Saint Mary, Mother Mild

Mater Salutaris

 

Words: English Traditional, Thirteenth Century
Compare: Seinte Mari moder milde

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 3-5.

Saint Mary, mother mild,
    Mater salutaris,
Fairest flower of any field,
    Vere nuncuparis,
Through Jesu Christ thou wert with child,
Thou bring me of my thoughtës wild,
    Potente,
That maketh me to death (to) go
    Repente.
My thought is wild as is the roe,
    Luto gratulante,
She worketh me full muchel woe,
    Illaque favente;
But if He wille wend me fro
I ween my heart breaketh a-two,
    Fervore;
I tamed¹ am both day and night,
    Dolore.
Jesu, through Thy muchel might
    Omnia fecisti.
The Holy Ghost in Mary light,
    Sicut voluisti,
Therefore He is yclept our Driht;²
Jesu, bring my thought to Christ
    Constanter,
That it be stable and not changeable,
    Fraudenter.
Jesu Christ, Thou art on loft,³
    Digno Tu scandente,
Heaven and earth Thou havest ywrought,
    Victore triumphante,
Mankind with Thy body a-bought,
Thou wouldst not him have lost for nought,
    Nec dare;
And gave the blood that was so good,
    Tam gnare.
Sweetë lady, flower of all,
    Vere consolatrix,
Thou be mine help that I ne⁴ fall,
    Cunctis reparatrix.
Mildest queen and best ycorn,⁵
Night and day thou be me forn⁶
    Precantis.
Give me grace to see thy face,
    Infantis,
That I through thy sweetë bene,⁷
    Tutrix orphanorum,
May leavë all this worldës teen,⁸
    Solamen miserorum.
And to thee, Lady, may I take
And my sins (may) all forsake,
    Volunte,
That I ne missë of thy bliss,
    Poscente.   

Notes:

1. Text: am ifaiht. Return

2. Lord. Return

3. On High. Return

4. Not. Return

5. Chosen. Return

6. Be for me. Return

7. Prayer. Return

8. Trouble.  Return

Translations from Rickert:

• Mater salutaris is translated as "Healing Mother."

• Vere nuncuparis is translated as "You shall be called truly"

• Potente is translated as "O powerful one."

• Repente is translated as "Suddenly."

• Luto gratulante is translated as "Delighting in filth."

• Illaque favente is translated as "By her favour."

• Fervore is translated as "With raging."

• Dolore is translated as "With sorrow."

• Omnia fecisti is translated as "Ye have done all things."

• Sicut voluisti is translated as "As you have wished."

• Constanter is translated as "Steadfastly."

• Fraudenter is translated as "Deceitfully."

• Digno Tu scandente is translated as "Thou fitly ascending."

• Victore triumphante is translated as "Victor triumphing."

• Nec dare is translated as "Nor give."

• Tam gnare is translated as "So wisely."

• Vere consolatrix is translated as "Truly a consoler (fem.)."

• Cunctis reparatrix is translated as "Renewer (fem.) of all things."

• Infantis is translated as "Of the Child."

• Tutrix orphanorum is translated as "The Guardian (fem.) of orphans."

• Solamen miserorum is translated as "Comfort of the wretched."

• Volunte is translated as "Willing."

• Poscente is translated as "Entreating (it)."

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