 | A Little Book of XXIV Carols |  |
11
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 hath lain afield.
Blessed our grass to yield
To bed the Lord and Lord's Mother
Who else hath 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.
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.
12
And then: Come weep with me, brother,
For stony hearts of men.
For ruth of Babe and Babe's Mother
Their tears fell down like rain.
For stony hearts of men.
For ruth of Babe and Babe's Mother
Their tears fell 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.
| A Little Book of XXIV Carols | |