Words: Quem Pastores Laudavere, Authorship Unknown, 14th century, Hoenfurth Manuscript, Translation by George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1902
Music: "Quem Pastores Laudavere," German Melody, Breslau, 1555
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Meter: 88 87
1. Whom of old the shepherds praised,
When the seraph them up-raised
Saying, "Sirs, be not amazed,1
Rex glorie, Rex glorie:"2
2. Unto whom the kings came faring
Gold and myrrh and incense bearing,
Love unfeignedly declaring
Leoni, victorie, victorie.3
3. Him with Mary bless, nor tire,
Chanting with th' angelic choir:
High uplift the strain, and higher,
Laus, honoret gloria, et gloria.
4. To the Christ-child, King of heaven
God, to man through Mary given,
Raise the lay from morn till even,
Dulci cum melodia, melodia.
Notes
1. Or: afraid Return
2. Or: Heav'n's all glorious King is born!" Return
3. Or: For the conqu'ring Child of God. Return
Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cowley Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1902, Revised and Expanded Edition 1929), Carol #26
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Sheet Music from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol # 733.
