69. Ave Maria, now say we so:
Mayd & moder were neuer no mo.
1
Gaude Maria, Cristis moder!
Mary myld, of the I mene;
Thou bare my Lord, thou bare my broder;
Thou bare a louly child & clene.
Thou stodyst full still withowt blyn,
Whan in thy ere that arand was done so;
Tho gracius God the lyght with-yn
Gabrielis nuncio.
2
Gaude Maria, yglent with grace!
Whan Jhesus, thi son, on the was bore,
Full nygh thy brest thou gan hym brace;
He sowked, he sighhed, he wepte full sore.
Thou fedest the flowr þat neuer shall fade,
Wyth maydens mylke, & songe ther-to:
“Lulley, my swet! I bare the, babe,
Cum pudoris lillio.”
3
Gaude Maria! thy myrth was a-way,
Whan Cryst on crose, thy son, gan die
Full dulfully on Gud Fryday,
That many a moders son yt sye.
Hys blode vs browght from care & stryf,
His watery wovndis vs wisshe from wo,
The thyrd day from dethe to lyff
Fulget resurreccio.
4
Gaude Maria, thou byrde so bryght,
Bryghtter than blossum þat blowith on hill!
Joyfull thou were to se that sight,
Whan the appostles, so swet of will,
All & sum dide shryk full shryll,
Whan the fayrest of shape went you fro,
From erth to hevyn he styed full still,
Motu que fertur proprio.
5
Gaude Maria, thou rose of ryse!
Maydyn & moder, both jentill & fre,
Precius prynces, perles of pris,
Thy bowr ys next the trynyte.
Thy son, as lawe askyth a-right,
In body & sowle the toke hym to;
Thou regned with hym, right as we fynd,
In celi palacio.
6
Now, blessid byrde, we pray the a bone:
Be-fore thy son for vs thou fall,
& pray hym, as he was on the rode done,
& for vs dranke asell & gall,
That we may wone withyn þat wall,
Wher euer ys well withowt wo,
& gravnt that grace vnto vs all
In perhenni gaudio.
Explicit de quinque gaudia.
