'Now lords and ladies in rich array, lift up your hearts upon this day'

Be merry, all that be present:
Omnes de Saba venient.

1. Out of the east a star shone bright,
For to show three kinges light,
Who had far travelled by day and night
To seek that Lord that all hath sent.

2. Thereof heard King Herod anon,
That three kings should come through his region,
To seek a child that peer had none,
And after them soon he sent.

3. King Herod cried to them on high,
‘Ye go to seek a child truly;
Go forth and come again me by,
And tell me where that he is lent.’ [laid]

4. Forth they went by the star's gleam,
Till they came to merry Bethlehem;
There they found that sweet barn-teme, [infant]
That since for us his blood hath spent.

5. Balthasar kneeled first adown
And said: 'Hail, King, most of renown!
And of all kings thou bearest the crown;
Therefore with gold I thee present.’

6. Melchoir kneeled down in that stede [place]
And said, ‘Hail, Lord, in thy priesthood!
Receive incense for thy manhood,
I bring it with a good entent.’

7. Jasper kneeled down in that stede
And said, ‘Hail, Lord, in thy knighthood,
I offer thee myrrh to thy Godhead,
For thou art he that all hath sent.’

8. Now lords and ladies in rich array,
Lift up your hearts upon this day,
And ever to God let us pray,
That on the rood was rent.


This carol is from the sixteenth-century manuscript Balliol College, Oxford MS. 354 (the commonplace book of Richard Hill); the burden, 'Omnes de Saba venient' comes from a Versicle in Vespers for the Eve of Epiphany.


Be mery, all that be present:
Omnes de Saba venient.

1. Owt of the est a sterre shon bright,
For to shew thre kinges light,
Which had ferre traveled by day and nyght
To seke that Lord that all hath sent.

2. Thereof hard King Herode anon,
That iii kynges shuld cum thorow his regyon,
To seke a child that pere had non,
And after them sone he sent.

3. Kyng Herode cried to them on hye,
‘Ye go to seke a child truly;
Go forth and cum agayn me by,
And tell me wher that he is lent.’

4. Forth they went by the sterres leme,
Till they com to mery Bethlehem;
There they fond that swet barn-teme,
That sith for vs his blode hath spent.

5. Balthasar kneled first adown
And said: ‘Hayll, Kyng, most of renown!
And of all kynges thou berist the crown;
Therefor with gold I the present.’

6. Melchoir kneled down in that stede
And said, ‘Hayll, Lord, in thy pryesthede!
Receyve encence to thy manhede,
I brynge it with a good entent.’

7. Jasper kneled down in that stede
And said, ‘Hayll, Lord, in thy knyghthede,
I offer the myrre to thy Godhede,
For thow art he that all hath sent.’

8. Now lords and ladys in riche aray,
Lyfte vp your hartes vpon this day,
And ever to God lett vs pray,
That on the rode was rent.