Words of Heu quid jaces
stabulo, by J. Mauburn (15th Cent.),
Translated by George Ratcliffe Woodward
Melody and setting by J. G. Ebeling (1666)
Verses 2 and 3 may be sung to another Melody of Warum sollt' ich mich denn grämen, by D. Vetter, 1713, harmonized by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Notes and Sources: George
Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book For Christmas,
Easter, and Ascensiontide, Second Series (London: A. R. Mowbray &
Co., Ltd, ca. 1919), Carol #83,
and George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London:
Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), # 32
1. Ah! Lord God, the world's
Creator,
King of all,
Great or small,
Earth
Regenerator:
Art thou cradled, art thou crying,
Swath'd and
bound,
On the Ground,
In a stable lying?
2. Love of man hath brought me
hither,
Cords of love,
From above,
To exalt him
thither:
Dead in trespass, child, I sought thee,
Gone astray
From my way,
Life and pardon brought thee.
3. Empty be my scrip and
coffer,
Yet 'tis wealth,
Plenty, health,
I am come to
offer:
Hast I to enrich and dress thee:
Born to die,
Low I
lie,
And would gladly bless thee.
4. Therefore thousand thousand
praises
Are thy due,
Babe Jesu,
These my heart
upraises:
Angels, mortals, furthest, nighest,
Sing in
mirth,
"Peace on earth,
Glory in the highest!"
Sheet Music from George
Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book For Christmas,
Easter, and Ascensiontide, Second Series (London: A. R. Mowbray &
Co., Ltd, ca. 1919), Carol #83
MIDI /
Noteworthy Composer / PDF
