O Flos de Jesse Virgula

Words: English Traditional, Fifteenth Century

Compare: Adam Our Fader Was In Blis (From Wright, Songs and Carols, 1856)

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 162-3.

O Flos de Jesse virgula
Laus Tibi sit gloria.

1. Adam our father was in bliss,
And for an apple of little price,
He lost the bliss of Paradise,
    Pro sua superbia.

2. And all that ever of him came
The right way to hellë nam,¹
Both Isaac and Abraham,
    Teste prophecia.

3. Then these prophets preached aforn,²
That a Child should be born
To buy what Adam had forlorn,
    Sua morte propria.

4. Moses first in his law told
A child there should be born so bold
To buy again what Adam sold,
    Sua nocte pessima.

5. Isaac,³ without leasing,
Prophesied in his preaching,
Of Jesse's root a Flower should spring
    De virgine purica.

6. Jeremy that was so ying,
Prophesied of His coming,
That is very Lord and King,
    Summi Patris gracia.

7. Furthermore, as I you tell,
Then prophesied Daniel
Of His coming he gan spell,
    Gentibus in Judæa.

8. When time came of God Almight,
That would bring mankind to right,
In a maiden He gan light,
    Que vocatur Maria.

9. Now is He born, that blissful Child,
Of Mary mother, maiden mild;
Fro the fiend He us shield,
    Qui creavit omnia.

10. Pray we to Him with all our mind,
That hath madë all mankind,
He bring us allë to good end,
    In die novissima.

Notes:

1. Took. Return

2. Before. Return

3. For Isaiah. Return

Rickert gives the following translations:

• O Flos de Jesse virgula is translated as "O Flower of the branch of Jesse."

• Laus Tibi sit gloria is translated as "Praise be to Thee (and) glory.

• Pro sua superbia is translated as "For his price."

• Teste prophecia is translated as "By the witness of the prophets."

• Sua morte propria is translated as "By his own death."

• Sua nocte pessima is translated as "On his worst night."

• De virgine purica is translated as "Of the Virgin Mary."

• Summi Patris gracia is translated as "By the grace of the Father Most High."

• Gentibus in Judæa is translated as "Among the tribes in Judea."

• Que vocatur Maria is translated as "Who is called Mary."

• Qui creavit omnia is translated as "Who created all things."

• In die novissima is translated as "On the last day."

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