Almighty, all-merciful Queen, to whom all this world flees for succor, to have release from sin, sorrow and trouble, glorious Virgin, flower of all flowers, to you I flee, confounded in error! You mighty, gracious lady, help and relieve me, pity my perilous malady! My cruel adversary has vanquished me.
Bounty has so fixed his tent in your heart that well I know you will be my succor; you can not reject him who with pious mind asks your aid. Your heart is ever so bounteous; you are the liberal giver of full felicity, haven of refuge, of quiet and rest. Lo, how the seven thieves pursue me! Help, bright lady, before my ship goes to pieces!
Comfort is there none, save in you, dear lady, for lo! my sin and confusion, which ought not to come into your presence, have brought against me a grievous suit, founded on strict justice and my despair. And in justice they might well maintain that I would be worthy of condemnation, were it not for your mercy, blessed queen of heaven.
Doubt is there none that you, queen of mercy, are the source of grace and mercy on earth. Through you God vowed to be reconciled with us. For surely, dear, blessed mother of Christ, were the bow of justice and wrath bent now in such wise as it was at first, the righteous God would hear of no mercy; but through you we have favor, as we desire.
Ever has my hope of refuge been in you, for in various manners you have to this day received me into mercy so often. But grant me favor, lady, at the Great Court,* when we shall come before the high Judge! So little fruit shall be found in me at that time that, unless you well chasten me before that day, by strict justice my work will destroy me.
Fleeing, I flee to your tent for aid, to hide me from the terrible tempest, beseeching you that, though I may be wicked, you will not withdraw yourself from me. Ah, help me in this need! Though I have been a beast in will and in act, lady, clothe me with your grace. Take heed, lady, your enemy and mine is determined to pursue me unto my death.
Glorious maid and mother, who never in earth or heaven was bitter, but ever full of sweetness and mercy, in order that my Father may not be angry with me, help me. Please speak, for I dare not behold Him! Alas the time! I have done such things on earth that surely, unless you will be my relief, He will exile my spirit to eternal stench.
He promised, tell Him, to become a man, to have kinship with us, as was His will; and with His precious blood He drew up the contract upon the cross as general release for every penitent that believes in Him. And therefore, bright lady, pray for us! Then you shall both put to rest all His displeasure, and snatch the prey from our foe.
I know it well, you will truly be our comfort, as you are so full of bounty. For when a soul falls into sin, your pity goes and hails him back again. Then you make his peace with his Lord and draw him away from the crooked path. Whoever loves you shall find, as he leaves this life, he loves not in vain.
Kalendars and illuminated texts* are those in this world that are lighted with your name; and whosoever takes to you by the straight path need not fear to be maimed in soul. Now, queen of comfort, since you are she from whom I seek my medicine, let my foe no more re-open my wound; I commit my health entirely into your hand.
Lady, I cannot portray the sorrow you had beneath the cross, nor His grievous suffering. But by the pains of both I pray you, let not the foe of us all make his boast that he has vanquished in his fatal battles what You both have ransomed for such a great price. As I first said, you, the foundation of our being, please keep your merciful bright eyes upon us.
Moses, who saw the bush burning with red flames, of which was never a stick consumed, saw the sign of your unspotted maidenhood. You are the bush which Moses deemed had been afire, on which descended the Holy Spirit; and this was a symbol. Now, lady, defend us from the fire which shall last eternally in hell.
Noble princess, who never had any peer, surely, if there may be any comfort for us, it comes from you, you beloved mother of Christ. No other melody or song do we have to make us rejoice in our adversity, no other advocate who will and dare so pray for us; and you do so for such small payment, and help us for an Ave-Maria* or two.
O true light for blind eyes, O true delight of them in labor and trouble, O treasurer of grace to mankind, you who for your humility God chose as mother! From His handmaiden He made you mistress of heaven and earth, to whom we offer up our petitions. This world ever waits upon your goodness, for you never fail any creature in need.
Purpose I have at times to seek out why the Holy Ghost sought you, when Gabriel’s voice came to your ear. He did not work such a marvel to make war upon us, but to save us whom afterwards He redeemed. Then we need no weapon to save us; but only required penance, when we have not done it, and to ask and receive mercy.
Queen of comfort, yet when I consider that I have sinned toward both Him and you, and that my soul is worthy to sink, alas, where can I, a churl, go? Who shall be my mediator to your Son? Who but yourself, who are the fountain of pity? More pity do you have on our adversity than any tongue in this world can tell.
Reform me, mother, and chasten me, for truly my Father’s chastening I dare in no way to endure, so hideous is His just reckoning. Mother, from whom all mercy to humankind has ever sprung, may you be you my judge and my soul’s healer as well. For pity in you always abounds for all who will beg you for pity.
Sooth* is it that God grants no mercy without you; for God of His goodness forgives none unless it should please you. He has made you vicar and mistress of all the world and empress of heaven as well; and He restrains His justice according to your will, and in token of that He has crowned you in such a royal fashion.
Temple of devotion, where God has His abode from which infidels are forbidden, to you I bring my penitent soul. Receive me; I can flee no further! O queen of heaven, with those venomous thorns for which the earth was accursed so long ago I am so wounded, as you may well see, that I am almost lost; it pains me so grievously.
Virgin so splendid in apparel, who leads us unto the high tower of Paradise, counsel and guide me, how I may obtain your grace and your succor, although I have been in filth and error. Lady, please summon me to that court that is called your bench, O fresh flower, where mercy shall ever remain!
Xristus* your Son descended into this world to suffer His passion upon the cross, and that Longinus* also should pierce His heart and let His heart’s blood run down; and all this was to save me. I am false and unkind to Him, and yet He desires not my damnation. For this I thank you, comfort of all humankind.
Young Isaac was truly the prefiguration of His death; he so obeyed his father that it troubled him not to be slain; even so your Son wished to die as a lamb. Now lady full of mercy, since He measured out His mercy so liberally, I entreat you, please do not be scant; for we all sing and say that you are ever our shield against vengeance.
Zachariah* calls you the open spring to wash the sinful soul from its guilt. Therefore I ought well to read this lesson, which teaches us that, were it not for your tender heart, we would be lost. Now, lady bright, since you can and will be merciful to the seed of Adam, bring us to that palace that is built for penitents who are deserving of mercy. Amen.
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1 Great Court. I.e., Judgment Day
2 Illuminated texts. Calendars were illuminated on feast days.
3 Ave Maria. The Hail Mary prayer.
4 Sooth. True.
5 Xristus. The name of Christ was often abbreviated with an X, which stood for the cross on which he died. The form Xristus is rare.
6 Longinus. The Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus when he had died upon the cross. Many legends grew up around him, including the notion that he was blind and that the blood that poured out from Christ’s side cured his blindness.
7 Zachariah. Old Testament prophet who foretold of the coming of Christ.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. An ABC. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
