best of these performances; though it is not a song to the Virgin strictly speaking, but should rather be called—
Our Lady's Message from Heaven.
Once ere the Angel of Death descended
To our world of woe,
At the throne of the Virgin he attended,
Her pleasure to know,
"Are there any among the maidens bright,
The daughters of men,
Who are worthy to grace my bower of light?"
Said our lady then;
"For I would that the pure and beautiful
My glory should see;
And the good, and the tender, and truthful,
Come hither to me.
"Then in whispers soft tell the young and fair,
What my pleasure is,—
That they flee the false joys of earth, and share
My abode of bliss.
"Of earth's sweetest flowers shall my handmaidens be;
And transplanted here,
They shall bloom in the light of eternity,
My bright throne near."
So now we know when the fair ones we love.
Are summoned away;
They are gone to attend on the Virgin above,
In glory for aye!
