University of Virginia Library


130

22. A PRAISE OF ST. ANNE.

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[MS. B. M. Harley 2251, leaf 76, back.]

1

He that intendeth in his herte to seke
To love the doughter of any womman fre,
He must, of gentilles, love the moder eke,
In honest wyse, by fygure as ye may see;
Right as for the fruyte honoured is the tre,
So he that to this lady Reuerence list to do,
Hir moder, Seynt Anne, worship he also.

2

And to that ende, lo, here a devoute oreyson,
In honour of hir oonly, my friendes deere,
That whilom A holy man in his contemplacioun,
Had in Remembraunce, with all his hert entier,
By whiche, at his dyeng, he saugh hem both appere,
This blessid mayden and hir moder fre,
Delyveryng his soule from all aduersite.