"Ne had the apple taken been"

When I saw the last two apples on our Bramley tree, it made me think of the 15th century Advent carol "Adam lay ybounden" by Anon which our choir will be singing at an Advent Carol service in early December.  You can hear Boris Ord's beautiful arrangement sung by King's College Cambridge on youtube.  Sadly I don't know how to include a link to it!

"Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple, an apple that he took,
As clerkes finden written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been,
Ne had never our lady a-been heaven-e queen.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen, Deo gracias!"