Words: English Traditional, Fifteenth Century

Compare: In Bedlem, That Fayer Cyte
In Bethlehem, In That Fair City

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 50.

To bliss God bring us all and some,
Christe, Redemptor omnium

1. In Bethlehem, that fair city,
Was born a Child that was so free,
Lord and prince of high degree,
    Iam lucis orto sidere.

2. Jesu, for the love of Thee,
Children were slain great plenty
In Bethlehem, that fair city,
    A solis ortus cardine.

3. As the sun shineth in the glass,
So Jesus of His mother born was
Him to serve God give us grace,
    O lux beata Trinitas.

4. Now is He our Lord Jesus,
Thus hath He verily visited us;
Now to make merry among us,
    Exultet celem laudibus.

Translations from Rickert:

• Christe, Redemptor omnium is translated as "Christ, the Redeemer of all."

• Iam lucis orto sidere is translated as "Now the star of light having risen."

• A solis ortus cardine is translated as "Arisen from the quarter of the sun.

• O lux beata Trinitas is translated as "O blessed light of the Trinity."

• Exultet celem laudibus is translated as "Let heaven rejoice with praises."