| Contents | Angelus ad Virginem Gabriel, from Heaven's King |
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Angelus ad Virginem is a popular Medieval carol that is still popular today. It is estimated to have been composed in the later part of the 13th century. It appears in the Dublin Troper (ca. 1360) and Chaucer mentions it in his Miller's tale. The translation below is a poem by Gerald Manley Hopkins, S.J. (1844-1889), who used the Latin text as a basis for his composition. While not literal, it does try to capture the feeling of the original Latin text.
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| ANGELUS ad Virginem subintrans in conclave Virginis formidinem demulcens inquit:<<Ave!>> Ave, Regina virginum, caeli terraeque Dominum concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum, tu porta caeli facta medela criminum. |
Gabriel, from heaven's king Sent to the maiden sweet, Brought to her blissful tiding And fair 'gan her to greet. 'Hail be thou, full of grace aright! For so God's Son, the heaven's light, Loves man, that He | a man will be | and take Flesh of thee, maiden bright, Mankind free for to make Of sin and devil's might.' |
| Quomodo conciperem quae virum non cognovi? Qualiter infringerem quod firma mente vovi? Spiritus Sancti gratia perficiet haec omnia; ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura quod castimonia manebit in te pura Dei potentia. |
Gently to him gave answer The gentle maiden then: 'And in what wise should I bear Child, that know not man?' The angel said: 'O dread thee nought. 'Tis through the Holy Ghost that wrought Shall be this thing | whereof tidings | I bring: Lost mankind shall be bought By thy sweet childbearing, And back from sorrow brought.' |
| Ad haec virgo nobilis respondens inquit ei: <<Ancilla sum humilis omnipotentis Dei. Tibi caelesti nuntio, tanti secreti conscio consentiens et cupiens videre factum quod audio; parata sum parere Dei consilio.>> |
When the maiden understood And the angel's words had heard, Mildly, of her own mild mood, The angel she answered: 'Our Lord His handmaiden, I wis, I am, that here above us is: And touching me |fulfilled be | thy saw; That I, since His will is, Be, out of nature's law A maid with mother's bliss.' |
| Angelus disparuit, et statim puellaris uterus intumuit vi partus virginalis. quo circumdatus utero novum mensium numero; hinc exiit, et iniit conflictum, affigens humero; Crucem qua dedit ictum hosti mortifero. |
The angel went away thereon And parted from her sight And straightway she conceived a Son Through th' Holy Ghost His might. In her was Christ contained anon, True God, true man, in flesh and bone; Born of her too | When time was due; | who then Redeemed us for His own, And bought us out of pain, And died for us t'atone. |
| Eia Mater Domini, quae pacem reddidisti Angelis et homini, cum Christum genuisti: tuum exora Filium ut se nobis propitium exhibeat et deleat peccata: praestans auxilium vita frui beata post hoc exsilium. |
Filled full of charity, Thou matchless maiden-mother, Pray for us to him that He For thy love above other, Away our sin and guilt should take, And clean of every stain us make And heaven's bliss, | when our time is | to die, Would give us for thy sake; With grace to serve him by Till He us to him take. Amen. |
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