The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Come Ye Faithful, Sing We Right Merrily

For Christmas

Latin Words & Melody: Congaudeat turba fidelium (with notes), Piæ Cantiones, 1582.

English Translation by the Rev. Ronald Knox

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), pp. 6-7.

 

1. Come ye faithful, sing we right merrily;
Mary Maiden Mother is verily in Bethlehem.

2. Angels told it, shepherds, that morn to you, Singing,"Christ our Saviour is born to you, in Bethlehem.”

3. One to other answered ,"Why tarry we?
Greeting to this Little One carry we, in Bethlehem!'

4. Well they wist their Master that came to them;
Ox and ass gave word of the same to them, in Bethlehem.

5. By God's law this Babe circumcisèd they,
By His sweet Name Jesus devisèd they, in Bethlehem.

6. Three kings brought three gifts to the Trinity, Hiding close at the breast His Divinity, in Bethlehem.

7. Spices brought they, gifts of most rarity:
Now Christ bless no all of His charity, in Bethlehem.

1. Congaudeat turba fidelium,
Virgo mater peperit filium in Bethlehem.

2. Ad pastores descendit angelus,
Dicens eis: natus est Dominus in Bethlehem.

3. Loquebantur pastores invicem,
Transeamus ad novum hominem In Bethlehem.

4. Ad praesepe stant bos et asinus,
Cognoverunt quis esset Dominus in Bethlehem.

5. In octaca dum circumciditur,
Nomen ei Jesus Imponitur in Bethlehem.

6. Trini trino trina dant munera,
Regi regum sugenti ubera In Bethlehem.

7. Collyridas simul cum nectare
Benedlcat Christus Rex gloriæ In Bethlehem.

 

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #162, pp. 6-7.

162a-Come_Ye_Faithful.jpg (86016 bytes) 162b-Come_Ye_Faithful.jpg (62861 bytes)

Note:

A single copy of Piæ Cantiones found its way into the hands of Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore in 1853, and from this exceptionally rare volume an immense amount of music was saved from oblivion. For more information, see Piæ Cantiones.

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