Crudelis Herodes, Deum,
Regem venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
Qui regna dat cælestia.
Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
Stellam sequentes præviam;
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.
Lavacra puri gurgitis
Cælestis Agnus attigit:
Peccata, quae non detulit,
Nos abluendo sustulit.
Novum genus potentiæ:
Aquae rubescunt hydriæ,
Vinumque jussa fundere,
Mutavit unda originem.
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui apparuisti gentibus,
Cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.
Most cruel Herod, whence does spring
Thy fear, lest Christ should come as king ?
He seizes not on realms below,
Who realms celestial does bestow.
The sages followed the bright
Preceding star they had in sight ;
By light to find our light they sought ;
They God confess, by gifts they brought.
The heavenly Lamb, though spotless, took
The baptism of a crystal brook ;
By washing us he cleansed the blot
Of sin, which he contracted not.
A novel kind of power he shows,
Ruddy the pitchers water grows,
Which bid by him to send forth wine,
The water changed its origin.
To thee be glory, Christ, who hast
Thy beams upon the Gentiles cast ;
The like unto the Father be,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
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