Now Let Thy Faithful Choirs
For Fourth Day in the Octave of the Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary.
Words:
Lætabundus,
A Sequence from an 11th Century Manuscript, with notes
Erroneously attributed to S. Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1153)
Music: Not Stated
Compare: Faithful People (Terry, A Medieval Carol Book)
Source: Charles Buchanan Pearson, The Sarum Missal In English (London: The Church Press Company, 1868) pp. 391-392.
THE FOURTH DAY.
The Sequence.
Now let the faithful choir with joy exulting sing,
Alleluia !
The Undefiled brings forth of mighty kings the King,
O wonder rare !
The heaven-descended Councillor, born of a Virgin, doth appear,
Sun of a Star :
A Sun that doth no setting know, a Star whose rays do ever glow,
Gleaming afar.
As a star puts forth its ray, so the Virgin in like way
Her Son doth bear.
Bright the Star doth still endure, so the Virgin still is pure,
No stain is there.
Of Lebanon the cedar tall is with the hyssop on the wall
Made lowly here :
The self-existent Word on high took on Him flesh, and bodily
His Passion bare.
Esaias this foretold, the Synagogue of old knew this, yet fast did hold,
Its blindness drear.
Though prophets may rehearse, and heathen Sybil's verse confirm, hearts still
averse
Will not give ear.
Believe without delay; unhappy nation say, why will ye go away?
Lost people, hear.
No more the Scripture scorn, think on the Child new-born, Whom for this world
forlorn
Mary did bear.
Editor's Note:
This version differs slightly from the version by C. B. Pearson in Sequences from the Sarum Missal (1871), which is below.
Now Let Thy Faithful Choirs
Laetabundus
For Fourth Day in the Octave of the Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary.
Words: Erroneously attributed to St. Bernard
Music: Not Stated
Source: Charles Buchanan Pearson, Sequences from the Sarum Missal (London: Bell and Daldy, 1871), pp. 149-151.
Now let the faithful choir with joy exulting sing
Alleluia.
The Spotless forth doth bring of mighty kings the King,
O wonder rare ;
The heaven-descended Counsellor born of a Virgin doth appear,
Sun of a Star.
A Sun that doth no setting know, a Star whose rays do ever glow,
Gleaming afar.
As a star puts forth its ray, so the Virgin in like way
Her Son doth bear.
Bright the star doth still endure, so the Virgin still is pure,
No stain is there.
Of Lebanon the Cedar tall is with the Hyssop on the wall
Made lowly here.
The self-existent Word on high took on Him flesh and bodily
His Passion bare.
Esaias this foretold, the synagogue of old
Knew this, yet fast doth hold
Its blindness drear.
To what their bards rehearse, by heathen Sibyl's verse
Confirmed, let hearts averse
At length give ear.
No longer then delay, unhappy nation say,
Wherefore be cast away ?
E'en legends hear.
No more the Scripture scorn, think on the Child new-born.
Whom for this world forlorn.
The Virgin bare.
Editor's Note:
Rev. Pearson gave both the Latin, beginning on p. 148, and the English, beginning on p. 149.
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