XVII. Ecce, quod natura mutat sua iura:
Virgo parit pura dei filium.
1
Beholde and see, how that nature
Chaungith here lawe: a mayden pure
Shalle bere a chielde (thus seith scripture),
Ihesus, oure sauyour.
2
Beholde, the flease of Gedeon
Wexed wete, that no dewe fel on;
Beholde, the yerde of Aaron
Vnmoysted bare a floure.
3
The prophete Isay seith thus:
‘A mayde shall bere a childe to vs,
Whose name shall be called Ihesus,
Oure helpe and our socour.
4
A yerde shall goo oute of Iesse rote,
Wherof a floure shall ascende full soote.’
This floure is Crist, oure helth and boote,
This yerde Mary, his boure.
5
Seynt Mathew seith in the gospell:
‘A mayde shall bere Emanuell,
That is to sey, god with vs to dwell,
That louely paramour.’
6
Forsoth, to vs is borne a chielde,
A sonne is yeven to vs full myelde
Of virgyne Marie vndefielde
To cease oure grete langoure.
7
This is the stone cutte of the hille,
Criste borne of Marie vs vntille
Without synne in thought, dede and wille
To save vs fro dolour.
8
This chielde shall be the prince of peas,
Whose kingdome shall euir encrease,
Wherof the peas shall neuir ceas,
But encreace day and houre.
9
Seint Anselme seith: ‘So Criste did pas
Thurgh Marie myelde, as his wille was,
As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
That mayde full of honoure.’
