Angelus ad virginem

"Angelus ad virginem" (Latin for "The angel came to the virgin", also known by its English title, "Gabriel, from Heven King Was to the Maide Sende") is a medieval carol whose text is a poetic version of the Hail Mary and the Annunciation by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.

Background
Probably Franciscan in origin, it was brought to Britain by French friars in the 13th century. It is said to have originally consisted of 27 stanzas, with each following stanza beginning with the consecutive letter of the alphabet.

Surviving manuscripts may be found in a c. 1360 Dublin Troper (a music book for use at Mass) and a 13th or 14th century vellum sequentiale that may have been connected with the Church of Addle, Yorkshire. Its lyrics also appear in the works of John Audelay in a group of four Marian poems. It is also mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale" (c. 1390), where the scholar Nicholas sings it in Latin to the accompaniment of his psaltery.

Lyrics
Angelus ad virginem, Subintrans in conclave, Virginis formidinem Demulcens, inquit "Ave! Ave, regina virginum: Coeli terraeque dominum Concipies et paries intacta Salutem hominum; Tu porta coeli facta, Medela criminum."

"Quomodo conciperem, Quae virum non cognovi? Qualiter infringerem, Quae firma mente vovi?" "Spiritus sancti gratia Perficiet haec omnia. Ne timeas, sed gaudeas Secura, quod castimonia Manebit in te pura Dei potentia."

Ad haec, virgo nobilis Respondens inquit ei, "Ancilla sum humilis Omnipotentis Dei. Tibi coelesti nuntio, Tanti secreti conscio, Consentiens et cupiens videre Factum quod audio, Parata sum parere Dei consilio."

Angelus disparuit Et statim puellaris Uterus intumuit Vi partus salutaris. Qui, circumdatus utero Novem mensium numero, Hinc exiit et iniit conflictum, Affigens humero Crucem, qua dedit ictum Hosti mortifero.

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. The angel came to the Virgin, entering secretly into her room; the Virgin's fear calming, he said, "Hail! Hail, queen of virgins: you will conceive the Lord of heaven and earth and bear him, still a virgin, to be the salvation of mankind; you will be made the gate of heaven, the cure of sins."

"How can I conceive, When I have never known a man? How can I transgress resolutions that I have vowed with a firm mind?" "The grace of the Holy Spirit shall do all this. Do not be afraid, but rejoice without a care, since your chastity will remain in you unspoilt through the power of God."

To this, the noble Virgin, replying, said to him, "I am the humble maidservant of almighty God. To you, heavenly messenger, and bearer of such a great secret, I give my consent, and wishing to see done what I hear, I am ready to obey the will of God."

The angel vanished, and at once the girl's womb swelled with the force of the pregnancy of salvation. He, protected by the womb for nine months in number, left it and began the struggle, fixing to his shoulder a cross, with which he dealt the blow to the deadly Enemy.

Hail, Mother of our Lord, who brought peace back to angels and men when you bore Christ! Pray your son that he may show favor to us and blot out our sins, giving us help to enjoy a blessed life after this exile.

Middle English version
A 14th middle-English version begins: Gabriel fram Heven-King / Sent to the Maide sweete, Broute hir blisful tiding / And fair he gan hir greete: "Heil be thu, ful of grace aright! / For Godes Son, this Heven Light, For mannes love / Will man bicome / And take / Fles of thee, Maide bright, / Manken free for to make / Of sen and devles might."

Music
This is the music of the carol, as it is known today, with the first verse of the Latin words: