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17.

NOËL, NOËL, NOËL, NOËL

NOEL, Noël, Noël, Noël,

This is the salutation of Gabriel!

Tidings true there be come new, sent from the Trinity
By Gabriel to Nazareth, city of Galilee,

A clean maiden and pure virgin thoro' her humility
Conceived the second person in divinity.

Noël.

When he first presented was before her fair visage
In most demure and goodly wise he did to her homage
And said, 'Lady, from heaven so high, that lordës
heritage

The which of thee born would be, I am sent on message.'

Noël.

'Hail, virgin celestial, the meekest that ever was; Hail, temple of deity, and mirror of all grace; Hail, virgin pure, I thee ensure within full little space

Thou shalt receive and Him conceive that shall bring

great solace.'

Noël.

Then again to the angel she answered womanly,

'Whatever my lord command me do, I will obey meekly; Ecce sum bumillima ancilla Domini,

Secundum verbum tuum, she said, fiat mihi.'

Noël.

18.

OF A ROSE, A LOVELY ROSE

F a rose, a lovely rose,

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Of a rose is all my song.

Listen, lordings, both eld and ying,
How this rose began to spring;
Such a rose to my liking

In all this world ne know I none.

The angel came from heaven's tower
To greet Mary with great honoúr,
And saidë she should bear the flower

That should break the fiendes bond.

The flower sprung in high Bethlem,
That is bothe bright and sheen;
The rose is Mary, heaven's queen,

Out of her bosom the blossom sprung.

The firste branch is full of might,
That sprung on Christëmass night;
The star shone over Bethlem bright
That is both broad and long.

The second branch sprung to hell,
The fiendës power down to fell;
Therein might none soulë dwell;

Blessed be the time the rose sprung.

Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose

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The third branch is good and swote,
It sprang to heaven crop and root,
Therein to dwell and be our boot,

Every day it showeth in priestës hand.

Pray we to her with great honour,

She that bare the blessed flower,

She be our help and succoúr,

And shield us from the fiendës bond.

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TRADITIONAL CAROLS

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