The Mothers of Bethlehem

First Woman
Why tear my love's son from me,
Me, who reared him?
My breast fed him,
My womb bore him,
My veins did suckle him,
My heart he filled,
My life was he.
My death his taking,
My strength is gone;
My voice is choked,
My eyes are blind.

Second Woman
My son ye snatch,
I'm guiltless of ill,
But kill even me,
Kill not my son;
My breasts are milkless,
My eyes are flowing,
My hands are trembling,
My body stumbles;
My husband's sonless,
Myself am strengthless,
My life — a death.

O God, my one son!
My fost'ring worthless,
My sickness sterile
Till Doomsday lost;
My bosomed silenced,
My heart crushed.

Third Woman
One ye seek slaying,
Numbers ye slaughter,
Nurslings smiting,
Fathers gashing —
Mothers murd'ring.
Hell ye were filling,
Heaven's gate closing,
Wantonly shedding
The blood of the righteous.

Fourth Woman
Come to me, O Christ,
Take swiftly my soul,
Alike with my son.
Ah, Mary of might,
Mother of God's son,
See, sonless am I,
For thy son are slaughtered
My mind and my sense,
I'm made a mad woman
For want of my son;
My heart is a death-froth,
Because of sad slaughter,
From now till the Judgment.