Lo, to the Sibyl was it given to see
The Virgin-Mother. All entranced did she
Exclaim: 'A Virgin Pure, indeed, I see
Who through the glory of her Chastity
Is raised to honour and high dignity.
'Found is she worthy of the Mystery
In her to be fulfilled. For verily,
She to the world a Child will give, to be
The Son of Thunder. Mighty and radiant, He
The world will rule in deep tranquillity.'
Thus cried the Hellespontian Sibyl: she
The words re-echoed of the prophecy
Of Juda's holy Seer: 'Behold,' saith he,
'The Virgin shall a Son conceive, and He
Emmanuel is (God with us) called to be.'
The Phrygian next in order stands, and she
Points to the working of the mystery:
'Into the Virgin's noble Bosom, He
Whom the Great Father causeth secretly
To come, by Angel's voice announced shall be.'
The Sibyl Tiburtine, thus singeth she:
'Cometh the day when, from eternity
The Prince of Light descends, our Light to be.
Rejoice, O Earth, He comes to set thee free,
To blot out sin, and sin's delinquency.
'Justice He claimeth back for all; yea, He
Is King of Justice from eternity:
And He will come: His resting-place shall be
The Bosom of the Virgin-Queen; and she,
Queen of the World for evermore shall be.'
Thus spake the Prophet of the Lord: 'Oh, see
The Wonder that shall be prepared when He
Who is a Man, shall circumscribed be
And compassed by a Woman.' Verily,
This was the Man: the Virgin-Mother, she.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote