From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Prioress's Tale, lines 99-112

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From The Prioress's Tale, lines 78-98:
The choir boy learns to sing Alma redemptoris

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Prioress's Tale
lines 99-112: The boy sings Alma redemptoris in the Jewish quarter

	As I have seyd, thurghout the Juerie
100	This litel child, as he cam to and fro,
	Ful murily than wolde he synge and crie
	"O Alma redemptoris" evere-mo.
	The swetnesse hath his herte perced so
	Of Cristes mooder, that to hir to preye
105	He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.

	As I have said, as through the Jewry went
100	This little school-boy, out the song would ring,
	And joyously the notes he upward sent;
	O Alma redemptoris would he sing;
	To his heart's core it did the sweetness bring
	Of Christ's dear Mother, and, to Her to pray,
105	He could not keep from singing on his way.

Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas,

That hath in Jewes herte his waspes nest,

Up swal, and seyde, "O Hebrayk peple, allas,

Is this to yow a thyng that is honest,

110 That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest

In youre despit, and synge of swich sentence,

Which is agayn oure lawes reverence?"

Our primal foe, the serpent Sathanas,

Who has in Jewish heart his hornets' nest,

Swelled arrogantly: "O Jewish folk, alas!

Is it to you a good thing, and the best,

110 That such a boy walks here, without protest,

In your despite and doing such offense

Against the teachings that you reverence?"

Next:
From The Prioress's Tale, lines 113-133:
The Jews kill the choir boy