by Katharine Tynan (1861 - 1931)
Bethlehem
Language: English
Where man was all too marred with sin, The ass, the ox, were bidden in. Where angels were unmeet to come the humble entered Holydom. Their innocent eyes, all full of awe, saw the fulfillment of the Law. There, in the stab-le with the beast the Christmas Child hath spread His feast. These gave their bed and eke their board to be a cradle for the Lord. Their honey breath their tears all mild Warmed in the cold the newborn child. These His adorers were before the kings and shepherds thronged the door. And where no angels knelt there kneeled the innocent creatures of the field.
Authorship:
- by Katharine Tynan (1861 - 1931) [author's text not yet checked 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 M. Ryan Taylor (b. 1972), "Bethlehem", from All Heaven and it was One Hour Old : a Christmas with Katherine Tynan, no. 2. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 106