Omnes Gentes Plaudite
For Christmas
Words: English
Traditional, Fifteenth Century
Compare: Omnes gentes
plaudite (Wright, 1856)
See generally Wassailing - Notes On The Songs
Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 244.
Omnes gentes plaudite,
I saw many birds sitting on a tree;
They took their flight and flew away,
With, Ego dixi, have good day!
Many white feathers hath the pie --
I may no more sing, my lips are so dry.
Many white feathers hath the swan --
The more that I drink, the less I can.
Lay sticks on the fire, well may it burn;1
Give us once to drink ere away we turn.2
Notes:
1. Text: wyl mot is brenne. Return
2. Text: ere we gon henne. Return
Rickert gives the following translations:
-
Omnes gentes plaudite is translated as "All ye nations, rejoice."
-
Ego dixi is translated as "I have said."
Editor's Note:
Not to be confused with Novo profusi gaudio, a very different carol.
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