_Gabriel._ The Holy Ghost in thee shall light, And shall endue thy soul so with virtue From the Father that is on high: These words, turtle, they be full true. This child that of thee shall be born Is the Second Person in Trinity. He shall save that was forlorn, And the fiend's power destroy shall he. These words, lady, full true they be, And further, lady, in thy own lineage, Behold Elizabeth, thy cousin clean, The which was barren and past all age. And now with child she hath been Six months and more as shall be seen; Wherefore, discomfort thee not, Mary, For to God impossible nothing may be. _Mary._ Now and it be that Lord's will Of my body to be born and for to be His high pleasure for to fulfil, As his one handmaid I submit me. _Gabriel._ Now blessed be the time set That thou wast born in thy degree: For now is the knot surely knit And God conceived in Trinity. Now farewell lady of might most, Unto the Godhead I thee beteyche.[219] _Mary._ That lord thee guide in every cost And lowly he lead me and be my leech.[220] [_Here the Angel departeth and Joseph cometh in and saith:_ _Joseph._ Mary, my wife so dear! How do ye, dame, and what cheer Is with you this tide? _Mary._ Truly, husband, I am here Our Lord's will for to abide. _Joseph._ What! I trow we be all shent![221] Say, woman, who hath been here since I went To rage with thee? _Mary._ Sir, here was neither man, nor man's even,[222] But only the sond[223] of our Lord God in heaven. _Joseph._ Say not so, woman, for shame let be: Ye be with child so wondrous great, Ye need no more thereof to treat Against all right. For sooth this child, dame, is not mine; Alas, that ever with my eyne[224] I should see this sight. Tell me, woman, whose is this child? _Mary._ None but yours, husband, so mild And that shall be seen, I wis. _Joseph._ But mine, alas! alas! why say ye so? Well away, woman, now may I go Beguiled as many another is. _Mary._ Nay truly, sir, ye be not beguiled Nor yet with spot of sin I am not defiled; Trust it well, husband. _Joseph._ Husband in faith, and that acold; Ah well away, Joseph, as thou art old! Like a fool now may I stand And truss; but in faith, Mary, thou art in sin. So much as I have cherished thee, dame, and all thy kin, Behind my back to serve me thus: All old men example take by me, How I am beguiled here may you see, To wed so young a child. Now farewell, Mary, I leave thee here alone, Woe worth thee dame, and thy works each one! For I will no more be beguiled For friend nor foe. Now of this deed I am so dull And of my life I am so full, No farther may I go. _Angel._ Arise up, Joseph, and go home again Unto Mary thy wife that is so free; To comfort her look that thou be fain, For, Joseph, a clean maiden is she. She hath conceived without any trayne The Second Person in Trinity: Jesu shall be his name certainly, And all this world save shall he. Be not aghast.