Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

Gabriel of high degree,
He came down from Trinity,
To Nazareth in Galilee,
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

He met a maiden in a place,
He kneeled down afore her face.
He said, ‘Hail, Mary, full of grace!’
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

When the maid heard tell of this
She was full sore abashed I-wys,
And wened that she had done amiss.
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

Then said the angel, ‘Dread not you,
You shall conceive in all vertue
A Child whose name shall be Jesu.’
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

‘It is not yet six months agone
Since Elizabeth conceived John,
As it was prophesied before.’
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.

Then said the maiden verily:
‘I am your servant right truly,
Ecce ancilla Domini.’
Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’.
[Nova! Nova! ‘Ave’ fit ex ‘Eva’ = News! News! ‘Ave’ is made from ‘Eva’
I-wys = indeed
wened = thought
Ecce ancilla Domini = Behold the handmaid of the Lord]