[Jacopone da Todi, O Regina cortese, “Laude”, XIII, 13th century.]
O Queen of all courtesy
To thee I come and I kneel,
My wounded heart to heal,
To thee for succour I pray—
To thee I come and I kneel,
For lo! I am in despair;
None other help can heal,
Thou only wilt hear my prayer:
And if I should lose Thy care,
My spirit must waste away.
My heart is wounded more,
Madonna, than tongue can tell;
Pierced to the very core;
Rottenness there doth dwell.
Hasten to make me well!
How canst Thou say me nay?
Madonna, so fierce the strain
Of this my perilous hour,
Nature is turned to pain,
So strong is evil's power;
Be gracious, O Ivory Tower!
My anguish touch and allay.
All that I had is spent:
In nothingness am I drest;
Make me Thine instrument,
Thy servant ransomed and blest:
—He Who drank from Thy chest,
Madonna, the price will pay.
Thy Son, Who loved me first,—
By His dear love I entreat,
Madonna, pity my thirst,
Grant me Thy counsel meet!
Succour me, Lily most sweet!
Haste, and do not delay!
Madonna speaks:
Come to Me, son most dear,
Thy coming is all my pleasure;
Ask my help without fear,
Gladly I give in due measure;
Yet, for my skill and treasure,
In suffering must thou pay.
If that thou wouldst be well,
Spare thy diet must be;
Conquer thy senses and quell,
Teach them from peril to flee;
Till they be chastened and free,
Lest nature ruin and slay.
Then take, for a healing draught,
Fear of the coming of death:
Though youth both sported and laughed,
That coming still hasteneth:
Let vanity, like a breath,
Fade from its ancient sway.
Then, for a potion, drink
The solemn terror of Hell:
In that dark prison, O think!
Lost souls forever must dwell.
So, surely, thy heart will swell,
And cast the poison away!
Before my priest without fear,
Void forth the venomous thing:
It is his office to hear,
And God the ransom will bring:
So the Enemy's triumphing
Shall be hushed for ever and aye.
