| |
I
ALL under the leaves and the leaves of life | |
| I met with virgins seven, | |
| And one of them was Mary mild, | |
| Our Lord’s mother of Heaven. | |
| |
II
‘O what are you seeking, you seven fair maids, | 5 |
| All under the leaves of life? | |
| Come tell, come tell, what seek you | |
| All under the leaves of life?’ | |
| |
III
‘We’re seeking for no leaves, Thomas, | |
| But for a friend of thine; | 10 |
| We’re seeking for sweet Jesus Christ, | |
| To be our guide and thine.’ | |
| |
IV
‘Go down, go down, to yonder town, | |
| And sit in the gallery, | |
| And there you’ll see sweet Jesus Christ | 15 |
| Nail’d to a big yéw-tree.’ | |
| |
V
So down they went to yonder town | |
| As fast as foot could fall, | |
| And many a grievous bitter tear | |
| From the virgins’ eyes did fall. | 20 |
| |
VI
‘O peace, Mother, O peace, Mother, | |
| Your weeping doth me grieve: | |
| I must suffer this,’ He said, | |
| For Adam and for Eve. | |
| |
VII
‘O Mother, take you John Evangelist | 25 |
| All for to be your son, | |
| And he will comfort you sometimes, | |
| Mother, as I have done.’ | |
| |
VIII
‘O come, thou John Evangelist, | |
| Thou’rt welcome unto me; | 30 |
| But more welcome my own dear Son, | |
| Whom I nursed on my knee.’ | |
| |
IX
Then He laid his head on His right shoulder, | |
| Seeing death it struck Him nigh— | |
| ‘The Holy Ghost be with your soul, | 35 |
| I die, Mother dear, I die.’ | |
| |
X
O the rose, the gentle rose, | |
| And the fennel that grows so green! | |
| God give us grace in every place | |
| To pray for our king and queen. | 40 |
| |
XI
Furthermore for our enemies all | |
| Our prayers they should be strong: | |
| Amen, good Lord; your charity | |
| Is the ending of my song. | |
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