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Edition notes: From the Eton Choirbook. Source: Vol I, ed. Frank Ll. Harrison, 2nd ed. 1967. Notation here is a tone lower than original with time values halved. Text in italics in this edition (but not in the text/translation below) is red in the MS, suggesting performance by a smaller group of singers. Translation, text underlay and musica ficta by John Hetland and The Renaissance Street Singers.
Manuscript c. 1500 – 1520 in Eton Choirbook, no. 21 Description: Marian Antiphon for use from Pentecost until Advent.
External websites:
Original text and translations
This Salve Regina has many interpolations, shown here in italics, to the customary text.
Original text and translations may be found at Salve Regina.
Latin text
Salve Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exilium ostende.
Virgo mater ecclesiae,
Aeterna porta gloriae.
Esto nobis refugium
Apud patrem et filium.
O clemens:
Virgo clemens, virgo pia,
Virgo dulcis, O Maria,
Exaudi preces omnium
Ad te pie clamantium.
O pia,
Funde preces tuo nato,
Crucifixo, vulnerato,
Et pro nobis flagellato,
Spinis puncto, felle potato.
O dulcis Maria, salve.
English translation
Hail, O Queen, Mother of mercy:
our life, sweetness and hope, hail!
To you we cry, exiled children of Eve,
To you we sigh, moaning and weeping
in this valley of tears.
Therefore look! our Advocate,
turn your most merciful eyes toward us.
And reveal to us Jesus, blessed fruit
of your womb, after this exile.
Virgin mother of the church,
Eternal gateway to glory.
Be for us a refuge
With the father and son.
O merciful:
Merciful virgin, holy virgin,
Sweet virgin, O Mary,
Hear the prayers of all
Piously crying to you.
O holy one,
Pour prayers to your son,
Crucified, wounded,
And for our sake whipped,
Pierced with thorns, made to drink bile.