Lolay, lolay, lay, lay, lolay; my dear mother, sing lullay.
As I lay on Christmas night, alone in my longing,
methought I saw a fair sight, a girl rocking her child.
The maiden wanted to put
her child to sleep without singing;
to the child it seemed she wronged him,
and he bade his mother sing.
‘Sing now, mother,’ said the child, ‘what shall befall me
in the future when I grow up, for all mothers do that.
Every mother, truly, who keeps watch over her cradle,
is wont to lull lovingly and sing her child to sleep.
Sweet mother, fair and gracious, since that is so,
I pray you to lull me and to sing something as well.’
‘Sweet son,’ said she, ‘of what should I sing?
I knew nothing more of you than Gabriel’s greeting.
He greeted me kindly on his knee and said, ‘Hail Mary!
Hail, full of grace, God is with thee;
thou shalt bear the Messiah.’
I wondered greatly in my mind, for I had no husband.
‘Mary,’ he said, ‘do not dread;
leave the God of heaven to his ways.
The Holy Ghost shall do all this,’ he said without delay,
that I should bear man’s bliss and God’s own son.
He said, ‘Thou shalt bear a king in King David’s seat;
in all the house of Jacob he should be lord.’
He said that Elizabeth, who had been barren,
has conceived a male child – give me the more credence.’
I answered gladly, for his words pleased me,
‘Lo, I am here, God’s servant; be it as thou hast said.’
There as he said I bore you on Midwinter Night,
in virginity without pain, by grace of almighty God.
Where shepherds were watching in the uplands
they heard a wondrous song
of angels there, as they told them the tidings of your birth.
Sweet son, assuredly I can say no more,
and if I could, I would gladly, to do all you wish.’
Certainly I saw this sight, I heard this song sung,
as I lay on Christmas night alone in my longing.