I Sing of a Maiden early 15th century
I sing of a maiden
That is matchless;
King of all kings
To her son she chose.
He came all so still
Where his mother was,
As dew in April
That falleth on the grass.
He came all so still
To his mother's bower,
As dew in April
That falleth on the flower.
He came all so still
Where his mother lay,
As dew in April
That falleth on the spray.
Mother and maiden
Was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Godës mother be.
Boar's Head Carol 1521 Tudor Carol
The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio
(so many as are in the feast)
Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino
(the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.
(let us serve with a song)
Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino
(the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)
Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of bliss
Which, on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio:
(in the Queen's hall)
Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino
(the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)
Good King Wenceslas 1850s by John Mason Neale
Good King Wenceslas looked out,
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even:
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.
"Hither page and stand by me,
If thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he,
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence,
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither."
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together;
Though the rude winds wild lament,
And the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know now how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page;
Tread thou in them boldly;
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod,
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Greensleeves early 1500s Tudor
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.
Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.
I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.
If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.
My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.
Coventry Carol early 1500s Tudor
Lullay, thou little tiny child, lullay
By, by, lully, lullay
Lullay, thou little tiny child, lullay
By, by, lully, lullay
Oh sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling, for whom we sing
By, by, lully, lullay
Herod the king, in his raging
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight
All children young to slay
The woe is me, poor child for thee
And ever mourn and pray
Lullay, thou little tiny child, lullay
by, by, lully, lullay
Edi beo thu hevene quene 14th century
Edi beo thu hevene quene folkes froure and engles blis.
Moder unwemmed and maiden clene swich in world non other nis.
On the hit is weleth sene of alle wimmen thu havest the pris,
mi swete leyedi her mi bene and reu of me zif thi wille is.
Veni, veni Emanuel 15th century
Veni, veni Emanuel: captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio, privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude! gaude! Emanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, O Jesse Virgula; ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari, educ, et antro barathri.
Gaude! gaude! Emanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, veni, O Oriens; solare nos adveniens;
Noctis depelle nebulas, dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude! gaude! Emanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, Clavis Davidica; Regna reclude celica;
Fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum.
Gaude! gaude! Emanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, veni, Adonaï, Qui populo in Sinaï
Legem dedisti vertice in maiestate glorie.
Gaude! gaude! Emanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.
Ar Hyd y Nos John Ceiriog Hughes
Holl amrantau'r sêr ddywedant,
Ar hyd y nos.
Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant,
Ar hyd y nos;
Golau arall yw tywyllwch,
I arddangos gwir brydferthwch;
Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch,
Ar hyd y nos.
O! Mor siriol gwena'r seren,
Ar hyd y nos.
I oleuo'i chwaer ddaearen,
Ar hyd y nos.
Nos yw henaint pan ddaw cystudd,
Ond i harddu dyn a'i hwyrddydd
Rhown ein golau gwan i'n gilydd,
Ar hyd y nos.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Judy Garland
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the year
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.
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