Singe wë, singe wë
Words and Music: English Traditional, 15th Century
Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 18
Singe we, singe we,
Regina celi, letare
1. Holy maiden, blessed thou be,
Godës Son is born of thee;
The Father in heaven worship we,
Regina celi, letare.
2. Hail, wife! Hail, maiden! Hail, bright of blee!1
Hail, daughter! Hail, mater! Hail, full of pity!
Hail, chosen to the Persons Three!
Regina celi, letare.
3. Thou are empress of heaven so free,
Worthy maiden in majesty;
Now worshp we the Trinity,
Regina celi, letare.
4. Lady so lovely, so goodly to see,
So buxom2 in thy body to be,
Thou art His mother for humility,
Regina celi, letare.
5. These been courteous kings of solemnity,3
They worshipped thy Son with humility;
Milde Mary, thus redë4 we,
Regina celi, letare.
6. So gracious, so precious in royalty,
Thus gentle, thus good, thus findë we
There is none such in no country,
Regina celi, letare.
7. And therefore kneel we down on our knee,
This blessed birth worship we;
This is a song of humility,
Regina celi, letare.
Notes:
1. Face. Return
2. Obedient. Return
3. Text: solunte. Return
4. Counsel Return
Sheet Music: Richard R. Terry, Twelve Christmas Carols. London: J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd., 1912, p. 19.
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