English songs in manuscript Selden B. 26 / [ed. Frederick Morgan Padelford].

14.

As Y lay vp-on a nyȝt, for soth Y sawe a semely syȝt:

I be-held a berde so bryȝt, a child she bare on honde.

Here lokyng was so louely, [ 5] here semblant was so swete, of alle my care & sorwe she may my balys bete.

By here sate a seruant þat seide al in his sawe— [ 10] he semyd by his semblant a man of þe olde lawe—

'þou wondryst', he seide skilfully, 'in þynge þou hast be-holde; and so Y dyde trywly [ 15] tyl talys were me y-tolde.

They þat Y vnworthy be, [ 18b.] she is Mary myn owne wyf; God wote she hadde neuer childe by me, & ȝyt Y loue here as my lyf. [ 20]

Y trust vn-to here godenys, she wolde not mysdoo, þat Y wyst ful wel, Y-wys, for ofte Y haue y-founde hit soo.'

I be-helde þat swete wyȝt, [ 25] and to my-selfe Y sayde: she hadde y-do man-kynde vnryȝt yf she were a mayde.

His here was hore al on his hede, his ble be-gan to glyde; [ 30] she herde ful wel what Y sayde & bade me faire a-byde,

and saide she was a-lone, maide and moder y-core, and with-oute wem of man [ 35] a childe she hadde y-bore.

'But er euer Y wyste here wombe be-gan to ryse.

Y telle ȝow trywth trywly— Y note in whoche wyse— [ 40]

that rather a maide sholde with-oute man conceyue than Mary mysdo wolde an soo Iosep disceyue.