The Annunciation
GOD
These five thousand years and more1
man has bought his sin full sore,
first in heaven then in hell.
But long therein shall he not dwell;
out of pain he shall be bought.
I will not harm what I have wrought;
Righteousness will we make:7
I will that my son manhood take.
Rise up, Gabriel, and wend
to a maiden that is hend,
to Nazareth in Galilee,
where she dwells in that city,
to that virgin and that spouse13
to a man of David’s house,
Joseph also named is he,
and the maiden’s name Mary.
On my behalf thou shall her greet;
I have her chosen, that maiden sweet;
she shall conceive my darling,19
she shall of her body bear
God and man without fear;
She shall be blessed without end.
Gabriel, hie thee and wend.
These five thousand years and more1
man has bought his sin full sore,
first in heaven then in hell.
But long therein shall he not dwell;
out of pain he shall be bought.
I will not harm what I have wrought;
Righteousness will we make:7
I will that my son manhood take.
Rise up, Gabriel, and wend
to a maiden that is hend,
to Nazareth in Galilee,
where she dwells in that city,
to that virgin and that spouse13
to a man of David’s house,
Joseph also named is he,
and the maiden’s name Mary.
On my behalf thou shall her greet;
I have her chosen, that maiden sweet;
she shall conceive my darling,19
she shall of her body bear
God and man without fear;
She shall be blessed without end.
Gabriel, hie thee and wend.
GABRIEL
Hail, Mary gracious!24
Hail maiden, and God’s spouse!
To thee I bow.
Of all virgins thou art queen,
that ever were or shall be seen
I tell thee now.
Hail, Mary gracious!24
Hail maiden, and God’s spouse!
To thee I bow.
Of all virgins thou art queen,
that ever were or shall be seen
I tell thee now.
Hail, Mary, and well thou be!30
My lord of heaven is with thee,
withouten end.
Hail, woman most blessed!
Goodly lady, have thou no dread,
that I commend.
My lord of heaven is with thee,
withouten end.
Hail, woman most blessed!
Goodly lady, have thou no dread,
that I commend.
For thou hast found all thine own36
The grace of God that was forgone
for Adam’s plight.
This is the grace that thee betides:
thou shalt conceive within thy sides
a child of might.
The grace of God that was forgone
for Adam’s plight.
This is the grace that thee betides:
thou shalt conceive within thy sides
a child of might.
When he is comen, this thy son,42
he shall take circumcision.
Jesus call him then.
And God’s son shall he be called,
His name be blessed over all
till his day come.
he shall take circumcision.
Jesus call him then.
And God’s son shall he be called,
His name be blessed over all
till his day come.
MARY
What is thy name?48
What is thy name?48
GABRIEL
Gabriel,49
God’s strength and his angel,
that comes to thee.
Gabriel,49
God’s strength and his angel,
that comes to thee.
MARY
Wondrous greeting now I hear!52
Thou tells that I a child should bear.
How shall this be?
Wondrous greeting now I hear!52
Thou tells that I a child should bear.
How shall this be?
I came never by man’s side55
But have avowed my maidenhead
from fleshly state.
Therefore I wot not how
that this be broken, as a vow
that I have made.
But have avowed my maidenhead
from fleshly state.
Therefore I wot not how
that this be broken, as a vow
that I have made.
GABRIEL
Lady this is the privity:61
The Holy Ghost shall light in thee,
and his virtue
thee shall o’ershadow and fulfil
that thy maidenhead shall never spill,
but ay be new.
Lady this is the privity:61
The Holy Ghost shall light in thee,
and his virtue
thee shall o’ershadow and fulfil
that thy maidenhead shall never spill,
but ay be new.
The child that thou shalt bear, madame,67
shall God’s son be called by name;
and so, Mary,
Elizabeth, thy cousin, that was barren called,
she had conceived a son in eld of Zachary.
shall God’s son be called by name;
and so, Mary,
Elizabeth, thy cousin, that was barren called,
she had conceived a son in eld of Zachary.
No word, lady, that I thee bring72
is unmightful to heaven’s king,
but all shall hold.
is unmightful to heaven’s king,
but all shall hold.
MARY
I love my lord all-wielding;75
be done to me in all thing
as thou has told.
I love my lord all-wielding;75
be done to me in all thing
as thou has told.
GABRIEL
Mary, maiden hend,78
me behoves to wend;
my leave of thee I take.
Mary, maiden hend,78
me behoves to wend;
my leave of thee I take.
MARY
Fare to my friend,81
who thee did send
for mankind’s sake.
Fare to my friend,81
who thee did send
for mankind’s sake.
2023 Sep 25 18:46:07