ANCIENT CAROLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 8

ANCIENT CAROLS.

By celebrations.' bv picture*, and by ploys the story of the visit of the three Maui to (he manger whera (he Im'.ml Christ wis bom ha* always'beau kept vivid and real. It comes- frequently in the old folk-sons' carols of France,-and i(, is constantly I'lw 1 heme of similar carols thai date back to a remote period in our own land, says an English writer. Here nso some verses from a nianuserint in the lirilish Museum, wrillen in (ho time of Henry Vl:— In a maiijour of an as i .1 lii".su lay and lullyd was, Maniac penyis for to pas, Pro pcccarlc hominc. ' . Kvnges eoniyn fro-dyvtesc londe. VVitli croto 'pyftes in hero hondo, .Til Hedleni the child they fonde, Slellno ducti lumino. In this tymn kemen t.hre kynnes, He kemyn fro fer. with l.vclic thingesFor to makyn here offerynges; On here knen with pret honour. There'cnme thre kynges out of thoesl. To worchepe Iho kyng (hat is so fre. With, gold and myrre and francincens A soils orlus eardino. Tlu> xii day ofTeryd to liyra kynges iii. oM. myrre. ineons, this giftes fr*. Tor God a.nd mnu and kyng is he. _ And thus they worshipped his worthincsse. Another fine old carol, still sung in the west country takos dramatic form, with solos for three voices: We three, kings of the Orient are;. Boaring gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. (Caspar sings.) Born a King on Bethelchem's plain, Gold I bring to crown Rim again, King for ever, ceasing never Over us all to roign: (Melcliior sings.) Frankinccnse (o olTer havo I, lncenso owns a. deity nigh, Prayer and praising all men raising Worship Him God on high . (Ballhasar sings.) Mvrrh is mine, its bitter perfum» Breathes a life of gathering gloom, Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed .in the stone-cold tomb. (All.) , Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. . Alleluia, Alleluia, , Heaven and earth replies.