Hail Mary, Star Of Morning
Ave Marie klare,
Leisentrit, 1584
Translation by Rev. George R. Woodward
Source: George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), #246
1. Hail Mary, Star of morning,
Thou herald of the Sun!
Whose light, the day adorning,
Reveal’d the Holy One:
Ere time began, e’en then
God chose thee to his Mother,
Thou pride of Christian men!
2. From throne of God supernal
Sped mighty Gabriel;
Touching the Son eternal
Good tidings for to tell:
“Hail Virgin, pure from stain!
Thou shalt be called Mother,
Yet Virgin still remain.
3. The Spirit high and holy
Shall overshadow thee,
And make thee, maiden lowly,
His spotless bride to be;
Lo! God shall be thy Son;
His Name it shall be Jesus,—
None ending to his throne.”
4. Saith Mary, “Here behold me,
The hand-maid of the Lord;
Be it, as thou hast told me,
According to thy word!”
Thus spake that maiden bright,
Ere Gabriel departed
Upward to realms of light.
5. Hail Mary, sweet and tender!
Thy Son is God on high,
Th’ eternal Father’s splendour,
As Scriptures testify:
Fair Maid, thou givest birth
To Jesus Christ thy Maker,
That hath no peer on earth.
Note:
Woodward's Songs of Syon was text only, no music. Fortunately, there is a fantastic Ave Maria site that has many musical settings including these two from the Hosanna Hymnal, Ludwig Bonvin, 1914:
Geert has also set up a wiki of the music that she has collected: AveWiki.
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