Ye Faithful, Triumphant Enter Into Bethlehem

For Christmas

Words: Adeste Fideles, John Francis Wade (c. 1711/2-1786), circa 1743/4

Translator: Anonymous
Other Translations: Adeste, Fideles Translations

Music: "Adeste fideles"
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Source: Notes and Queries, 5th Series, Vol. XII, July-December, 1879 (London: John Francis), Aug. 30, 1879, p. 172.

See: Notes on Adeste Fideles

    Ye faithful, triumphant
    Enter into Bethlehem,
Enter, oh enter with joy of heart;
    Tidings, glad tidings,
    Sent from heaven by angels,--

Chorus:
O, come let us adore, O, come let us adore,
O, come let us adore the Lord.

    A Virgin, conceived
    And bore the world a Saviour,
God of god, and light of light.
    Hail! holy infant,
    Very God of very God. Chorus.

    Great joy to all people,
    To-day a Son is given;
Glory, glory be to Thee, O Christ.
    The eternal Word was made man,
    And dwelt among us. Chorus.

    Sing praise in full chorus,
    All ye hosts of angels,
Sing praise all ye nations of the earth.
    Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Chorus.

Note.

This translation was found in a note from "P.P." that was part of a series of postings to Notes and Queries. The introductory paragraph:

The "Adeste Fideles" (5th S. xi 265, 298, 331, 372, 418) -- The hymn was very commonly sung in the Lancashire churches certainly in 1820 (as my hymn book shows) to the following words:"

The post closed with this sentence that would seem to place it in appropriate context:

"Is not this earlier than Mr. Oakeleys?"

The phrase "5th S. xi 265" translates to Fifth Series, Volume XI, p. 265 of Notes and Queries.

According to John Julian (Vol. 1, p. 21), this translation was published in Psalms & Hymns, Burnley, 1820. This translation was not considered by Dr. Julian to be in common usage.

A version with the title "The Portuguese Hymn" was found on a Broadside saved in the Harding Collection at the Bodleian Libraries (Harding B 7(34), "The Morning Star," containing four carols). There were a few, slight differences (the Broadside was somewhat degraded).

The chorus was: "O come, let us adore, adore the Lord."

In the third verse, the last two lines are different:

    Great joy to all people,
    To-day a Son is given;
Glory, glory be to Thee, O Christ.
    The eternal Word was God
    Made man and dwelt among us. Chorus.

This was unusual, however. Most versions gave:

The eternal Word was
Made man and dwelt among us.

An additional line is found in the fourth verse, just before the last line:

    Sing praise in full chorus,
    All ye host of angels,
Sing praise all ye nations of the earth.
    Hail to the Lamb
    Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Chorus.

Almost all Broadsides had this addition.

This Broadside was printed by T. Taylor of London between 1859 and 1899. He was located at 93, Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, near the Railway Arch. The other three carols on this sheet were:

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
The Seven Joys (First line: "The first good joy that Mary had")
Praise Ye The Lord (First line: "From all that dwell below the skies").

"The Portuguese Hymn' was found on 15 other broadsides at Broadside Ballads Online, the Bodleian Libraries. The earliest of these is believed to have been published between 1813 and 1838. See at the Bodleian: Ye Faithful Triumphant. The pages are:

Roud Number V13981 - Search for Roud Number for this carol.
Harding B 7(17). "The Saviour's Garland." A. Ryle & Co., Printers, 2 & 3, Monmouth Court, Bloomsbury. Sold by J. Martin, Thrawl Street, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London.
Harding B 7(18). "The Saviour's Garland." A. Ryle & Co., Printers, 2 & 3, Monmouth Court, Bloomsbury. Sold by J. Martin, Thrawl Street, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London.
Harding B 7(32). "The Messiah." J. Catnach, London.
Harding B 7(33). "The Messiah." W.S. Fortey, London.
Harding B 7(34). "The Morning Star." T. Taylor, London.
Harding B 7(39). "The Virgin Mary." J. Catnach, London.
Harding B 7(40). "The Virgin Mary." J. Catnach, London.
Harding B 7(58). "Carols for Christmas Holidays." J. Catnach, London.
Harding B 7(65). "Saviour of Mankind." T. Goode, London.
Harding B 7(74). "The Nativity." W.S. Fortey, London.
Harding B 7(78). "Crucifixion." T. Taylor, London.
Harding B 7(79). "Crucifixion." T. Goode, London.
Harding B 7(80). "The Morning Star." Ryle and Paul, Printers, 2 & 3, Monmouth Court, Bloomsbury, London.
Harding B 7(81). "The Virgin Mary." H. Disley, London.
Firth b.27(211). "The Saviour of ?????." (Broadside damaged. Word is likely "Mankind;" see Harding B 7(65), above). T. Taylor, London. The missing word is probably "Mankind." See Harding B 7(65) (above)

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