Religion
Prayer at the Elevation
Translated by Jessie L. Weston (1914) · From The Chief Middle English Poets (1914)
Welcome, Lord, in form of Bread,
Thou the Living, Thou the Dead,
Jesu, Thee we name!
Thou, One God in Persons Three,
Lord, have Mercy upon me,
Shield me here from shame!
Thou the Sole-Begotten Son,
With the Spirit, Three in One,
Crowned King art Thou
Man of more than mortal Might,
God of God, and Light of Light,
Born of Mary now!
Jesu, hail! we worship Thee!
Fairest Blossom on Life's tree,
Hail! Thy message fair!
Hail the Fruit, and hail the Flower,
Be our Saviour in this hour,
Lord of Earth and Air!
Hail! Thou King of Life and Light!
Hail! Thou Man of Deathless Might,
Prince enthroned and crowned!
Hail! Thou Mighty Conqueror!
Hail! be Thou the Governor
Of this wide world round!
Holy Flesh, and Holy Blood,
God and Man, be Thou our Food,
Jesu, King of Kings!
Hail! Thou Born of Maiden mild,
Very God and very Child,
Maker of all things!
Hail thou Rose upon the Bough,
Here as Man we hail Thee now,
For us wert Thou dead!
Hail! Thou God of endless Might,
Son of God, in Glory bright,
Hail! in form of Bread! Amen.
Codex Note
One of the religious poems that Weston draws from the Vernon MS. (Bodleian Library), edited by Horstmann and Furnivall as Minor Poems of the Vernon MS. (Early English Text Society, vols. 98 and 117).
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Middle English). “Prayer at the Elevation.” Translated by Jessie L. Weston. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/105/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Middle English). “Prayer at the Elevation.” Translated by Jessie L. Weston. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/105/.
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