Part 16 (1/2)

Now fare ye well all in-fere!

Now fare ye well for all this year, Yet for my sake make ye good cheer!

_Now have good day!_

_Now sing we with angels Gloria in excelsis!_

A babe is born to bliss us bring; I heard a maid lullay and sing; She said ”dear Son, leave thy weeping, Thy Father is the King of bliss.”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Lullay,” she said and sang also, ”Mine own dear Son, why art thou woe?

Have I not done as I should do?

Thy grievance tell me what it is.”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Nay, dear mother, for thee weep I nought, But for the woe that shall be wrought To me, or I mankind have bought, Was never sorrow like it, i-wis.”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Peace, dear Son, tell me not so!

Thou art my child, I have no mo!

Should I see men mine own Son slo?

Alas, my dear Son, what means this?”

_Now sing we, etc._

”My hands, mother, that ye may see, Shall be nailed unto a tree!

My feet also fast shall be; Men shall weep that shall see this!”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Ah, dear Son, hard is my hap!

See my child that sucked my pap, His hands, his feet that I did wrap Be so nailed, that never did amiss!”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Ah, dear mother, yet shall a spear My heart in sunder all to-tear; No wonder if I carefull were, And weep full sore to think on this!”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Ah, dear Son, shall I see this?

Thou art my child and I thy mother, i-wis!

When Gabriel called me, full of grace, He told me nothing of this!”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Ah, dear mother, through my hair To thrust in thorns they will not spare!

Alas, mother, I am full of care That ye shall see this heaviness!”

_Now sing we, etc._

”Ah dear Son, leave thy weeping!

Thou bringst my heart in great mourning; A careful song now may I sing, This tidings hard to me it is!”