"Latin: Angelus ad virginem|italic=no" (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.
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 [1] 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", where the scholar Nicholas sings it in Latin to the accompaniment of his psaltery.
"Quomodo conciperem,Quae virum non cognovi?Qualiter infringerem,Quae firma mente vovi?""Spiritus sancti gratiaPerficiet haec omnia.Ne timeas, sed gaudeasSecura, quod castimoniaManebit in te puraDei potentia."
Ad haec, virgo nobilisRespondens inquit ei,"Ancilla sum humilisOmnipotentis Dei.Tibi coelesti nuntio,Tanti secreti conscio,Consentiens et cupiens videreFactum quod audio,Parata sum parereDei consilio."
Angelus disparuitEt statim puellarisUterus intumuitVi partus salutaris.Qui, circumdatus uteroNovem mensium numero,Hinc exiit et iniit conflictum,Affigens humeroCrucem, qua dedit ictumHosti mortifero.
Eia Mater Domini,Quae pacem reddidistiAngelis et hominiCum Christum genuisti!Tuum exora filiumUt se nobis propitiumExhibeat, et deleat peccata,Praestans auxiliumVita frui beataPost hoc exsilium.
"How can I conceive,When I have never known a man?How can I transgressresolutions that I have vowed with a firm mind?""The grace of the Holy Spiritshall do all this.Do not be afraid, but rejoicewithout a care, since your chastitywill remain in you unspoiltthrough the power of God."
To this, the noble Virgin,replying, said to him,"I am the humble maidservantof almighty God.To you, heavenly messenger,and bearer of such a great secret,I give my consent, and wishing to seedone what I hear,I am ready to obeythe will of God."
The angel vanished,and at once the girl'swomb swelledwith the force of the pregnancy of salvation.He, protected by the wombfor nine months in number,left it and began the struggle,fixing to his shouldera cross, with which he dealt the blowto the deadly Enemy.
Hail, Mother of our Lord,who brought peace backto angels and menwhen you bore Christ!Pray your sonthat he may show favor to usand blot out our sins,giving us helpto enjoy a blessed lifeafter this exile.
A 14th middle-English version begins:
This is the music of the carol, as it is known today, with the first verse of the Latin words: