is well known –108. Land in a person's mouth,109. Having been very well prepared in the stewpot,110. Powdered with cloves and cinnamon.111. Nothing is said about drink,112. Just take plenty, with no trouble.113. When the monks go to Mass114. All the windows which are of glass115. Turn into bright crystal116. To give the monks more light.117. When the Mass has been said

118. And the books put away,119. The crystal turns [back] into glass,120. The state in which it was before.121. Each day the young monks122. Go out to play after dinner.123. There is no hawk or bird so swift124. That flies better through the air125. Than the monks, high spirited,126. With their sleeves and their hoods.127. When the abbot sees them fly,128. He considers it a great joy;129. But nevertheless, all the same,130. He commands them to land for evensong 11.131. The monks do not land,132. But fly further, in a rush.133. When the abbot sees for himself134. That his monks fly away from him,135. He takes a maiden of the company136. And turns up her white behind137. And beats the small drums with his hand138. To make the monks alight on land.139. When his monks see [him do] that,140. They fly down to the maid141. And go all around the wench142. And pat all her white behind143. And then, after their labor,144. Go meekly home to drink145. and go to their collation 12,146. A very lovely procession!147. There is another abbey nearby,148. In truth, a lovely, large nunnery,149. Up a river of sweet milk,150. Where there is a great quantity of silk.151. When the summer day is hot,152. The young nuns take a boat153. And betake themselves onto that river,154. With both oars and rudder.155. When they are far from the abbey,156. They take off their clothes in order to play157. And they leap down into the water158. And skillfully set about swimming.159. The young monks, who see them,160. They get themselves up and hasten out161. And come to the nuns quickly,162. And each monk takes one for himself,163. And they quickly carry off their prey164. To the great gray abbey165. And teach the nuns a prayer166. With "raised leg" 13 up and down.167. The monk who wants to be a good stallion168. And who knows how to wear his cowl properly,169. He shall have, without objection,170. Twelve wives each year,171. All through right and not through privilege,172. To amuse himself with.173. And the monk who sleeps best174. And gives his body entirely over to rest,175. For him there is hope, God knows,176. To quickly become father Abbot.177. Whoever wants to come to that land

178. Must do a very great penance:179. Seven years in swine's dung180. He must wade, well may you understand,181. All the way up to his chin,182. So he can deserve this land.183. Gentlemen good and courteous,184. May you never depart from this world185. Until you hazard your luck186. And try that penance,187. So that you can see that land188. And never more return from it.189. Let us pray God that it may be so,190. Amen, pur Seint Charitée.

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