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53
TWO CAROLS
I. THE FIRST NOWELL
Was the Heaven dark then,
Robbed of its light,
When little Jesus came to men
On a Christmas night?
Robbed of its light,
When little Jesus came to men
On a Christmas night?
Was it dark and dead?
Yea, lonesome to see,
All for the little golden head
That lay on Mary's knee.
Yea, lonesome to see,
All for the little golden head
That lay on Mary's knee.
Certes, Heavenly folk
Fled after Him where
He lay amid the harmless flock
In the stable bare.
Fled after Him where
He lay amid the harmless flock
In the stable bare.
Certes, stars alike
Trooped from the sky,
And when He oped His lovely eyes
Sang Lullaby.
Trooped from the sky,
And when He oped His lovely eyes
Sang Lullaby.
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Certes, Heaven was dim,
Its lights all fled away,
Yea, Cherubim and Seraphim
Knelt in the hay.
Its lights all fled away,
Yea, Cherubim and Seraphim
Knelt in the hay.
Powers, Principalities,
Archangels in a band,
Before the Baby bent their knees
Kissing His hand.
Archangels in a band,
Before the Baby bent their knees
Kissing His hand.
Who lay so small and soft,
New from His Mother's womb.
Since Heaven was in the cattle's croft
Heaven was in gloom.
New from His Mother's womb.
Since Heaven was in the cattle's croft
Heaven was in gloom.
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II. ABOUT THE MIDDLE HOUR
About the middle hour of night,
When Northern streamers fly,
Betwixt day-light and candle-light,
Was heard the Babe's first cry.
When Northern streamers fly,
Betwixt day-light and candle-light,
Was heard the Babe's first cry.
The ass said to the ox: Brother,
Right honoured are we twain
Who house the Babe and Babe's Mother
Against the night and rain.
Right honoured are we twain
Who house the Babe and Babe's Mother
Against the night and rain.
The ox him answered: Yea, brother,
Blessed our grass to yield
To bed the Lord and Lord's Mother,
Who else had lain afield.
Blessed our grass to yield
To bed the Lord and Lord's Mother,
Who else had lain afield.
O, what is fast and what is feast
Where such sweet fare is spread?
The Baby at His Mother's breast,
With her dear milk is fed.
Where such sweet fare is spread?
The Baby at His Mother's breast,
With her dear milk is fed.
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And now: Come kneel with me, brother,
This goodly sight to see.
Before the Child and Child's Mother
The twain have bent the knee.
This goodly sight to see.
Before the Child and Child's Mother
The twain have bent the knee.
And then: Come weep with me, brother,
For stony hearts of men.
For ruth of Babe and Babe's Mother,
Their tears fall down like rain.
For stony hearts of men.
For ruth of Babe and Babe's Mother,
Their tears fall down like rain.
With streamers in the Northern skies,
While Bedlam slept in sin,
The Lord hath opened Paradise
And bade the beasts come in.
While Bedlam slept in sin,
The Lord hath opened Paradise
And bade the beasts come in.
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