Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/95

 Primus pastor. Have ȝe good tydynges, mayster? than we be glad!

Joachym. Prayse God for me, for I am not wourthy!

Secundus pastor. In feyth, sere, so we xal with alle oure sowlys sad.

Tertius pastor. I holde it helpfful that on of us with ȝow be had.

Joachym. Nay, abyde with ȝour bests, sone, in Goddys blyssynge.

Primus pastor. We xal make us so mery now this is be-stad, That a myle on ȝour wey ȝe xal here us synge.

Anne. Alas! ffor myn husbond me is ful wo, I xal go seke hym what so evyr be-falle; I wote not in erth whiche wey is he go, ffadyr of hefne, ffor mercy to your ffete I falle.

Angelus. Anne, thin husbond ryght now I was with-alle, The aungel of God, that bare hym good tydynge, And as I seyd to hym so to the sey I xal, God hath herd thi preyour and thi wepynge.

At the goldyn gate thou xalte mete hym ful mylde, And in grett gladnes returne to ȝour hous; So be proces thou xalt conseyve and bere a childe, Whiche xalt hyght Mary, and Mary xal bere Jhesus, Whiche xal be Savyour of alle the werd and us,— Aftere grett sorwe evyr grett gladnes is had! Now myn inbasset I have seyd to ȝow thus, Gooth in oure Lordys name, and in God beth glad!

Anne. Now blyssyd be oure Lorde and alle his werkys ay! Alle heffne and erthe mut blysse ȝow for this! I am so joyful I not what I may say! Ther can no tounge telle what joye in me is! I to bere a childe that xal bere alle mannys blyss, And have myn hosbonde ageyn; ho mythe have joys more?