The ȝonger she be drawyn the bettyr semyth me,
And for teryeng of our avow of God we myth be shent!
Anne. It is as ȝe say, husbond, indede, Late us take Mary our dowter us betwen, And to the temple with here procede: Dowtere, the aungel tolde us ȝe xulde be a qwen! Wole ȝe go se that lord ȝour husbond xal ben, And lerne for to love hym and lede with hym ȝour lyf? Telle ȝour ffadyr and me her, ȝour answere let sen; Wole ȝe be pure maydyn and also Goddys wyff? Maria. ffadyr and modyr, if it plesynge to ȝow be, ȝe han mad ȝour avow, so ssothly wole I, To be Goddys chast servaunt whil lyff is in me, But to be Goddys wyff I was nevyr wurthy; I am the sympelest that evyr was born of body. I have herd ȝow seyd God xulde have a modyr swete, That I may leve to se hire, God graunt me for his mercy, And abyl me to ley my handys undyr hire fayr fete.
Et genuflectet ad Deum.
Joachym. I-wys, dowtere, it is wel seyd,
ȝe answere and ȝe were twenty ȝere olde.
Anne. Whith ȝour speche, Mary, I am wel payd,
Can ȝe gon alone? lett se beth bolde.
Maria. To go to Goddys hous wole ȝe now beholde,
I am joyful thedyrward, as I may be.
Joachym. Wyff, I ryght joyful oure dowter to beholde.
Anne. So am I wys, husbond; now in Goddys name go we!
Joachym. Sere, prince of prestes, and it plese ȝow,
We that were barreyn God hath sent a childe,
To offre here to Goddys service we mad oure avow,
Here is the same mayde, Mary most mylde.
Isakar. Joachym, I have good mende how I ȝow revyled,
I am ryght joyful that God hath ȝove ȝow this grace,
To be amonge fruteful now be ȝe reconsylid,
Come, swete Mary, come, ȝe have a gracyous face!
