Alba (10th century)

One of my favourite poems, translated from the original Latin and 'Romance' (the refrain is in a Romance vernacular, either a northern Italian dialect or Provençal) by Helen Waddell.

Hyperion's clear star is not yet risen,
Dawn brings a tenuous light across the earth
The watcher to the sleeper cries, "Arise!"

Dawn over the dark sea brings on the sun;
She leans across the hill-top; see the light!

Behold the ambush of the enemy,
Stealing to take the heedless in their sleep
And still the herald's voice that cries, "Arise!"

Dawn over the dark sea brings on the sun;
She leans across the hill-top; see, the light!

The North Wind from Arcturus now blows free,
The stars go into hiding in the sky
And nearer to the sunrise swings the Plough.

Dawn over the dark sea brings on the sun;
She leans across the hill-top; see, the light!