Part 17 (1/2)

I thee ensure, Within a little s.p.a.ce Thou shalt conceive, And Him receive That shall bring great solace.”

_Noel!_

Then bespake the Virgin again, And answered womanly, ”Whatsoever my Lord commandeth me I will obey truly!

Ecce, sum humillima Ancilla domini, Secundum verb.u.m tuum fiat mihi!

_Noel!_

_Man, move thy mind and joy this feast, Veritas de terra orta est!_

As I came by the way I saw a sight seemly to see, Three shepherds ranging in a kay, Upon the field keeping their fee.

A star, they said, they did espy, Casting the beams out of the east, And angels making melody _Veritas de terra orta est!_

Upon that sight they were aghast, Saying these words, as I say thee: ”To Bethlehem shortly let us haste, And there we shall the truthe see!”

The angel said unto them all three, To their comfort or ever be ceased, ”_Consolamini and merry be, Veritas de terra orta est!_”

From heaven, out of the highest see, Righteousness hath taken the way, With mercy meddled plenteously, And so conceived in a may, Miranda res this is in fay!

So saith the prophet in his gest; Now is He born, scripture doth say: _Veritas de terra orta est!_

Then pa.s.sed the shepherds from that place, And followed by the starres beam, That was so bright afore their face, It brought them straight unto Bethlem.

So bright it shone, on all the realm Till they came there they would not rest, To Jewry and Jerusalem!

_Veritas de terra orta est!_

_All this time this song is best: Verb.u.m caro factum est!_

This night there is a child born That sprang out of Jesse's thorn; We must sing and say thereforn _Verb.u.m caro factum est!_

Jesus is the child's name, And Mary mild is his dame; All our sorrow shall turn to game, _Verb.u.m caro factum est!_

It fell upon high midnight, The stars shone both fair and bright, The angels sang with all their might _Verb.u.m caro factum est!_

Now kneel we down on our knee, And pray we to the Trinity, Our help, our succour for to be!

_Verb.u.m caro factum est!_

_Now sing we, sing we, Gloria tibi domine!_

Christ keep us all, as he well can, A solis ortus cardine!

For He is both G.o.d and man, Qui natus est de virgine!

_Sing we, etc._