Italian Carol of the Annunciation

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1.
"Hail blessed virgin Mary,"
For so when he did meet thee,

Spake mighty Gabriel,
And thus we greet thee.
Come weal, come woe, 
our hymn shall never vary:
"Hail blessed virgin Mary,
Hail blessed virgin Mary!"

2.
Ave, ave Maria,
To gladden priest and people,
The Angelus shall ring
From every steeple;
To sound his virgin birth, 
Alleluia,
Ave, ave Maria,
Ave, ave Maria.

3.
Archangels chant, "Osanna",
And, "Holy, holy, holy",
Before the infant born
Of thee, thou lowly;
Aye maiden child of Joachim and Anna,
Archangels chant, "Osanna,"
Archangels chant, "Osanna!"

George Ratcliffe Woodward,

translator, original 17th century Italian

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