Hymns of the Eastern Church: S. Cosmas: Canon For Christm...
Hymns of the Eastern Church, by J.M. Neale, [1884]
Canon for Christmas Day
by S. Cosmas
Ῥάβδος ἐκ τῆς πίζης.
Rod of the Root of Jesse,
Thou, Flower of Mary born,
From that thick shady mountain *
Cam’st glorious forth this morn:
Of her, the ever Virgin,
Incarnate east Thou made,
The immaterial Essence,
The God by all obeyed!
Glory, Lord, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day!
The Gentiles’ expectation,
Whom Jacob's words foretell,
Who Syria's pride shalt vanquish,
Samaria's pride shalt quell;
Thou from the Root of Judah
Like some fair plant dost spring,
To turn old Gentile error
To Thee, its God and King!
Glory, Lord, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day!
In Balaam's ancient vision
The Eastern seers were skilled,
They marked the constellations,
And joy their spirits filled:
For Thou, bright Star of Jacob,
Arising in Thy might,
Didst call these Gentiles first-fruits
To worship in Thy light. p. 138
They in holy reverence bent,
Gifts acceptable present.
As on a fleece descending
The gentle dews distil,
As drops the earth that water,
The Virgin didst Thou fill.
For Media, leagued with Sheba,
Falls down and worships Thee:
Tarsihish and Ethiopia,
The Isles and Araby.
Glory, Lord, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day
[In Mr. Young's book. The melody by Dr. Schroeder.]
136:* The reference is to the Song of Habakkuk; [iii. 3], where the LXX. give—"God shall come from Teman, and The Holy from the thick and shady mountain of Paran."