by T. E. (Thomas Edward) Brown (1830 - 1897)
Three kings from out the Orient
Language: English
Three kings from out the Orient For Judah's land were fairly bent, To find the Lord of grace ; And as they journeyed pleasantlie, A star kept shining in the sky, To guide them to the place. "O Star," they cried, "by all confest, Withouten dreed, the loveliest!" The first was Melchior to see, The emperour hight of Arabye, An aged man, I trow: He sat upon a rouncy bold, Had taken of the red red gold, The babe for to endow. "O Star," he cried, etc. The next was Gaspar, young and gay, That held the realm of far Cathay -- Our Jesus drew him thence -- Yclad in silk from head to heel, He rode upon a high cameel, And bar the frankincense. "O Star," he cried, etc. The last was dusky Balthasar, That rode upon a dromedar -- His coat was of the fur: Dark-browed he came from Samarkand, The Christ to seek, and in his hand Upheld the bleeding myrrh. "O Star," he cried, etc.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with T. E. Brown, Old John, and other poems, London, Macmillan, 1893, pages 229-230.
Text Authorship:
- by T. E. (Thomas Edward) Brown (1830 - 1897), "Carol", appears in Old John and other Poems, first published 1893 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Norman Gilbert (b. 1912), "The star", published 1963 [ satb chorus, optional trumpets, optional timpani ], carol [sung text not yet checked]
- by William Henry Gill (flourished 1890), "Three kings from out the Orient", published 1916 [ voice and piano ], carol ; in the collection Carols Old and Carols New [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-07
Line count: 29
Word count: 163