Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 1173

DIMEV 1173

IMEV 707

NIMEV 707

Ecce ancilla domini

A song of the Annunciation — in 8-line stanzas with the refrain, ‘Ecce ancilla domini’

Subjects: Annunciation, songs of; Virgin Mary, Annunciation to

Versification: — eight-line — ababbcbc

Macaronic: Latin

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Addit. 5943, f. 182v

First Lines:

Ecce Ancilla domini
thus seyde the virgine vythute eny vyse
When gabryll grett hurd gracyously
hayle be that virgine I preuyd on prys
thu shalt conceyue a swete spyce…

Last Lines:

…Then seyde the virgine so myldely
He schal be dyre welcome to me
Ecce Ancilla domini

Note: Four stanzas: first of 7 lines (ababbab), others of 8 lines (ababbcbc).

Facsimiles:

Mayer, L. S. Music, Cantilenas and Songs. London, 1906 (privately printed); by "L. S. M.": 45.

Rastall, Richard. “Introduction.” A Fifteenth-Century Song Book: Cambridge University Library Additional MS 5943 made in facsimile. Leeds: Boethius Press, 1973.

Editions:

Mayer, L. S. Music, Cantilenas and Songs. London, 1906 (privately printed); by "L. S. M.": 45.

Brown, Carleton Fairchild, ed. Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century. Oxford: Clarendon, 1939: 105-6.

2.Source: Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Advocates’ 19.3.1, ff. 89v-90v

First Lines:

Ecce ancilla domini
Seyde þo virgyn withowtyn vice
When gabriell hur gret graciously…

Last Lines:

…At þat worde knot was knytte
Ecce ancilla domini

Note: Seven 8-line stanzas.

Facsimiles:

Hardman, Phillipa. The Heege Manuscript: A Facsimile of National Library of Scotland MS Advocates 19.3.1. Leeds Texts and Monographs, n.s. 16. Leeds: School of English, 2000.

Editions:

Turnbull, William Barclay David Donald, ed. The Visions of Tundale. Edinburgh: T.G. Stevenson, 1843: 141-3.

Breul, Karl. “Zwei mittelenglische Christmas Carols.” Englische Studien 14 (1890): 401-08: 401-2.

Chambers, Edmund Kerchever, and Frank Sidgwick. Early English Lyrics…. London: Buller, 1907, 1911 et seq: 112-14.

hinder: adj.¹ and noun.² A. adj.¹ 1. Situated behind, at the back, or in the rear; posterior. (Notwithstanding its comparative form, it does not differ in sense from hind, but is more frequently used. Cf. YON adv., YONDER adv., adj., pron., and n.) hinder gate, postern gate. 2. Of time. a. Last past, ‘last’; as in this hinder day yesterday, this hinder night last night, yesternight. OED

priven: verb To deprive (sb.) of (sth.), deny (sb. sth.); ppl. prived, bereaved, bereft of, deprived of; without; (b) ~ of (from), to deprive (sb. of sth.), deny (sth. to sb.), exclude (sb. from sth.); prived of (from), deprived of (sth.), bereft of; lacking, without; ben of god priving, be a robber of goods; (c) to depose (sb.), dismiss; ~ of (from), deprive (sb.) of (power, kingdom, etc.), remove or dismiss (sb.) from (office or position); (d) to take (sth.) away; prevent (sth.), deny, oppose; weaken (the body); -- also without obj. MED