Interlude
~~~~~
Behold, a silly tender babe,
in freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies.
Alas, a piteous sight!
The inns are full; no man will yield
This little pilgrim bed.
But forced he is with silly beasts
in crib to shroud his head.
This stable is a Prince's court,
this crib his chair of State;
The beasts are parcel of his pomp
the wooden dish his plate.
The persons in that poor attire
His royal liveries wear;
The Prince himself is come from heaven;
This pomp is prized there.
With joy approach, 0 Christian wight,
Do homage to thy King,
And highly praise his humble pomp,
wich he from Heaven doth bring.
Pleasure it is
to hear iwis,
the Birdes sing,
The deer in the dale,
the sheep in the vale,
the corn springing.
God's purveyance
for sustenance,
It is for man,
it is for man.
Then we always
to give him praise,
And thank him than.
~~~~~
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Adam lay ibounden, bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter thought he not to long.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
And all was for an appil, an appil that he tok,
As clerkes finden written in their book.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Ne had the appil take ben, the appil take ben,
Ne hadde never our lady a ben hevene quene.
Blessed be the time that appil take was.
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias! Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Hodie Christus natus est;
Hodie salvator apparuit;
Hodie in terra canunt angeli, laetantur archangeli;
Hodie exultant justi dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Alleluja!
Today Christ is born;
Today the Savior has appeared;
Today Angels sing on earth, and Archangels rejoice;
Today the just exult, saying:
Glory to God in the highest!
Alleluia!
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