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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CAROL by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "REJOICE, ALL YE WHO BE HERE PRESENT"
Last Line: "REJOICE, ALL YE WHO BE HERE PRESENT, / OMNES DE SABA VENIENT"
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Out of the East a star shone bright,
To three kings hath it given light,
Who travelled far by day and night
To seek the Lord, Who all hath sent --
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Thereof King Herod needs must hear,
How three kings drew his land anear,
Seeking a Child Who had no peer,
And after them he straightway sent --
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

He spake, King Herod, to those kings three:
"If so be that Child ye are fain to see,
Pass on, yet come again to me
And tell if your labour be well spent --"
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Then forth they went by the starry gleam
Till they came to gladsome Bethlehem,
And a goodly Babe, forsooth, they deem
Him Who His Blood for us hath spent.
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Balthasar, he kneeled first adown,
And he cried: "Hail King of high renown,
Thou of all kings dost bear the Crown,
Therefore have gold for Thy Present!"
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Melchior, he knelt, that king so good,
And he quoth: "All hail to Thy high Priesthood,
Take incense as gift to Thy true Manhood,
For here I brought it with good intent --"
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

But Jaspar, he kneeled in that stead,
And quoth: "Hail Lord, for Knighthood sped
I offer myrrh to Thy true Godhead,
For Thou art He Who all hath sent!"
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.

Now lords and ladies in rich array
Lift up your hearts on this Holy Day,
And to God the Son here let us pray,
Who once for us on Rood was rent --
@3Rejoice, all ye who be here present,
Omnes de Saba venient@1.



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