titled middle english lyric poem carol 15th century celebrating virgin birth jesus described admired short vernacular english poems late middle ages written anonymous hand text found manuscript collection medieval lyrics held british library contemporary sources suggest known day originally intended sung evidence work musical setting survives formed basis number modern choral vocal works analysis work described yale_university researcher medieval manuscripts admired fifteenth century middle english lyrics offers simple form extremely delicate haunting presentation mary conception christ primarily text celebrates mary described luke widely references concepts university wisconsin stevens point notes quiet beautiful meditation inward aspects immediate consequences mary acceptance message concept choice mary important subtlety text writes brain subtle ear gone making poem celebrating mystery christ conception falling grass flower spray traditional imagery texts suggests ease grace generally progressive stages emphasis mary freedom choice moment strictly proper according miles despite celebratory opening mary physical proof remains poet priority result poet repeats phrase verses implications conception mary birth jesus christ poem written person point view contains text original spelling intact modern translation origin manuscript poem found held date work speculate lyrics belonged wandering poems included manuscript include adam lay songs begging song scholar notes contains surviving copies poems include aforementioned poem adam lay born suggested fellow antiquarian dated manuscript reign personally felt greatest antiquity included fifteenth century lyrics contained earlier origin wright speculated basis dialect middle english lyrics probably originated suggested number songs intended use mystery plays recent analysis manuscript places dialect east original specifically norfolk carol county contain unique instance lyric manuscript surviving source scholar proposed poem similarity earlier 13th century poem held cambridge unlikely accidental specialist latin drama late middle ages noted set contemporary compiled writer called quote final phrases poem way suggest poem widely known time musical setting explicitly noted poem originally intended sung noted emeritus professor text imply melody verse oral tradition time original melody song course time forgotten text composers set text music diverse choral vocal interpretations berkeley ceremony setting published chorus sing maiden opera salisbury work regularly performed
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