A god too great for the sky.
He has burst out of all things and broken
The bounds of eternity:
He has strayed like a thief or a lover
Into time and the terminal land,
For the wine of the world brims over,
Its splendour is split on the sand.
Who is proud when the heavens are humble,
Who mounts if the mountains fall,
If the fixed stars topple and tumble
And a deluge of love drowns all-
Who holds up his will for a warrant,
Who rears up his head for a crown,
Who strives with the starry torrent,
When all that is good goes down?
For in dread of such falling and failing
The fallen angels fell
Inverted in insolence, scaling
The hanging mountain of hell:
Too deep for their sight to scan,
Unmeasured of plummet and rod
Outrushing the fall of man
Is the height of the fall of God.
Glory to God in the Lowest
The spout of the stars in spate-
Where thunderbolt thinks to be slowest
And the lightning fears to be late:
Pursuing, we hunt and hound it,
As men dive for sunken gem,
The fallen star has found it
In the cavern of Bethlehem.
Melody: Passion Chorale as adapted by Paul Simon in "American Tune"
F Dm G E / Am E Am / F Dm G E / Am E Am
F G F C / F Dm A / G C D G / F G C
Labels: chesteron, chords, christmas
¶ Monday, July 21, 2008 0 comments
Upon His lofty throne;
For He uncloses heav'n today
And gives to us His Son.
He lays aside His majesty
And seems as nothing worth,
And takes on Him a servant's form,
who made the heav'n and earth.
Behold the wonderful exchange
Our Lord with us doth make!
Lo, He assumes our flesh and blood,
And we of heav'n partake.
The glorious gates of paradise
The Angel guards no more;
This day again those gates unfold.
With praise our God adore!
Labels: 16th c., christmas, Niklaus Herman
¶ Monday, December 31, 2007 0 comments
Source: The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, with a Memoir and Notes by William Michael Rossetti (1904), page 159
THEY scarcely waked before they slept,
They scarcely wept before they laughed;
They drank indeed death's bitter draught,
But all its bitterest dregs were kept
And drained by Mothers while they wept.
From Heaven the speechless Infants speak:
Weep not (they say), our Mothers dear,
For swords nor sorrows come not here.
Now we are strong who were so weak,
And all is ours we could not seek.
We bloom among the blooming flowers,
We sing among the singing birds;
Wisdom we have who wanted words:
here morning knows not evening hours,
All's rainbow here without the showers.
And softer than our Mother's breast,
And closer than our Mother's arm,
Is here the Love that keeps us warm
And broods above our happy next.
Dear Mothers, come: for Heaven is best.
Circa 1877
Unspotted lambs to follow the one Lamb,
Unspotted doves to wait on the one Dove;
To whom Love saith, 'Be with Me where I am,'
And lo their answer unto Love is love.
For tho' I know not any note they know,
Nor know one word of all their song above,
I know Love speaks to them, and even so
I know the answer unto Love is love.
Before 1893
Note: Clearly two poems about the Holy Innocents, but without a separating title. The feast day of the Holy Innocents is December 28.
With Terror Doth The Tyrant Hear
Words: Audit tyrannus anxius, Cathemerinon ("The Hymns of Prudentius"), Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-405)
1. With terror doth the tyrant hear
the King of kings hath come to dwell
where David's court shall widely rear
A sceptered reign o'er Israel.
2. Then cries out, raging at the word:
"He comes to stand where we have stood:
Hence, soldier, and with ruthless sword
deluge the cradles deep with blood!"
3. What profiteth a crime so dread?
What hope shall Herod's bosom sway?
Alone amidst the thronging dead,
The Christ is safely born away!
Note:
This is one of four Epiphany hymns derived from Prudentius' (384-413) Hymnus Epiphaniae (Hymn For The Epiphany), which is 52 stanzas long. Two of these hymns, Audit tyrannus anxius and Salvete, flores Martyrum (All Hail Ye Infant Martyr Flowers), were assigned for the feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec 28).
The following is the R. Martin Pope translation of the stanzas of Audit tyrannus anxius, and its Latin equivalent:
| Distraught, the tyrant base doth hear That now the King of Kings draws near To reign in David's seat of state And Israel's empire dominate. "Betrayed are we," he maddened cries, "Our throne's usurper doth arise: Go, soldiers, go with sword in hand And slay all babes within my land. Of what avail is deed so vile? | Audit tyrannus anxius adesse regum principem, qui nomen Israel regat teneatque David regiam. Exclamat amens nuntio, successor instat, pellimur; satelles i, ferrum rape, perfunde cunas sanguine. Quid proficit tantum nefas, |
Hymnus Epiphaniae is from the longer Cathemerinon (The Hymns of Prudentius, translated by R. Martin Pope, 1905). The feast day of the Holy Innocents is December 28; see: The Hymns Of The Holy Innocents.
¶ Friday, December 28, 2007 0 comments
1. The winter sun was setting,
The shades of eve were nigh,
When loving Jewish mothers
Thus sang their lullaby:
O rest thee, gentle baby!
The night stars peep;
Hush! little birds are silent;
Sleep! dear one, sleep!
2. The darksome night had fallen;
There came a ruthless band;
Each babe on mother's bosom
Was slain by murderous hand.
Long rest thee, ransomed baby
In slumber deep!
Within the Arms Eternal
Sleep! dear one, sleep!
3. The morning sun was rising,
Each mother's heart was torn,
As o'er her slaughtered infant
She wailed with grief forlorn:
God rest thee, murdered baby!
His blessing keep
Both babe and mourning mother!
Sleep! dear one, sleep!
4. Again the night has fallen;
There came a vision bright;
The babes the Lamb all radiant
Followed in robes of white.
Joy for my martyr baby!
No more I weep.
Till Christ shall bid thee follow;
Sleep! dear one, sleep!
1. When Herod in Jerusalem
Did reign in princely throne,
Strange tidings then were brought to him
Of a King lately born;
The which did much torment his mind,
So strange a thing should be,
That then amongst the Jews should reign
A greater King than he.
Chorus.
O cruel Herod, hard of heart,
Accursed mayst thou be,
Thou slewest so many Innocents,
That never harmed thee.
That he might the young King prevent,
Most wickedly he will'd,
The children small of two years old
Should certainly be kill'd.
Then did the Lord an Angel send
To Joseph where he lay,
And bad him into Egypt fly,
To bear the Child away. Chorus.
3. Then men appointed when abroad
Young Infants' blood to apill,
Supposing then assuredly
Christ Jesus were to kill.
But see the judgments of the Lord:
In the same wicked train
The King's own son, being out to nurse,
Amongst the rest was slain.1 Chorus.
4. Of Herod's bloody rage with sad
And grievous soul I speak,
By whom this day were slain ten thousand,
Ten thousand Children weak.
Juda's bounds with scarlet wounds
Of suckling babes lay dyed;
The death was spread with crimson red,
Commanded by his pride. Chorus.
5. For unto him was told that born
There was a greater King,
Whose matchless power it should him
Into subjection bring.
Wherefore he sent incontinent
His armed bands in rage,
For to destroy each mother's joy
Under two years of age. Chorus.
6. The Son of God was sought that he
With others might be slain,
And his destruction wrought, as cruel
Herod did ordain.
But soon from Heaven this warning came,
That Mary should not stay,
But with her Child, a Son exil'd,
To Egypt take her way. Chorus.
7. Let us give praise to God therefore,
In modest mirth and glee,
And still this day adorn, wherein
Our Saviour was set free.
For Mary mild, with her dear Child,
In Egypt found great friends,
Till Herod's pride the Lord destroy'd;
And so this Carol ends. Chorus.
Psallite gaudentes,
Infantum festa colentes
1. When God was born of Mary free,
Herod, the king of Galilee,
Was moved to malice by kingës three
Munera portantes,
Regem natum venerantes.
2. Herod sent for men armed bright
To seek and slay the King of light;
The blessed Child drew fro Herod's might
Armati sunt perimentes.
Note:
Rickert provided the following translations:
Psallite gaudentes is translated as "Sing rejoicing."
Infantum festa colentes is translated as "Keeping the feast of the Children."
Munera portantes is translated as "Bringing gifts."
Regem natum venerantes is translated as "Worshipping the King that is born."
Armati sunt perimentes is translated as "The armed men are slaying.
When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
Fair peace on earth to bring,
In lowly state of love He came
To be the children’s King.
And round Him, then, a holy band
Of children blest was born,
Fair guardians of His throne to stand
Attendant night and morn.
And unto them this grace was giv’n
A Savior’s name to own,
And die for Him Who out of Heav’n
Had found on earth a throne.
O blessèd babes of Bethlehem,
Who died to save our King,
Ye share the martyrs’ diadem,
And in their anthem sing!
Your lips, on earth that never spake,
Now sound th’eternal word;
And in the courts of love ye make
Your children’s voices heard.
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Child,
Make Thou our childhood Thine;
That we with Thee the meek and mild
May share the love divine.
1. Mark this song, for it is true,For it is true as clerks tell:
In old time strange things came to pass,
Great wonder and great marvel was
In Israel.
2. There was one Octavian,
Octavian of Rome Emperor,
As books old doth specify,
Of all the wide world truly,
He was lord and governor.
3. The Jews that time lacked a king,
They lacked a king to guide them well,
The Emperor of power and might,
Chose one Herod against all right,
In Israel.
4. This Herod then was King of Jews,
Was King of Jews, and he no Jew,
Forsooth he was a Paynim born,
Wherefore on faith it may be sworn
He reigned King untrue.
5. By prophecy one Isai,
One Isai at least did tell
A child should come, wondrous news,
That should be born true King of Jews
In Israel.
6. This Herod knew one born should be,
One born should be of true lineage,
That should be right heritor;
For he but by the Emperor
Was made by usurpage.
7. Wherefore of thought this King of Herod,
This King Herod in great fear fell,
For all the days most in his mirth,
Ever he feared Christ his birth
In Israel.
8. The time came it pleased God,
It pleased God so to come to pass,
For man's soul indeed
His blessed Son was b orn with speed
As his will was.
9. Tidings came to King Herod,
To King Herod, and did him tell,
That one born forsooth is he,
Which lord and king of all shall be
In Israel.
10. Herod then raged as he wode, [1]
As he were wode of this tiding,
And sent for all his scribes sure,
Yet would he not trust the Scripture,
Nor of their counseling.
11. Then this was the conclusion,
The conclusion of his counsel,
To send unto his knights anon
To slay the children every one
In Israel.
12. This cruel king this tyranny,
This tyranny did put in ure, [2]
Between a day and years two
All men-children he did slew,
Of Christ for to be sure.
13. Yet Herod missed his cruel prey,
His cruel prey as was God's will;
Joseph with Mary then did flee
With Christ to Egypt gone was she
In Israel.
14. All the while these tyrants,
These tyrants would not convert,
But innocents young
That lay sucking,
They thrust to the heart.
15. This Herod sought the children young,
The children young, with courage fell,
But in doing this vengeance
His own son was slain by chance
In Israel.
16. Alas! I think the mothers were woe,
The mothers were woe, it was great skill,
What motherly pain
To see them slain
In cradles lying still!
17. But God Himself hath them elect,
Hath them elect, in heaven to dwell,
For they were bathed in their blood,
For their Baptism forsooth it stood
In Israel.
18. Alas! Again what hearts had they,
What hearts had they those babes to kill,
With swords whey they them caught,
In cradles they lay and laughed,
And never thought ill. ¶ Friday, December 28, 2007 0 comments
| Gaelic lyrics | English translation |
|---|---|
| Ísucán | Jesukin Little Jesus It is little Jesus who is nursed by me in my little hermitage. Though a cleric have great wealth, it is all deceitful save Jesukin. The nursing done by me in my house is no nursing of a base churl. Jesus with heaven's inhabitants is against my heart every night. Little youthful Jesus is my lasting good: he never fails to give. …Though little Jesus be in my bosom (im ucht), he is in his mansion above. |
Labels: 9th c., celtic, christmas
¶ Thursday, December 27, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 18. Music: Green Fields, arranged by Lewis Edson in The Chorister’s Companion (New Haven, Connecticut: 1782), from Cantata 212 (“The Peasant Cantata”), Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, by Johann S. Bach (MIDI, score). | Johann S. Bach (1685-1750) |
|
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 16, alt. Music: Cradle Song, William J. Kirkpatrick, in his 1895 pamphlet “Around the World with Christmas” (MIDI, score). |
O mercy divine, O couldst Thou incline,
My God, to become such as infant as mine?
What wonder of grace: The Ancient of Days
Is found in the likeness of Adam’s frail race!
He comes from on high, who fashioned the sky,
And meekly vouchsafes in a manger to lie;
Our God ever blest, with oxen doth rest,
Is nursed by His creature and hangs at the breast.
So heavenly-mild, His innocence smiled,
No wonder the mother would worship the Child,
The angels she knew had worshipped Him, too,
And still they confess adoration His due.
On Jesus’ face, with eager amaze,
And pleasure ecstatic the cherubim gaze;
Their newly born King, transported they sing,
And Heaven and earth with the triumph doth ring.
The shepherds behold Him, the promised of old,
By angels attended, by prophets foretold;
The wise men adore now, and bring Him their store,
The rich are permitted to follow the poor.
To the inn they repair, to see the young Heir;
The inn is a palace, for Jesus is there!
Who now would be great, and not rather wait
On Jesus their Lord in His humble estate?
Like Him would I be, my Master I see
In a stable; a manger shall satisfy me;
And here will I lie, till raised up on high,
With Him on the cross I recover the sky.
Jesus, by highest heaven adored,
E'er time its course began,
How did thy glorious mercy stoop
To take the fallen nature up,
When thou thyself wert man?
Th' Eternal God from heaven came down,
The King of glory dropped his crown,
And veiled his majesty,
Emptied of all but love he came;
Jesus, I call thee by the name
Thy pity bore for me.
O holy child, still let thy birth
Bring peace to us poor worms of earth,
And praise to God on high!
Come, thou who didst my flesh assume,
Now to the abject sinner come,
And in a manger lie.
Didst thou not in thy person join
The natures human and divine,
That God and man might be
Henceforth inseparably one?
Haste then, and make thy nature known
Incarnated in me.
In my weak sinful flesh appear,
O God, be manifested here,
Peace, righteousness, and joy,
Thy kingdom, Lord, set up within
My faithful heart, and all my sin,
The devil's work destroy.
I long thy coming to confess
The mystic power of godliness,
The life divine to prove,
The fullness of thy life to know,
Redeemed from all my sins below,
And perfected in love.
O Christ, my hope, make known in me
The great, the glorious mystery,
The hidden life impart:
Come, thou desire of nations, come,
Formed in a spotless virgin's womb,
A pure believing heart.
Come quickly, dearest Lord, that I
May own, though antichrist deny,
Thy incarnation's power,
May cry, a witness to my Lord,
"Come in my flesh is Christ, the Word,
And I can sin no more!" ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
O astonishing grace,
That the reprobate race
Should be so reconciled!
What a wonder that God is a child!
The Creator of all,
To repair our sad fall,
From his heaven stoops down,
And our nature, He joins to His own.
Immanuel came,
The world to redeem,
Incarnated showed
We may be united to God!
And shall we not hope,
After God to wake up,
His nature to know?
In sinless perfection below.
To this heavenly prize,
By faith let us rise
To his image ascend,
Apprehended, let us God apprehend.
Labels: chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 13. Music: Gladden, Thoro Harris (MIDI, score). |
Let angels and archangels sing
The wonderful Immanuel’s Name,
Adore with us our new-born King,
And still the joyful news proclaim;
All earth and Heav’n be ever joined
To praise the Savior of mankind.
The everlasting God comes down
To sojourn with the sons of men;
Without His majesty or crown,
The great Invisible is seen;
Of all His dazzling glories shorn
The everlasting God is born!
Angels, behold that Infant’s face,
With rapturous awe the Godhead own;
’Tis all your heav’n on Him to gaze,
And cast your crowns before His throne;
Though now He on His footstool lies,
Ye know He built both earth and skies.
Ye sang the all-creating Word;
Ye heard Him call our world from naught;
Again, in honor of your Lord,
Ye morning-stars your hymns employ,
And shout, ye sons of God, for joy.
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 9. Music: Bealoth, Lowell Mason, Sacred Harp, 1843 (MIDI, score). |
Up to Thy gracious throne,
And bless Thee for the gift,
Of Thine incarnate Son;
The gift unspeakable,
We thankfully receive,
And we Thy goodness tell,
And to Thy glory live.
Jesus the holy Child,
Doth by His birth declare,
That we are reconciled,
And one in Him we are;
Salvation through His Name
To all mankind is giv’n,
And infant cries proclaim
A peace ’twixt earth and Heav’n.
A peace on earth He brings,
Which never more shall end;
The Lord, the King of kings,
Declares Himself our Friend;
Assumes our flesh and blood,
His Spirit we might gain;
Eternal Son of God,
And mortal Son of Man.
His kingdom from above,
He doth to us impart,
Benevolence and love,
O’erflow the faithful heart;
Changèd in a moment we
The sweet attraction find,
The arms of charity
Embracing all mankind.
O might they all receive,
The new-born Prince of Peace,
And in His Spirit live,
And in His love increase!
Till He convey us home,
Cry every soul aloud,
“Desire of nations, come,
And take us up to God.”
Be published abroad at Jesus's birth;
The forfeited favour of heaven we find
Restored in the Saviour and friend of mankind.
Then let us behold Messiah the Lord,
By prophets foretold, by angels adored,
Our God's incarnation with angels proclaim,
And publish salvation in Jesus's name.
Our newly-born King by faith we have seen,
And joyfully sing his goodness to men,
That all men may wonder at what we impart,
And thankfully ponder his love in their heart.
What moved the Most High so greatly to stoop,
He comes from the sky our souls to lift up;
That sinners forgiven, might sinless return
To God and to heaven; their Maker is born.
Immanuel's love let sinners confess,
Who comes from above, to bring us his peace;
Let every believer his mercy adore,
And praise him for ever, when time is no more. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Th' acclaiming hosts of heaven!
This happy morn
A child is born,
For us a son is given.
The messenger and token
Of God's eternal favour,
God hath sent down
To us his Son,
An universal Saviour!
The wonderful Messiah,
The joy of every nation,
Jesus his name,
With God the fame,
The Lord of all creation;
The Counsellor of sinners,
Almighty to deliver,
The Prince of Peace,
Whose love's increase,
Shall reign in man for ever.
Go see the King of glory,
Discern the heavenly stranger,
So poor and mean,
His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger:
Who from his Father's bosom,
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies,
On earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature;
Incarnate see
The deity,
The infinite Creator!
Gaze on that helpless object
Of endless adoration!
Those infant hands
Shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set
The heavenly gate
To every true believer.
Till then, thou holy Jesus,
We humbly bow before thee,
Our treasures bring
To serve our king,
And joyfully adore thee:
To thee we gladly render
Whate'er thy grace hath given,
Till thou appear
In glory here,
And take us up to heaven. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Shepherds who watch your flocks by night,
Start not to see an angel near,
Nor tremble at this glorious light.
An herald from the heavenly king,
I come, your every fear to chase;
Good tidings of great joy I bring,
Great joy to all the fallen race.
To you is born on this glad day,
A Savior by our host adored,
Our God in Bethlehem survey,
Make haste to worship Christ the Lord.
By this the Saviour of mankind,
Th' incarnate God shall be displayed,
The babe ye wrapped in swaths shall find,
And humbly in a manger laid. ¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments
Words: Charles Wesley, in Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 4, alt. Music: Ellacombe, Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle (Württemberg, Germany: 1784); adapted & harmonized by William H. Monk in the 1868 appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, number 366 (MIDI, score). |
True Cross (The first-man):
Em Am Em D Em x 2 / Am Em Am D Em / Em Am Em D Em
Glory be to God on high,
And peace on earth descend;
Now God comes down, He bows the sky,
And shows Himself our Friend!
God the invisible appears,
God the Blest, the Great I AM,
He sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is His Name.
Him by the angels all adored,
Their Maker and their King;
Lo, tidings of their humbled Lord
They now to mortals bring;
Emptied of His majesty,
Of His dazzling glories shorn,
Our being’s Source begins to be,
And God Himself is born!
See the eternal Son of God
A mortal Son of Man,
Now dwelling in an earthly clod
Whom Heaven cannot contain!
Stand amazed, ye heavens, look at this!
See the Lord of earth and skies
Low humbled to the dust He is,
And in a manger lies!
So do the sons of men rejoice
The Prince of Peace proclaim,
With Heaven’s host lift up our voice,
And shout Immanuel’s Name;
Our knees and hearts to Him we bow;
Of our flesh, and of our bone,
See—Jesus is our Brother now,
And God is all our own!
Labels: chords, christmas, wesley
¶ Friday, November 23, 2007 0 comments