next abbay. His mother swooning by the bierë lay; Unnethës might the people that were there This newë Rachel bringë from his bier.
Upon his bierë lay this innocent Before the altar while the massë last’; And, after that, th’ abbót with his convént Have sped them for to bury him full fast; And when they holy water on him cast, Yet spake this child, when sprinkled was the water, And sang, O Alma redemptoris mater!
This abbot, which that was a holy man, As monkës be, or ellës ought to be, This youngë child to conjure he began, And said; “O dearë child! I halsë thee, In virtue of the holy Trinity; Tell me what is thy cause for to sing, Since that thy throat is cut, to my seemíng.”
“My throat is cut unto my neckë-bone,” Saidë this child, “and, as by way of kind, I should have diëd, yea long time agone; But Jesus Christ, as ye in bookës find, Will that his glory last and be in mind; And, for the worship of his mother dear, Yet may I sing O Alma loud and clear.
“This well of mercy, Christë’s mother sweet, I loved alway, after my conníng: And when that I my lifë should forlete, To me she came, and bade me for to sing This anthem verily in my dying, As ye have heard; and, when that I had sung, Me thought she laid a grain upon my tongue.
“Wherefore I sing, and sing I must certáin, In honour of that blissful maiden free, Till from my tongue off taken is the grain. And after that thus saidë she to me; ‘My little child, then will I fetchë thee, When that the grain is from thy tonguë take: Be not aghast, I will thee not forsake.’ ”
This holy monk, this abbot him mean I, His tongue out caught, and took away the grain; And he gave up the ghost full softëly. And when this abbot had this wonder seen, His saltë tearës trickled down as rain: And groff he fell all flat upon the ground, And still he lay, as he had been y-bound.