Sir Orfeo: The Hermit's Visions and Music
Orfeo's Appearance and Solitude:
His hair and beard were described as black and "rowe" (rough), having grown unkempt to his "girdle-stede" (waist) over ten years or more.
He had hidden his harp, which was the source of all his "glee" (pleasure), in a hollow tree.
Orfeo's Harping and its Effects:
When the weather was clear and bright, Orfeo would retrieve his harp and play it "well right" (fittingly) according to his own will.
The sound of his harping would "shille" (resound) throughout the entire wood.
This melody had a profound effect on nature:
Wild beasts that were in the wood would gather "abouten him they teeth" (around him with joy).
All the birds present would come and sit "on each a brere" (on every briar/branch) to listen to his harping "afine" (to the end), indicating the immense melody it contained.
Conversely, "When he his harping lete wolde" (When he wished to leave off his harping), no beast would "abide nolde" (wish to stay) by him.
Visions from the Fairy World:
The King of Fairy's Hunt:
Orfeo would often see the King of Fairy "with his route" (with his company/retinue) come to hunt all around him "in the hote undertides" (in the hot mornings).
This company produced a great "dinne" (noise), "cry" (shouting), "blowing" (horn sounds), and had hounds barking with them.
However, they would "ne nome" (not take) any beast, and Orfeo "niste where they become" (never knew where they went).
A Great Host of Knights:
At other times, he would see "as a great host by him tee" (pass by him).
This host consisted of "ten hundred knightes" (one thousand knights), "well atourned" (well equipped), each "y-armed to his rightes" (armed appropriately).
They were of "countenance stout and fierce" (proud and intimidating appearance), carried "manye displayed banners" (many unfurled banners), and each "his sword ydrawe holde" (held his sword drawn).
Orfeo, again, "niste where they wolde" (never knew where they were going).
Dancing Knights and Ladies:
He also saw other things, such as knights and ladies coming "dancing" by.
They were in "quainte atire, degisely" (elegant/wonderful attire, disguised), moving with "Quainte pas and softely" (elegant and soft steps).
"Tabours and trumpes yede him by" (Drums and trumpets went by him), along with "all mannere minstralcy" (all kinds of minstrelsy).
Sixty Ladies Hawking:
On one particular day, he saw "Sixty ladies on horse ride" beside him.
They were described as "Gentle and jolif" (gentle and pretty/lively) "as bird on ris" (as a bird on a bough).
Significantly, there was "Not one man amongst them nis" (not one man among them).
Each lady "a falcon on hand beer" (carried a falcon on her hand), and they "riden on hawking by river" (rode hawking by the river).
They "funde well good haunt" (found plenty of good game), including "Mallards, heron, and cormorant."
As "The fouls of the water ariseth" (The fowls of the water arose), "The falcons them well deviseth" (The falcons pursued them well).