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CAROL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Three kings from out the orient
Last Line: "withouten dreed, the loveliest."
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E.
Subject(s): Christmas Carols


THREE kings from out the Orient
For Judah's land were fairly bent,
To find the Lord of grace;
And as they journeyed pleasantlie,
A star kept shining in the sky,
To guide them to the place.
"O Star," they cried, "by all confest
Withouten dreed, the loveliest!"

The first was Melchior to see,
The emperour hight of Arabye,
An aged man, I trow:
He sat upon a rouncy bold,
Had taken of the red red gold,
The babe for to endow.
"O Star," he cried. . . .

The next was Gaspar, young and gay,
That held the realm of far Cathay --
Our Jesus drew him thence --
Yclad in silk from head to heel,
He rode upon a high cameel,
And bare the frankincense.
"O Star," he cried. . . .

The last was dusky Balthasar,
That rode upon a dromedar --
His coat was of the fur.
Dark-browed he came from Samarkand,
The Christ to seek, and in his hand
Upheld the bleeding myrrh.
"O Star," he cried, "by all confest
Withouten dreed, the loveliest."





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