Hear a maiden's prayer

Ave maria! maiden mild!
O listen to a maidens 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 banishd, outcast, and reviled;)
O maiden! see a maidens sorrow -
O mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave maria!

Ave maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch whereon were sleeping
(the flinty couch we now must share)
Shall seem with down of eider piled,
If thou above, sweet, watch our keeping
(if thy protection hover there.)
The murky caverns airs so heavy
(the murky caverns heavy air)
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
O maiden! hear a maidens pleading!
(then, maiden! hear a maidens 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 maidens prayer;)
And for a father hear a child!
Ave maria!