A Christmas Carol1
Three damsels in the queen’s chamber, | |
The queen’s mouth was most fair; | |
She spake a word of God’s mother | |
As the combs went in her hair. | |
Mary that is of might, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s sight. | |
They held the gold combs out from her, | |
A span’s length off her head; | |
She sang this song of God’s mother | |
10 | And of her bearing-bed. |
Mary most full of grace, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s face. | |
When she sat at Joseph’s hand, | |
She looked against her side; | |
And either way from the short silk band | |
Her girdle was all wried. | |
Mary that all good may, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s way. | |
Mary had three women for her bed, | |
20 | The twain were maidens clean; |
The first of them had white and red, | |
The third had riven green. | |
Mary that is so sweet, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s feet. | |
She had three women for her hair, | |
Two were gloved soft and shod; | |
The third had feet and fingers bare, | |
She was the likest God. | |
Mary that wieldeth land, | |
30 | Bring us to thy Son’s hand. |
She had three women for her ease, | |
The twain were good women: | |
The first two were the two Maries, | |
The third was Magdalen. | |
Mary that perfect is, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s kiss. | |
Joseph had three workmen in his stall, | |
To serve him well upon; | |
The first of them were Peter and Paul, | |
40 | The third of them was John. |
Mary, God’s handmaiden, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s ken. | |
‘If your child be none other man’s, | |
But if it be very mine, | |
The bedstead shall be gold two spans, | |
The bedfoot silver fine.’ | |
Mary that made God mirth, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s birth. | |
‘If the child be some other man’s, | |
50 | And if it be none of mine, |
The manger shall be straw two spans, | |
Betwixen kine and kine.’ | |
Mary that made sin cease, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s peace. | |
Christ was born upon this wise, | |
It fell on such a night, | |
Neither with sounds of psalteries, | |
Nor with fire for light. | |
Mary that is God’s spouse, | |
60 | Bring us to thy Son’s house. |
The star came out upon the east | |
With a great sound and sweet: | |
Kings gave gold to make him feast | |
And myrrh for him to eat. | |
Mary, of thy sweet mood, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s good. | |
He had two handmaids at his head, | |
One handmaid at his feet; | |
The twain of them were fair and red, | |
70 | The third one was right sweet. |
Mary that is most wise, | |
Bring us to thy Son’s eyes. Amen. |