Now May We Mirthes Make

Alternate Title: Alleluia, alleluia

Words and Music: English Traditional, Fifteenth Century

Compare: Alleluia. Now Well We Our Merthis Make

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 177

1. Now may we mirthes make,
For us Jesus manhood hath take,¹
    De virgine Maria,
Only for our sins' sake,
    Alleluia.

2. The King of kings now for this brought,
Of a maid that sinnèd nought,
    Res miranda,
Neither in deed, neither in thought,
    Alleluia.

3. The angel of counsel that day was born,
As prophecies said beforn,
    Sol de stella,
For to safe that² was forlorn,³
    Alleluia.

Notes from Rickert:

1. Taken. Return

2. What. Return

3. Lost. Return

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