The Oxford Book of Ballads :: 105. The Twelve Good Joys

105. The Twelve Good Joys

I

The first good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of one,
To see her own Son Jesus
To suck at her breast bone;
To suck at her breast bone, good man,
And blessÈd may he be,
Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

II

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of two,
To see her own son Jesus
To make the lame to go;
To make the lame to go, good man, &c.

III

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of three;
To see her own Son Jesus
To make the blind to see;
To make the blind to see, good man, &c.

IV

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of four,
To see her own Son Jesus
To read the Bible o’er;
To read the Bible o’er, good man, &c.

V

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of five,
To see her own son Jesus
To raise the dead alive;
To raise the dead alive, good man, &c.

VI

The next good joy our Mary had.
It was the joy of six,
To see her own Son Jesus
To wear the crucifix;
To wear the crucifix, good man, &c.

VII

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of seven,
To see her own Son Jesus
To wear the crown of Heaven;
To wear the crown of Heaven, good man, &c.

VIII

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of eight,
To see our blessÈd Saviour
Turn darkness into light;
Turn darkness into light, good man, &c.

IX

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of nine,
To see our blessÈd Saviour
Turn water into wine;
Turn water into wine, good man, &c.

X

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of ten,
To see our blessÈd Saviour
To write without a pen;
To write without a pen, good man, &c.

XI

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of eleven,
To see our blessÈd Saviour
To show the gates of Heaven;
To show the gates of Heaven, good man, &c.

XII

The next good joy our Mary had,
It was the joy of twelve,
To see our blessÈd Saviour
Shut close the gates of hell;
Shut close the gates of hell, good man,
And blessÈd may he be,
Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

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