θαυματος υπερϕυους η δροσοβολος.

Ode VIII, Canon for Christmas Day

St. Cosmas of Jerusalem, the Melodist (A. D. 760)

Source: Rev. John Mason Neale, D.D., Hymns of the Eastern Church. First Edition. (London: J. T. Hayes, 1862)

Meter: 10,10,10,10,8,9,8,9

The dewy freshness that the furnace flings
Works out a wondrous type of future things:
Nor did the flame the Holy Three consume,
Nor did the Godhead’s fire thy frame entomb,
        Thou, on Whose bosom hung the WORD:
    Wherefore we cry with heart’s endeavour,
        “Let all Creation bless the LORD,
    And magnify His Name for ever!”

Babel’s proud daughter once led David’s race
From Sion, to their exile’s woeful place:
She bids her wise men now, with gifts in hand,¹
Before King David’s Royal Daughter stand,
        The Mother of the Incarnate Word:
    Wherefore we cry with heart’s endeavour,
        “Let all Creation bless the LORD,
    And magnify His Name for ever!”

From music grief held back the exile’s hand:
"How sing the LORD’s song in an alien land?"
But Babel’s exile here is done away,
And Bethlehem’s harmony this glorious day
        By Thee, Incarnate GOD, restored:
    Wherefore we cry with heart’s endeavour,
        “Let all Creation bless the LORD,
    And magnify His Name for ever!”

Of old victorious Babel bore away,
The spoils of Royal Sion and her prey:
But Babel’s treasure now, and Babel’s kings,
CHRIST, by the guiding star, to Sion brings.
        There have they knelt, and there adored:
    Wherefore we cry with heart’s endeavour,
        “Let all Creation bless the LORD,
    And magnify His Name for ever!”

Sheet Music from Rev. John Mason Neale, D.D., Hymns of the Eastern Church. Fourth Edition. (London: J. T. Hayes, 1882), edited by Very Rev. Stephen Georgeson Hatherly, Mus. B., Archpriest of the Patriarchal Æcumenical Throne.

Note:

1. Subsequent editions: Babel now bids her wise men, gifts in hand, Return