by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Jesu, mercy, how may this be?
Language: English
Jesu, mercy, how may this be, That God himself for his sole mankind Would take on Him humanity? My wit nor reason may it well find: Jesu, mercy, how may this be? Christ that was of infinite might, Egall to the Father in deity, Immortal, impassible, the worldes light, And would so take mortality! Jesu, mercy, how may this be? He that wrought this world of nought, That made both paines and joy also, And suffer would pain as sorrowful thought With weeping, wailing, sowning for woe. Jesu, mercy, how may this be? Ah, Jesu! Why suffered thou such entreating, As beating, bobbing, yea, spitting on thy face? Drawn like a thief, and for a pain sweating Both water and blood, crucified, an heavy case? Jesu, mercy, how may this be? Lo, man, for thee, that were unkind, Gladly suffered I all this. And why, good Lord? Express thy mind! Thee to purchase both joy and bliss. Jesu, mercy, how may this be?
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Browne (flourished c1490), "Jesu, mercy, how may this be?" [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 26
Word count: 163