10th January, 5th Day in the Octave of the Epiphany

4th Day in the Octave of the Epiphany

The following hymn is used at the Office of Lauds in the octave of the Epiphany. The original is by Prudentius (348-410), and the well-known translation given he is by Fr Edward Caswall.

O sola magnárum úrbium
Major Bethlem, cui cóntigit
Ducem salútis cælitus
Incorporátum gígnere.

Quem stella, quæ solis rotam
Vincit decóre ac lúmine,
Venísse terris núntiat
Cum carne terréstri Deum.

Vidére postquam illum Magi,
Eóa promunt múnera :
Stratíque votis ófferunt
Thus, myrrham, et aurum régium.

Regem Deúmque annúntiant
Thesáuris, et fragrans odor
Thuris Sabæi, ac myrrheus
Pulvis sepúlcrum prædocet.

Jesu tibi sit glória,
Qui apparuísti Géntibus,
Cum Patre, et almo Spíritu,
In sempitérna sæcula.  Amen.

Bethlehem, of noblest cities
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,
seen in fleshly form on earth.

By its lambent beauty guided
see the eastern kings appear;
see them bend, their gifts to offer,
gifts of incense, gold and myrrh.

Solemn things of mystic meaning:
incense doth the God disclose,
gold a royal child proclaimeth,
myrrh a future tomb foreshows.

Holy Jesus, in thy brightness
to the Gentile world displayed,
with the Father and the Spirit
endless praise to thee be paid.