A Lady That Was So Fair And Bright

A Lady That Was So Fair And Bright

Also: Enixa est Puerpera

Words and Music: English Traditional, 1425-1450

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 5-6.

1. A lady that was so fair and bright,
Velut maris stella,
Brought forth Jesu full of might,
Parens et puella.

2. Lady, flower of alle thing,
Rosa sine spina,
That barest Jesu, Heaven-King,
Gracia Divina.

3. All this worlde was forlore,
Eva peccatrice,
Till that Jesu was ybore,
De te, genetrice.

4. Of all women thou art best,
Felix fecundata,
To all weary thou art rest,
Mater honorata.

5. Well I wot He is thy Son,
Ventre quem portasti;
There will He grant thee thy boon,
Infans quem lactasti.

6. How sweet He is, how meek He is
Nullus memoravit;
In heaven He is and heaven(ly) bliss
Nobis preparavit.

7. Of all women thou bearest the prize,
Mater gratiosa,
Grant us alle Paradise,
Virgo gloriosa.