Lady of Heaven and earth, and therewithalCrowned Empress of the nether clefts of Hell,I, thy poor Christian, on thy name do call,Commending me to thee, with thee to dwell,Albeit in nought I be commendable.But all mine undeserving may not marSuch mercies as thy sovereign mercies are;Without the which (as true words testify)No soul can reach thy Heaven so fair and far.Even in this faith I choose to live and die.
Unto thy Son say thou that I am His,And to me graceless make Him gracious.Sad Mary of Egypt lacked not of that bliss,Nor yet the sorrowful clerk Theophilus,Whose bitter sins were set aside even thusThough to the Fiend his bounden service was.Oh help me, lest in vain for me should pass(Sweet Virgin that shalt have no loss thereby!)The blessed Host and sacring of the Mass.Even in this faith I choose to live and die.
A pitiful poor woman, shrunk and old,I am, and nothing learn'd in letter-lore.Within my parish-cloister I beholdA painted Heaven where harps and lutes adore,And eke an Hell whose damned folk seethe full soreOne bringeth fear, the other joy to me.That joy, great Goddess, make thou mine to be, --Thou of whom all must ask it even as I;And that which faith desires, that let it see.For in this faith I choose to live and die.
O excellent Virgin Princess! thou didst bearKing Jesus, the most excellent comforter,Who even of this our weakness craved a shareAnd for our sake stooped to us from on high,Offering to death His young life sweet and fair.Such as He is, Our Lord, I Him declare,And in this faith I choose to live and die.
