Classic Poem

Gabriel, from heaven's king
Sent to the maiden sweet,
Brought to her blissful tiding┬░
And fair 'gan her to greet.
" Hail be thou, full of grace aright!
For so God's Son, the heaven's light,
Loves man, that He a man will be and take
Flesh of thee, maiden bright,
Mankind free for to make
Of sin and devil's might."

Gently to him gave answer
The gentle maiden then:
" And in what wise should I bear
Child, that know not man?"
The angel said: " O dread thee nought.
'Tis through the Holy Ghost that wrought
Shall be this thing whereof tiding I bring:
Lost mankind shall be bought┬░
By thy sweet childbearing,
And back from sorrow brought."

When the maiden understood
And the angel's words had heard,
Mildly, of her own mild mood,
The angel she answered:
" Our Lord His handmaiden, I wis,
I am, that here above us is:
As touching me fulfilled be thy saw;
That I, since His will is,
Be, out of nature's law┬░
A maid with mother's bliss."

The angel went away thereon
And parted from her sight
And straightway she conceived a Son
Through th' Holy Ghost His might.
In her was Christ contained anon,
True God, true man, in flesh and bone;
Born of her too when time was due; who then
Redeemed us for His own,┬░
And bought us out of pain,
And died for us t'atone.

Filled full of charity,
Thou matchless maiden-mother,┬░
Pray for us to him that He
For thy love above other,
Away our sin and guilt should take,
And clean of every stain us make
And heaven's bliss, when our time is to die,
Would give us for thy sake;
With grace to serve him by
Till He us to him take. Amen.