User:RHaworth/mystery/src/The Annunciation

God Since I have made all thing of nought {1 And Adam with my hands I wrought. Like to mine image at my devising, To give them joy in Paradise To dwell therein as I had planned - Until they did what I forbade. Then I put them out of that place. But yet, I mind, I promised them grace;

Now they have felt their sin full sore {11 These five thousand years and more First on earth, and then in hell: But long therein shall they not dwell. Out of pain they shall be brought, I will not lose what I have wrought. I will make redemption! {17

Righteousness will we make: {29 I will that my Son manhood take. My prophets words are true and loyal As they have said, it shall befall.

My Son shall in a maiden light, {35 Agains' the fiend of hell to fight. Withouten spot as sun through glass And she a maiden as she was. Both God and man shall He be And she, mother and maiden free.

Rise up, Gabriel, and wend {53 [Gabriel approaches] Unto a maiden that is kind To Nazareth in Galilee There she dwells in that city. To that virgin and to that spouse To a man of David's house.

Joseph, the man is named by. {59 And the maiden named Mary. On my behalf thou shall her greet I have her chosen, that maiden sweet, She shall conceive my darling Through thy word and her hearing.

She shall of her body clean {73 Bear God and man withouten pain. She shall be blessed withouten end Prepare thee, Gabriel, and wend! [Here Gabriel goes to Mary]

Gabriel Hail Mary gracious {77 Hail, maiden and Godes spouse Unto thee I bow. Of all virgins thou art queen That ever was - or shall be - seen, Withouten doubt.

Hail, Mary, and well thou be; {83 My Lord of Heaven is with thee Withouten end. Hail, full of grace of God indeed. Goodly lady, have thou no dread That I commend.

This is the grace that thee betides: {92 Thou shall conceive within thy sides A child of power. When he is comen, this thy son He shall take circumcision. Call him Jesus.

Mightful man shall he be indeed {98 God's true son he shall be called, A throne to sit. He shall be king of David's line; His kingdom never shall decline Lady, well thou wit.

Mary What is thy name? {107

Gabriel Gabriel, Godes strength and his angel {108 That comes to thee.

Mary Wondrous greeting thou me greets {110 Of a child to bear thou me speaks - How should this be?

I came never by man's side {113 But have avowed my maidenhood From fleshly fate. Therefore I know not how This may be broken; it is a vow That I have made.

Nevertheless, well I see {119 To work this word as thou has said God full able is. But I know not how, of what manner; Therefore I pray thee, messenger, That thou me guide and tell.

Gabriel Lady, this is the mystery: {125 The Holy Ghost shall light in thee God's word to fulfil - His virtue shall thee overshade That thy maidenhood shall never fade But be ever new.

The child that thou shall bear, madam, {131 Shall God's Son be called by name, And see, Mary, Elizabeth - thy cousin, who is barren called She has conceived a son in elde Of Zachary. [Elizabeth appears in a vision] And this is - now have knowing - {137 The sixth month of her conceiving That barren was called. No word, lady, that I thee bring Is impossible to heaven's King But all shall hold.

Mary I love my God almighty {143 I am his servant here at hand And at his call. I believe the promise thou me bring Be done to me in all thing As thou has told!

Gabriel Mary, maiden kind {149 My way to God I wend My leave of thee I take.

Mary Go to my friend {152 Who did thee send For mankind's sake. [Gabriel and then Mary withdraw to singing] [Joseph enters]

Joseph Almighty God, what may this be! {155 Of Mary my wife I marvel me; {156 Alas, what has she wrought? {157 Ah, her belly is great and she with child! {158 By me was she never defiled, {159 Therefore mine is it nought. {160

Full of sorrow is my life, {161 That ever I wed so young a wife: {162 That bargain was a bane. {163 To me this deed was full of care, {164 I might well wot a young girl fair {165 Would have liking of man. {166

I am old, soothly to say, {167 Past I am all pleasant play, {168 The games from me are gone. {169 We are ill coupled, young and old: {170 For I could not with her make bold {171 Some other has she ta&rsquo;en. {172

She is with child, I know never how; {173 Now, who would any woman trow {174 For wicked ways so wild? {175 I wot not in the world, what I should do; {176 But now then will I wend her to, {177 And learn whose is that child. {178

Hail, Mary, and well ye be! {179 But why, woman, what cheer with thee? {180

Mary The better, sir, for you. {181

<c>Joseph So would, I, woman, that ye were; {182 But certain, Mary, I rue full sore {183 How stand things with thee now. {184 And of a thing chide thee I shall: {185 Whose is this child, thou go&rsquo;st withal? {186

<c>Mary Sir, yours, and God&rsquo;s in Heaven. {187

<c>Joseph Mine, Mary? do way thy din; {188 That I should have a part therein {189 Thou needs it not to feign. {190 Why falsehoods spin&rsquo;st thou me thereto? {191 I had never with thee to do: {192 How should it then be mine? {193 Whose is that child, so God thee speed? {194

<c>Mary Sir, God&rsquo;s and yours, withouten dread. {195

<c>Joseph Be still those words of thine, {196 For it is nought with me to do. {197 And I repent me thou has done so {198 These ill deeds I ween. {199 And if thou thought thyself to kill, {200 It were full sore against my will, {201 But better might have been. {202

<c>Mary At God&rsquo;s will, Joseph, must it be, {203 For certainly, but God and ye {204 I know no other man; {205 My flesh has never been defiled. {206

<c>Joseph How should thou thus then be with child? {207 Excuse thee well thou can. {208 I blame thee not, so God me save, {209 Woman&rsquo;s weakness if that thou have; {210 But certes I say thee this: {211 Well wot thou, and so do I, {212 Thy body shames thee openly, {213 That thou hast done amiss. {214

<c>Mary I tell you, God knows all my doing. {215

<c>Joseph Wey! Now, this is a wonder thing: {216 I can nought say thereto. {217 But my heart does ache full sore, {218 And aye the longer more and more, {219 For dole what shall I do? {220

God&rsquo;s and mine she says it is - {221 I will not father it, she speaks amiss. {222 It were shame if I should her let, {223 To hide her villainy by me. {224 With her I can no longer be; {225 I rue that ever we met. {226

I left her in good peace thought I; {275 Into the country I went on high, {276 To work with might and main. {277 To get our living I must need; {278 Of Mary I prayed our friends take heed, {279 Till that I came again. {280

Nine months was I from Mary mild; {281 When I came home she was with child, {282 Alas, I said, for shame! {283 I asked her women who that had done, {284 And they me said an angel came, {285 Since that I went from home. {286

An angel spake with that wight, {287 And no man else, by day nor night, {288 &ldquo;Sir, thereof be ye bold.&rdquo; {289 They excused her thus soothly, {290 To make her clean of her folly, {291 Mocked like a baby, me that was old. {292

Should an angel this deed have wrought? {293 Such excuses help nought, {294 Nor no cunning that they can. {295 A heavenly thing, forsooth, is he, {296 And she is earthly; this may not be, {297 It is some other man. {298

Yet soothly, if it so befall, {314 God&rsquo;s son that she be withal, {315 If such grace might betide, {316 I wot well that I am not he, {317 Which that is worthy to be {318 That blessed body beside, {319 Nor yet be in her company. {320

To wilderness I will forth hie {321 Alone my fate deplore, {322 And never longer with her deal, {323 But softly shall I from her steal, {324 That meet shall we no more. {325 <d>[An Angel appears]

<c>Angel Go way Joseph, and mend thy thought, {326 I warn thee well, so wend thou not, {327 To wilderness so wild. {328 Turn home to thy spouse again, {329 Look thou see in her no shame, {330 She never was defiled. {331

Wot thou no wicked work here was, {332 She has conceived by Holy Ghost, {333 And she shall bear God&rsquo;s son. {334 Therefore with her, in thy degree, {335 Meek and obedient look thou be, {336 And with her make your home. {337

<c>Joseph Ah, Lord, I love thee all alone, {338 That vouchsafest I be the one {339 To tend that child so young. {340 I, that thus have ingrately done, {341 And foul falsehood cast upon {342 Mary, that dear darling. {343

I rue full sore what I have said, {344 And of her birthing her upbraid, {345 When she not guilty is. {346 Forthwith to her now will I wend, {347 And pray her for to be my friend, {348 And ask of her forgiveness. {349

Ah, Mary, wife, what cheer? {350

<c>Mary The better, sir, that ye are here; {351 Thus long where have ye went? {352

<c>Joseph Certes, walked about, all wobegone, {353 And wrongfully did thee bemoan; {354 I wist never what I meant; {355 But I wot well, my love so free, {356 I have trespassed to God and thee; {357 Forgive me, I thee pray. {358

<c>Mary Now all that ever ye said me to, {359 God forgive you, and I do, {360 With all the might I may. {361

<c>Joseph Gramercy, Mary, thy goodwill {362 Forgives so kindly all I said ill, {363 When I did thee upbraid. {364 But happy who has such a child, {365 Ah, gentle wife, he needs not gold, {366 But may hold him well paid. {367

Ah, I am light as leaf on wind! {368 He that may both loose and bind, {369 And every ill amend, {370 Give me grace, power, and might, {371 My wife and her sweet young wight {372 To keep, to my life&rsquo;s end. {373