Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/143

And on was prynce of prestys havynge domynacyon,
  Amonge whiche was an old prest clepyd ȝakarye,
And he had an old woman to his wyff of holy conversacion,
  Whiche hyth Eliȝabeth, that nevyr had childe verylye.

In hese mynistracion the howre of incense,
  The aungel Gabryel apperyd hym to,
That hese wyff xulde conseyve he ȝaff hym intelligence,
  Hes juge, hes unwurthynes, and age not belevyd so.

The plage of dompnesse his lippis lappyd, lo!
  Thei wenten hom and his wyff was conseyvenge;
This concepcion Gabryel tolde oure lady to,
  And in soth sone aftere that sage sche was sekynge.
And of her tweyners metyng
  Here gynnyth the proces,
Now God be oure begynnynge,
  And of my tonge I wole ses.

Joseph. A! A! wyff, in feyth I am wery,
  Therfore I wole sytt downe and rest me ryght here.
Lo! wyff, here is the house of ȝakary,
  Wole ȝe I clepe Elyȝabeth to ȝow to apere.

Maria. Nay, husbond, and it plese ȝow I xal go ner,
  Now the blyssyd Trynité be in this hous!
A! cosyn Eliȝabeth, swete modyr, what cher?
  ȝe grow grett, a! my God! how ȝe be gracyous.

Eliȝabethe. Anon as I herd of ȝow this holy gretynge,
  Mekest mayden and the modyr of God, Mary,
Be ȝour breth the Holy Gost us was inspyrynge,
  That the childe in my body enjoyd gretly,
And turnyd downe on his knes to oure God reverently,
  Whom ȝe bere in your body this veryly I ken,
ffulfyllyd with the Holy Gost thus lowde Ic ry,
  Blyssyd be thou amonge alle women.