Words: Hymnum canentes martyrum by the Venerable Bede
(673-735)
Translated by John Mason
Neale (1818-1866).
Tune of Mundanis
vanitatibus (Piae Cantiones, 1582), harmonized by G. R. W.
MIDI /
Noteworthy Composer /
PDF
Notes and Source: George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book For Christmas, Easter, And Ascensiontide, Second Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, ca. 1919), Carol #79
1. The Hymn for conqu'ring Martyrs
raise:
The Victor Innocents we praise:
Whom in their woe earth
cast away,
But heav'n with joy received today.
Whose Angels see
the Father's face,
World without end, and hymn his grace:
And
while they chant unceasing lays,
The Hymn for conqu'ring Martyrs
raise.
2. By that accursed Monarch
slain,
Their loving Maker bade them reign:
With him they dwell,
no more distrest,
In the fair Land of light and rest:
He gives
them mansions, one and all,
In that his heavenly Father's
hall:
Thus have they changed their loss for gain,
By that
accursed Monarch slain.
3. A voice from Ramah was there
sent,
A voice of weeping and lament:
When Rachel mourn'd the
children's cre,
Whom for the tyrant's sword she bare.
Triumphal
is their glory now,
Whom earthly torments could now bow:
What
time, both far and near that went,
A voice from Ramah was there
sent.
4. Fear not, O little flock and
blest,
The lion that your life oppress'd!
To heavenly pastures
ever new
The heavenly Shepherd leadeth you:
Who, dwelling now
on Sion's hill,
The Lamb's dear footsteps follow still:
By
tyrant there no more distrest,
Fear not, O little flock and blest!
5. And every tear is wiped away
By
your death Father's hands for aye;
Death hath no power to hurt you
more,
Whose own is Life's eternal store.
Who sow their seed,
and, sowing weep,
In everlasting joy shall reap:
What time they
shine in heavenly day,
And every tear is wiped away.
6. O City blest o'er all the
earth,
Who gloriest in the Saviour's birth!
Whose are his
earliest Martyrs dear
By kindred and by triumph here.
None from
henceforth may shall thee small.
Of rival towns thou passest
all;
In whom our Monarch had his birth,
O City blest o'er al
the earth!
Note:
This is one of many songs which relate to the Holy Innocents, whose feast day is December 28. For more, please see The Hymns Of The Holy Innocents.
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 #79
Melody Only: MIDI /
Noteworthy Composer /
PDF /
XML
Editor's Note: The editor's of The English Hymnal (London, Oxford University Press, 1906, #35, pp. 58-9) provide the tune Wer Da Wonet (D. L. M.), Melody in 'St. Gall Gesangbuch,' 1868, from Vehe's Gesangbuchlein, 1537: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML.
