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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  6. A Hymn to the Virgin

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Anonymous. c. 1300

6. A Hymn to the Virgin

OF on that is so fayr and bright 
        Velut maris stella, 
Brighter than the day is light, 
        Parens et puella: 
Ic crie to the, thou see to me,         5
Levedy, preye thi Sone for me, 
        Tam pia, 
That ic mote come to thee 
        Maria. 
 
Al this world was for-lore  10
        Eva peccatrice, 
Tyl our Lord was y-bore 
        De te genetrice. 
With ave it went away 
Thuster nyth and comz the day  15
        Salutis; 
The welle springeth ut of the, 
        Virtutis. 
 
Levedy, flour of alle thing, 
        Rose sine spina,  20
Thu bere Jhesu, hevene king, 
        Gratia divina: 
Of alle thu ber’st the pris, 
Levedy, quene of paradys 
        Electa:  25
Mayde milde, moder es 
        Effecta. 
 
GLOSS:  on] one.  levedy] lady.  thuster] dark.  pris] prize.