Ave Maria, maiden mild
O listen to a maiden's prayer
For thou canst hear amid the wild
(For thou canst hear though from the wild)
'Tis thou, 'tis thou canst save amid despair
We slumber safely 'til the morrow
(Safe may we sleep beneath thy care)
Tho' we, by men, outcast, reviled
(Tho' banish'd, outcast and reviled)
O maiden, see a maiden's sorrow
O mother, hear a suppliant child, Ave Maria
Ave Maria, un-defiled
The flinty couch whereon we're sleeping
Shall seem with down of eider piled
If thou above, sweet, watch our keeping
(If thy protection hover there)
The murky cavern's air's so heavy
(The murky cavern's heavy air)
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled
O maiden, hear a maiden's pleading
(Then, maiden, hear a maiden's prayer)
O mother, hear a suppliant child, Ave Maria
Ave Maria, stainless styled
O fiends of air and earth the essence
(Foul demons of the earth and air)
From this their wonted haunt exiled
Shall flee before thy holy presence
(Shall fee before thy presence fair)
We bow beneath our care so laden
(We bow us to our lot of care)
To thy dear guidance reconciled
(Beneath thy guidance reconciled)
Then hear, o maiden, simple maiden
(Hear for a maid, a maiden's prayer)
And for a father hear a child, Ave Maria