Religion

Orison to the Five Joys of Our Lady

by Anonymous (Middle English) c. 13th–16th century

Translated by Jessie L. Weston (1914) · From The Chief Middle English Poets (1914)

Religion

Mary Mother, hail to thee!
Maid and Mother, think on me
For thy mickle might;
Mary, Maiden meek and mild,
From mischance keep me thy child,
And harm, by day and night. Ave.

Mary, Maid withouten peer,
This my orison now hear
Tho' I merit naught;
Unto thee I cry and call,
Thou, who art the flower of all,
Keep me in thy thought! Ave.

Mother thou, and Maid alway,
By that first joy here I pray
Born of Gabriel's rede,
That it keep me day and night
From the devil and his might,
Shield me from misdeed! Ave.

For thy joy when God was born,
Lady, leave me not forlorn
Whom thy Son bought dear
Grant that this my prayer to-day
Stand me in good stead alway,
To me lend thine ear! Ave.

For thy joy when Christ, Alive
Rose, as God, with wide Wounds Five,
On the Paschal Day,
Pray thy Son, Mother mild!
That He keep from ill His child,
E'en as well He may Ave.

For thy joy at His Ascent
When to Heaven again He went,
Help me, Maid of might!
Be my shield, and be my spear,
That no evil one draw near
Keep me day and night. Ave.

For thy joy at thy last end
When thou didst to Heaven wend
Gladness to fulfil;
To that rest, O! Maiden pure,
Which for ever shall endure,
Bring me, at thy will! Ave.

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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).

MLA

Anonymous (Middle English). “Orison to the Five Joys of Our Lady.” Translated by Jessie L. Weston. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/106/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Middle English). “Orison to the Five Joys of Our Lady.” Translated by Jessie L. Weston. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/106/.

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