|Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (18071882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.|
|Christus: A Mystery|
|Part II. The Golden Legend.|
III. IV. The Nativity: A Miracle-Play.
II. Mary at the Well
MARY.ALONG the garden walk, and thence
|Through the wicket in the garden fence,|
| I steal with quiet pace,|
|My pitcher at the well to fill,|
|That lies so deep and cool and still|| 5|
| In this sequestered place.|
|These sycamores keep guard around;|
|I see no face, I hear no sound,|
| Save bubblings of the spring,|
|And my companions, who, within,|| 10|
|The threads of gold and scarlet spin,|
| And at their labor sing.|
THE ANGEL GABRIEL.Hail, Virgin Mary, full of grace!
Here MARY looketh around her, trembling, and then saith:
MARY.Who is it speaketh in this place,
| With such a gentle voice?|| 15|
GABRIEL.The Lord of heaven is with thee now!
|Blessed among all women thou,|
| Who art his holy choice!|
MARY, setting down the pitcher.What can this mean? No one is near,
|And yet, such sacred words I hear,|| 20|
| I almost fear to stay.|
Here the ANGEL, appearing to her, shall say:
GABRIEL.Fear not, O Mary! but believe!
|For thou, a Virgin, shalt conceive|
| A child this very day.|
|Fear not, O Mary! from the sky|| 25|
|The majesty of the Most High|
| Shall overshadow thee!|
MARY.Behold the handmaid of the Lord!
|According to thy holy word,|
| So be it unto me!|
Here the Devils shall again make a great noise, under the stage.