All Heaven On A Maiden

For Christmas

Words: Het viel eens hemels douwe, Dutch Carol of the 15^th Century

Words translated by the Rev. John O'Connor

Music: Traditional Dutch Carol

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #120, pp. 18-19.

1. All heaven on a maiden
    Distill'd as 'twere the dew;
The Father over shading,
    The Spirit did imbue,
So came she to engender
    The Son, her Infant Boy,
In maid-hood true and tender
    In all a mother's joy.

2. While she her Son was bearing
    Saint Joseph's gentle mind
Perplexity 'gan wearing
    For he was just and kind.
Said he: were I to leave her
    The folk of Nazareth
Would call her a deceiver
    And stone her to the death.

3. An angel ever wary
    From Heaven did appear:
To keep to thee thy Mary
    O Joseph never fear!
Abide ye both together
    Since far beyond thy thought
The Spirit and the Father
    Upon thy wife have wrought.

4. Thereafter came commandment
    From Cæsar King in Rome,
Each man to make enrolment
    Within his native home.
So Joseph Son of David
    On gaining Bethlehem
With Mary spous'd and gravid
    Found ne'er a room for them.

5. But came upon a shelter
    Away beneath the hill
Outside the city's welter
    A cheerless cave and chill,
'Twas there the maiden mother
    Without a pain or fear
Brought forth our God and Brother,
    Say, could He come more near?

6. O David's purest daughter
    Thou well-spring undefiled
Alive with living water
    Thy Heaven-descended child
In our behalf entreat Him
    To call us when we roam
On His fair hill to meet Him
    And make eternal home.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #120, pp. 18-19.

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