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The Minor Poems of John Lydgate

edited from all available mss. with an attempt to establish The Lydgate Canon: By Henry Noble MacCracken

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44. THE CHILD JESUS TO MARY, THE ROSE.
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235

44. THE CHILD JESUS TO MARY, THE ROSE.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Harley 2251, leaf 78.]

1

My fader above, beholdyng thy mekenesse,
As dewe on Rosis doth his bawme sprede,
Sent his gost, most souerayne of clennes,
Into thy brest, (a! Rose of wommanhede!)
Whan I for man was borne in my manhede;
For whiche with Rosis of heuenly Influence
I me reioyse to pley in thy presence.

2

Benyng moder! who first dide inclose
The blessed budde that sprang out of Iesse,
Thow of Iuda the verray perfite Rose,
Chose of my fader for thyn humylite
Without fadyng most clennest to bere me;
For whiche with Roses of chast Innocence,
I me Reioyse to pley in thi presence.

3

O moder! moder! of mercy most habounde,
Fayrest moder that euer was alyve!
Though I for man have many a bloody wounde,
Among theym alle there be Rosis fyve,
Agayne whos mercy fiendis may nat stryve;
Mankynde to save, best Rosis of defence,
Whan they me pray for helpe in thy presence.