The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Poetry - 60. ...I long for you, my friend...

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Het Egidius-Lied

[vor Gillis Honin]

Egidius waer bestu bleven

Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn

Du coos die doot du liets mi tleven

Dat was gheselscap goet ende fijn

Het sceen teen moeste ghestorven sijn

Nu bestu in den troon verheven

Claerer dan der zonnen scijn

Alle vruecht es di ghegheven

Egidius waer bestu bleven

Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn

Du coos die doot du liets mi tleven

Nu bidt vor mi ic moet noch sneven

Ende in de weerelt liden pijn

Verware mijn stede di beneven

Ic moet noch zinghen een liedekijn

Nochtan moet emmer ghestorven sijn

Egidius waer bestu bleven

Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn

Du coos die doot du liets mi tleven

Dat was gheselscap goet ende fijn

Het sceen teen moeste ghestorven sijn

—Unknown (possibly [i]

Jan Moritoen), after 1385

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Lamento for Egidius

[for Gillis Honin]

Egidius, where have you gone?

I’m craving for you, my companion

You chose death, what have you done?

That was company, splendid and pure

It seemed we would die together

Now you have ascended to the throne

That is brighter than sunlight’s glare

All delight is now thy share

Egidius, where have you gone?

I yearn for you, my companion

You tasted death, what have I done?

Pray for me, this unhappy soul

Suffering the pains of the world

Safe my place until for me they call

I still have to sing a song

Yet my own dying day will come

Egidius, where have you gone?

I long for you, my friend

You chose death, I suffer till the end

That was company, splendid and pure

Why didn’t it endure?

—Unknown (possibly

Jan Moritoen), after 1385

[Georgie D'Hainaut]