It was written by English clergyman Edward Casswall (1814-1878), in approx 1849, and it is one translation of O sola magnarum urbium, Cathemerinon which is
attributed to Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-405). Other songs based on this
translation include Earth Has Many A Noble City and Bethlehem, Not The Least Of
Cities.
With meter 87 87, tunes it is set to include:
None can once with thee compare;
Thou alone the Lord from heaven
Didst for us Incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning
Was the star that told his birth;
To the lands their God announcing,
Hid beneath a form of earth.
By its lambent beauty guided,
See, the Eastern Kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer,
Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
Offerings of mystick meaning!
Incense doth the God disclose;
Gold a Royal child proclaimeth;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesu! in thy brightness
To the Gentile world displayed!
With the Father, and the Spirit,
Endless praise to Thee be paid.
None can once with you compare;
You alone the Lord from heaven
Did for us Incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning
Was the star that told his birth;
To the lands their God announcing,
Hid beneath a form of earth.
By its lambent beauty guided,
See, the Eastern Kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer,
Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
Offerings of mystic meaning!
Incense does the God disclose;
Gold a royal child proclaims;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesu! in your brightness
To the Gentile world displayed!
With the Father, and the Spirit,
Endless praise to You be paid.
With meter 87 87, tunes it is set to include:
- STUGGART from Christian Friedrich Witt's Psalmodia Sacra, 1715, and adapted by Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876)
- ST. OSWALD (Dykes) by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876)
- BRONZEVILLE, possibly by Kevin Allen
- WOODHAVEN by Howard Helvey (ref)
Downloads
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Examples
Choral setting - tune TBA:
Unaccompanied solo singer. tune BRONZEVILLE:
Instrumental - organ. Tune STUGGART:
Lyrics
Traditional language
Bethlehem, of noblest citiesNone can once with thee compare;
Thou alone the Lord from heaven
Didst for us Incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning
Was the star that told his birth;
To the lands their God announcing,
Hid beneath a form of earth.
By its lambent beauty guided,
See, the Eastern Kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer,
Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
Offerings of mystick meaning!
Incense doth the God disclose;
Gold a Royal child proclaimeth;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesu! in thy brightness
To the Gentile world displayed!
With the Father, and the Spirit,
Endless praise to Thee be paid.
Modern English
Bethlehem, of noblest citiesNone can once with you compare;
You alone the Lord from heaven
Did for us Incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning
Was the star that told his birth;
To the lands their God announcing,
Hid beneath a form of earth.
By its lambent beauty guided,
See, the Eastern Kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer,
Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
Offerings of mystic meaning!
Incense does the God disclose;
Gold a royal child proclaims;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesu! in your brightness
To the Gentile world displayed!
With the Father, and the Spirit,
Endless praise to You be paid.
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