Gabriel's Message Does Away

For the Annunciation, For Advent, For Christmas

Version 2; Compare Version 1

Words: Angelus Emittitur. "This seems to be of the 13th century;" freely translated by Rev. John Mason Neale.

Music: Angelus Emittitur by Rev. Thomas Helmore, Piae Cantiones, 1582.

Meter: 777 with refrain

Source: Collected Hymns, Sequences and Carols (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914), from John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore, Carols for Christmas-tide (London: Novello, 1853).

1. Gabriel's message does away
Satan's curse and Satan's sway:
This was wrought by Christmas Day:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

2. He that comes despis'd shall reign:
He that cannot die, be slain;
Death by death its death shall gain:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

3. Like its like shall overthrow:
By a Tree prevailed the Foe;
From a tree shall healing grow:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

4. Man was lost a garden in;
In a garden man shall win;
Woman's faith end woman's sin:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

5. Weakness shall the strong confound:
By the hands, in babe-clothes wound
Adam's chains shall be unbound:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

6. By the sword that was his own,
By that sword, and that alone,
Shall Goliath be o'erthrown:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

7. Art by art shall be assail'd;
To the Cross shall Life be nail'd;
From the grave shall hope be hail'd:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

8. Gabriel's message does away
Satan's curse and Satan's sway;
This was wrought by Christmas Day:
    Therefore sing,
Glory to the Infant King!

 

Sheet Music from John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore, Carols for Christmas-tide: The Condensed Vocal Parts (London: Novello, 1854), pp. 9-13.

Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cowley Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1902, Revised and Expanded Edition 1929), Carol #8
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Note From Rev. Neale.

In the notes to the first carol, "Here Is Joy For Every Age," Rev. Neale noted: "A translation, or free imitation, as are most (in this collection.)" In the Preface to the First Edition, Rev. Neale wrote that only Good King Wenceslas and Toll! Toll! are original.

Editor's Note:

Another translation is Gabriel From Heaven Has Flown from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #169, pp. 20-21.

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