Mealor: Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal (Four Madrigals On Rose Texts): A Spotless Rose

A spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers' foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
And in the dark midnight,
Amid the winter cold,
A spotless Rose unfolds.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing,
In Mary, purest Maid;
For, through our God’s great love and might,
And in the dark midnight,
Amid the winter cold,
The blesse’d Babe she bare.