Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Anonymous. 17th Cent.382. The Seven Virgins. A CAROL
ALL under the leaves and the leaves of life | |
I met with virgins seven, | |
And one of them was Mary mild, | |
Our Lord’s mother of Heaven. | |
‘O what are you seeking, you seven fair maids, | 5 |
All under the leaves of life? | |
Come tell, come tell, what seek you | |
All under the leaves of life?’ | |
‘We’re seeking for no leaves, Thomas, | |
But for a friend of thine; | 10 |
We’re seeking for sweet Jesus Christ, | |
To be our guide and thine.’ | |
‘Go down, go down, to yonder town, | |
And sit in the gallery, | |
And there you’ll see sweet Jesus Christ | 15 |
Nail’d to a big yew-tree.’ | |
So down they went to yonder town | |
As fast as foot could fall, | |
And many a grievous bitter tear | |
From the virgins’ eyes did fall. | 20 |
‘O peace, Mother, O peace, Mother, | |
Your weeping doth me grieve: | |
I must suffer this,’ He said, | |
‘For Adam and for Eve. | |
‘O Mother, take you John Evangelist | 25 |
All for to be your son, | |
And he will comfort you sometimes, | |
Mother, as I have done.’ | |
‘O come, thou John Evangelist, | |
Thou’rt welcome unto me; | 30 |
But more welcome my own dear Son, | |
Whom I nursed on my knee.’ | |
Then He laid His head on His right shoulder, | |
Seeing death it struck Him nigh— | |
‘The Holy Ghost be with your soul, | 35 |
I die, Mother dear, I die.’ | |
O the rose, the gentle rose, | |
And the fennel that grows so green! | |
God give us grace in every place | |
To pray for our king and queen. | 40 |
Furthermore for our enemies all | |
Our prayers they should be strong: | |
Amen, good Lord; your charity | |
Is the ending of my song. |