Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLADE MADE FOR HIS MOTHER THAT SHE MIGHTE PRAYE, by FRANCOIS VILLON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLADE MADE FOR HIS MOTHER THAT SHE MIGHTE PRAYE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ladye of heaven that o'er earth hath swaye
Last Line: And in this faith I live and will goe hence.
Alternate Author Name(s): Montcorbier, Francois De
Subject(s): Faith; Mary. Mother Of Jesus; Mothers & Sons; Prayer; Women - Bible; Belief; Creed; Virgin Mary


LADYE of heaven that o'er earth hath swaye
And of Hell's marshes art most Royal Reeve,
Grant toe thy humble Christian that doth praye,
To be of those thy virtue doth retrieve.
Though all unworthye of thy great reprieve,
Ladye and mistresse whom I worship well,
Yet can thy virtues save my soul from Hell
Despite my sinfulnesse, and purge the offence
Soe that I win to heaven. Truth I tell:
And in this faith I live and will goe hence.

Tell toe thy Sonne that I am his; my shame
I bear untoe him to be purged of sinne.
Forgive me even as the Egyptian dame
Or as the clerk Theophilus who did win
Thy pardon and a new life did begin,
Though he hadde given his soul in bond to Hell.
Guard me, O Virgin, from foul Satan's spell
Soe that the holye bread I taste, nor thence
Be driven, till Tyme sounde my passynge bell:
And in this faith I live and will goe hence.

I am but a poor old woman whose dim eyes
That lack book-learning, do with joy behold
Within the church a painted Paradyse
With harps and eke with lutës manifold;
Therunder a huge cauldron wherin roll'd
The damnéd seethe for ever in deep Hell,
The which I fear. O Goddesse, let me dwell
Where joy is. Thou, the sinner's sure defence,
Fill me with faith, and all my sloth dispell:
And in this faith I live and will goe hence.

Thou barest, Virgin Princesse, without stain,
Jesus the Kynge that doth for ever reign.
The Almightye, seeinge us in thrall to Hell,
Didde give his deare sonne for our soul's offence
To die, and from the heavens where he doth dwell,
Our Lord did brynge salvation as I tell:
And in this faith I live and will goe hence.





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