Behold, a maid shall conceive a child And get us more grace than ever men had, And her maidenhood nothing defiled. She is deputed to bear the Son, Almighty God. Lo! sovereignties, now may you be glad. For of this maiden all we may be fain; For Adam, that now lies in sorrows full sad, Her glorious birth shall redeem him again From bondage and thrall. Now be merry every mon, For this deed briefly in Israel shall be done, And before the Father in throne, That shall glad us all. More of this matter fain would I move, But longer time I have not here for to dwell. That Lord that is merciful his mercy so in us may prove For to save our souls from the darkness of hell; And to His bliss He us bring As He is Both Lord and King And shall be everlasting In secula seculorum, Amen. [_Exit_ ISAIAH; _enter_ GABRIEL _to_ MARY.] GABRIEL. Hail, Mary, full of grace! Our Lord God is with thee; Above all women that ever was, Lady, blessed mote thou be! MARY. Almighty Father and King of bliss, From all disease thou save me now! For inwardly my spirits troubled is, That I am amazed and know not how. GABRIEL. Dread thee nothing, maiden, of this; From heaven above hither am I sent Of embassage from that King of bliss Unto thee, Lady and Virgin reverent! Saluting thee here as most excellent, Whose virtue above all other doth abound. Wherefore in thee grace shall be found; For thou shalt conceive upon this ground The Second Person of God in throne; He will be born of thee alone; Without sin thou shalt him see. Thy grace and thy goodness will never be gone, But ever to live in virginity. MARY. I marvel sore how that may be. Man's company knew I never yet, Nor never to do, cast I me, While that our Lord sendeth me my wit. GABRIEL. The Holy Ghost in thee shall light, And shadow thy soul so with virtue From the Father that is on height. 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 been, And further, Lady, here in thine 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 pleasures for to fulfil As his own 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.