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Hoccleve's Works. II

The minor poems in the Ashburnham Ms. Addit. 133. ... Edited by Sir Israel Gollancz

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VI. Item de beata virgine.
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VI. Item de beata virgine.

1

Who so desirith to gete and conquere
The blisse of heuene / needful is a guyde
Him to condue / & for to brynge him there;
And so good knowe I noon for mannes syde,
As the roote of humblesse / & fo to pryde,—

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That lady / of whos tetes virginal
Sook our Redemptour, the makere of al.

2

Betwixt god and man / is shee mediatrice
For oure offenses / mercy to purchace;
Shee is our seur sheeld ageyn the malice
Of the feend / þat our soules wolde embrace
And carie hem vn-to þat horrible place
where-as eternel peyne is, and torment,
More than may be spoke of / thoght or ment.

3

Now syn þat lady noble and glorious
To al man-kynde hath so greet cheertee,
That in this slipir lyf and perillous,
Staf of confort and help to man is shee,
Conuenient is / þat to þat lady free
we do seruice / honour, & plesance;
And to þat ende / heere is a remembrance.