Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/90

But, blyssyd wyff Anne, sore I drede
  In the temple this tyme to make sacryfice;
Becawse that no frute of us dothe procede,
  I fere me grettly the prest wole me dysspice.
Than grett slawndyr in the tribus of us xulde aryse:
  But this I avow to God, with alle the mekenes I can,
ȝyff of his mercy he wole a childe us devyse,
  We xal offre it up into the temple to be Goddys man.

Anna. ȝour swemful wurdys make terys trekyl downe be my face,
  I-wys, swete husband, the fawte is in me;
My name is Anne, that is to sey, grace,
  We wete not how gracyous God wyl to us be.
A woman xulde bere Cryst, these profecyes have we,
  If God send frute and it be a mayd childe;
Withe alle reverens I vow to his magesté,
  Sche xal be here foot-mayd to mynyster here most mylde.

Joachym. Now lete be it as God wole, ther is no more,
  Tweyn turtelys ffor my sacryfice with me I take;
And I beseche, wyff, and evyr we mete more,
  That hese grett mercy us meryer mut make.

Anna. For dred and ffor swem of ȝour wourdys I qwake,
  Thryes I kysse ȝow with syghys ful sad;
And to the mercy of God mekely I ȝow betake,
  And tho that departe in sorwe, God make ther metyng glad!

Senior tribus. Worchepful sere Joachym, be ȝe redy now?
  Alle ȝour kynrede is come ȝow to exorte,
That thei may do sacrifice at the temple with ȝow,
  ffor ȝe be of grett wurchep, as men ȝow report.

Joachym. Alle synfulle, seke, and sory, God mote comforte,
  I wolde I were as men me name!
Thedyr in Goddys name now late us alle resorte:
  A Anne, Anne, Anne, God scheeld us fro shame!