Saviour Sweet, O Babe of Love

For Christmas

Words: Doux Sauveur, Enfant d'amour, from Dictionnaire de Noëls.

English Translation by K. W. Simpson.

Melody from Dictionnaire de Noëls.

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #43, pp. 8-9.

1. Saviour sweet, O Babe of love,
     In whom the world hath gladness!
Thou hast come from Heaven above,
     And banished care and sadness:
Thy hast come, Thy Word to prove,
     And savest Men from madness!

2. All Thy Little Ones were lost,
     'Ere Thou didst come, so loving!
Thou did'st give Thy uttermost,
     Thy mighty love in proving!
Thou did'st never count the cost
     Of sacrifice so moving!

3. Once he lived in Garden fair
     Where all around was Wonder!
Lo! There came a Serpent there
     And sought his soul to plunder!
Tempted him with treasure rare:
     (His soul was torn asunder!)

5. Offered him all Good to know;
     A God in the power and gladness!
Adam lost his Eden so,
     And fell from joy to sadness!
Man from bliss was plunged to woe,
     Through one who sinn'd in madness.

6. Jesu sought us in His love
     Undoing Man's transgression!
Vengeance thunder'd from above,
     But Jesus sought concession!
Love for us in pity strove,
     And spared us Hell's Perdition!

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #43, pp. 8-9.

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