XI. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION.
Contemplacio. ffowre thowsand sex undryd foure ȝere I telle,
Man ffor his offens and ffowle foly,
Hath loyn ȝeres in the peynes of helle,
And were wurthy to ly therin endlesly.
But thanne xulde perysche ȝour grete mercy,
Good Lord, have on man pyté,
Have mende of the prayour seyd by Ysaie,
Lete mercy meke thin hyest magesté.
Wolde God thou woldyst breke thin hefne myghtye,
And com down here into erthe;
And levyn ȝeres thre and threttye,
Thyn famyt ffolke with thi ffode to fede.
To staunche thi thryste lete thi syde blede,
ffor erst wole not be mad redempcion.
Cum vysite us in this tyme of nede,
Of thi careful creatures, Lord, have compassyon!
A! woo to us wrecchis that wrecchis be,
ffor God hath addyd ssorowe to sorwe;
I prey the, Lorde, thi sowlys com se,
How thei ly and sobbe, bothe eve and morewe.
With thi blyssyd blood ffrom babys hem borwe,
Thy careful creaturys cryenge in captyvyté,
A! tary not, gracyous Lord, tyl it be to-morwe,
The devyl hath dysceyved hem be his iniquité.
