Refrain:
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya! [in which Christ is born. Eya!]
A Patre Unigenitus [The only begotten of the Father]
Is through a maiden come to us.
Sing we of him and say 'Welcome!
Veni, Redemptor gencium.' [Come, Redeemer of the peoples]
Agnoscat omne seculum [Let every age perceive]
A bright star made three kings to come
Him for to seek with their presents,
Verbum supernum prodiens. [the high Word coming forth]
A solis ortus cardine [From the rising of the sun]
So mighty a Lord is none as he,
And to our kind he hath him knit
Adam parens quod polluit. [which our parent, Adam, defiled]
Maria ventre concepit, [Mary conceived in her womb,]
The Holy Ghost was aye her with.
Of her in Bethlem born his is,
Consors Paterni luminis. [sharing the light of his Father]
O Lux beata Trinitas! [O Light of the Holy Trinity!]
He lay between an ox and ass,
Beside his mother-maiden free:
Gloria tibi Domine! [Glory to thee, O Lord!]
— Anonymous, fifteenth century
This is an example of a MACARONIC carol - a carol in two languages. To learn more about the origins of that linguistic term, click on this lovely Christmas Pudding:
And, of course, you can find out more than you want to know about WILLIAM WALTON by clicking on his face:
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