Living

I have twelfé oxen that be faire and brown

by Anonymous (Middle English) c. 13th–16th century

From Early English Lyrics (1907)

Living

I have twelfé oxen that be faire and brown,
And they go a grasing down by the town.
With hey! with how! with hey!
Saweste not you mine oxen, you litill prety boy?

I have twelfé oxen, and they be faire and white,;
And they go a grasing down by the dyke.
With hey! with how! with hey!
Saweste not you mine oxen, you litill prety boy?

I have twelfé oxen, and they be faire and blak,
And they go a grasing down by the lak.
With hey! with how! with hey!
Saweste not you mine oxen, you litill prety boy?

I have twelfé oxen, and they be faire and rede,
And they go a grasing down by the mede.
With hey! with how! with hey!
Saweste not you mine oxen, you litill prety boy?

MLA

Anonymous (Middle English). “I have twelfé oxen that be faire and brown.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/72/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Middle English). “I have twelfé oxen that be faire and brown.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/72/.

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