This Happy Morn The Maid Hath Borne

Words by George Radcliffe Woodward for the tune (in the Phrygian Mode) of Maria zart, von elder Art. The setting thereof is by Michael Praetorius (1610).

Source: Charles Wood and George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cambridge Carol-Book, Being Fifty-Two Songs For Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1924), #19.

1. This happy morn
The Maid hath borne,
The Lord of bliss eternal:
That God, who wrought
All things from nought,
Terrestrial, supernal:
Tho' earth but gave
This Babe a cave
To be, at birth, His dwelling,
The heav'nly star is telling
To people yet
In darkness set
Of Jesus Christ,
The Lord most high'st,
The sun that setteth never.
The same, I say,
Both yesterday,
Now this day, and for ever.

2. With triple gift
Three kings full swift
Are hasting to adore him:
Where starlight shone,
It led them on
To kneel in faith afore him.
Next, on the lea
Some herdmen see,
More sheen than light of thunder,
A great and mighty wonder;
When from the sky
An Angel high
Declar'd the birth
Of God on earth;
The welcome Gospel story.
Then hosts aloft
Sang loud and soft:
'To God on high be glory!"

Sheet Music

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