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   6
 
 

   Another day this creatur schuld geve hir to medytacyon, as sche was bodyn befor,
and sche lay stylle, nowt knowyng what sche mygth best thynke. Than sche seyd to
ower Lord Jhesu Crist, "Jhesu, what schal I thynke?" Ower Lord Jhesu answeryd to
hir mende, "Dowtyr, thynke on my modyr, for sche is cause of alle the grace that thow
hast." And than anoon sche saw Seynt Anne gret wyth chylde, and than sche preyd
Seynt Anne to be hir mayden and hir servawnt. And anon ower Lady was born, and
than sche besyde hir to take the chyld to hir and kepe it tyl it wer twelve yer of age
wyth good mete and drynke, wyth fayr whyte clothys and whyte kerchys. And than
sche seyd to the blyssed chyld, "Lady, ye schal be the modyr of God." The blyssed
chyld answeryd and seyd, "I wold I wer worthy to be the handmayden of hir that
schuld conseive the sone of God." The creatur seyd, "I pray yow, Lady, yyf that grace
falle yow, forsake not my servyse." The blysful chyld passyd awey for a certeyn
tyme, the creatur being stylle in contemplacyon, and sythen cam ageyn and seyd,
"Dowtyr, now am I bekome the modyr of God." And than the creatur fel down on hir
kneys wyth gret reverens and gret wepyng and seyd, "I am not worthy, Lady, to do
yow servyse." "Yys, dowtyr," sche seyde, "folwe thow me, thi servyse lykyth me
wel." Than went sche forth wyth owyr Lady and wyth Josep, beryng wyth hir a potel
of pyment and spycys therto. Than went thei forth to ElysabethSeynt John Baptystys
modir, and, whan thei mettyn togyder, eythyr of hem worshepyd other, and so thei
wonyd togedyr wyth gret grace and gladnesse twelve wokys. And than Seynt John
was bor, and owyr Lady toke hym up fro the erthe wyth al maner reverens and gaf
hym to hys moder, seyng of hym that he schuld be an holy man, and blyssed hym.
Sythen thei toke her leve eythyr of other wyth compassyf terys. And than the creatur
fel down on kneys to Seynt Elysabeth and preyd hir sche wold prey for hir to owyr
Lady that sche mygth do hir servyse and plesawns. "Dowtyr, me semyth," seyd
Elysabeth, "Thu dost ryght wel thi dever." And than went the creatur forth wyth owyr
Lady to Bedlem and purchasyd hir herborwe every nyght wyth gret reverens, and
owyr Lady was receyved wyth glad cher. Also sche beggyd owyr Lady fayr whyte
clothys and kerchys for to swathyn in hir sone whan he wer born, and, whan Jhesu
was born sche ordeyned beddyng for owyr Lady to lyg in wyth hir blyssed sone. And
sythen sche beggyd mete for owyr Lady and hir blyssyd chyld. Aftyrward sche swathyd
hym wyth byttyr teerys of compassyon, havyng mend of the scharp deth that he schuld
suffyr for the lofe of synful men, seyng to hym, "Lord, I schal fare fayr wyth yow; I
schal not byndyn yow soor. I pray yow beth not dysplesyd wyth me."