THE TILLE THEKERS
Maria, Josep,obstetrix, puer natus iacens in presepio inter
bovem et asinum, et angelus loquens pastoribus, et ludentibus,
in pagina sequente.
JOSEPH¶All wielding God in Trinity,
I pray thee, Lord, for thy great might,
Unto thy simple servant see,
Here in this place where we are pight,
Ourselves alone.
Lord, grant us good harbour this night
Where we have gone.
For we have sought both up and down,
Through divers streets in this city;
So much people is come to town,
That we can nowhere harboured be,
There is such press.
Forsooth I can no succour see
But shelter with the beasts.
And if we here all night abide,
We shall be stormed here in this stead;
The walls are down on every side,
The roof is ruined above our head,
As I may rue.
Say, Mary, daughter, what is thy rede?
How shall we do?
For in great need now are we stead,
As thou thyself in sooth mayest see;
For here is neither clothes nor bed,
And we are weak and all weary,
And fain would rest.
Now, gracious God, for thy mercy
Guide us the best.
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