Dou Way Robyn

A remarkable medieval piece with a drone in English and the main lyrics in Latin. Drone: Dou way, Robyn, the child wile weepe; dou way Robyn. [Be quiet, Robin, the child will weep; be quiet, Robin.] Melody: Sancta mater gratiae, stella claritatis visita nos hodie plena pietatis. Veni, vena veniae mox incarceratis, solamen angustiae, fons suavitatis. Recordare, mater Christi, quam amare tu flevisti; juxta crucem tu stetisti, suspirando viso tristi O, Maria, flos regalis, inter omnes nulla talis; Tuo nato specialis nostrae carnis parce malis O, quam corde supplici locuta fuisti, Gabrielis nunci i cum verba cepisti. “En ancilla Domini,” propere dixisti; vernum vivi gaudii post hoc perperisti. Gaude, digna, tam benigna caeli solio; tuos natos, morbo stratos, redde filio. [Translation:] Holy mother of grace, star of brightness, visit us today, full of compassion. Come soon, channel of pardon, to those in prison, as a solace of misery, a source of sweetness. Remember, mother of Christ, how bitterly thou didst weep; thou didst stand beside the cross sighing at the sad sight. O Mary, royal flower, among all women nonesuch, in thy son unequalled, forgive the sins of our flesh. O, with how humble a heart thou didst speak when thou didst receive the words of Gabriel the messenger. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord,” thou didst quickly say; thereafter thou didst bear the springtime of living joy. Rejoice, worthy lady, so gracious, in the throne of heaven; restore thy children, brought low by vice, to the Son. Music and lyrics: anonymous English and Latin from England, 14th cent.