Past three a clock,
And a cold frosty morning,
Past three a clock;
Good morrow, masters all!
1. Born is a Baby,
Gentle as may be,
Son of the eternal
Father supernal.
Refrain
2. Seraph quire singeth,
Angel bell ringeth;
Hark how they rime it,
Time it and chime it.
Refrain
3. Mid earth rejoices
Hearing such voices
e'ertofore so well
Carolling Nowell.
Refrain
4. Hinds o'er the pearly,
Dewy lawn early
Seek the high Stranger
Laid in the manger.
Refrain
5. Cheese from the dairy
Bring they for Mary
And, not for money,
Butter and honey.
Refrain
6. Light out of star-land
Leadeth from far land
Princes, to meet him,
Worship and greet him.
Refrain
7. Myrrh from full coffer,
Incense they offer;
Nor is the golden
Nugget withholden.
Refrain
8. Thus they: I pray you,
Up, sirs, nor stay you
Till ye confess him
Likewise and bless him.
Refrain
2 comments:
I didn't know this - what a lovely idea :-)
The Queen does this every year on the Feast of the Epiphany. I don't know whether the custom started before 1953 (her father died on 6 February 1952 - 62 years ago today)or whether the Queen introduced the custom herself.
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