Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany 15Hymn XV.

1. In the Birth of the Son light dawned,--and darkness fled from the world,--and the earth was enlightened; then let it give glory--to the brightness of the Father Who has enlightened it!

2. He dawned from the womb of the Virgin,--and the shadows passed away when He was seen,--and the darkness of error was strangled by Him,--and the ends of the earth were enlightened that they should give glory.

3. Among the peoples there was great tumult,--and in the darkness the light dawned,--and the nations rejoiced to give glory--to Him in Whose Birth they all were enlightened.

4. His light shone out over the east;--Persia was enlightened by the star:--His Epiphany gave good tidings to her and invited her,--"He is come for the sacrifice that brings joy to all."

5. The star of light hasted and came and dawned--through the darkness, and summoned them--that the peoples should come and exult--in the great Light that has come down to earth.

6. One envoy from among the stars--the firmament sent to proclaim to them,--to the sons of Persia, that they might make ready--to meet the King and to worship Him.

7. Great Assyria when she perceived it--called to the Magi and said to them,--"Take gifts and go, honour Him--the great King Who in Judea has dawned."

8. The princes of Persia, exulting,--carried gifts from their region;--and they brought to the Son of the Virgin--gold and myrrh and frankincense.

9. They entered and found Him as a child--as He dwelt in the house of the lowly woman;--and they drew near and worshipped with gladness,--and brought near before Him their treasures.

10. Mary said, "For whom are these?--and for what purpose? and what is the cause--that has called you to come from your country--to the Child with your treasures?"

11. They said, "Thy Son is a King,--and He binds crowns and is King of all;--and great is His power over the world,--and to His Kingdom shall all be obedient."

12. "At what time did this come to pass,--that a lowly woman should bring forth a King? I who am in need and in want,--how then could a king come forth from me?"

13. "In thee alone has this come to pass--that a mighty King from thee should appear;--thee in whom poverty shall be magnified,--and to thy Son shall crowns be made subject."

14. "Treasures of Kings I have not;--riches have never fallen to my lot.--My house is lowly and my dwelling needy;--why then proclaim ye that my Son is King?"

15. "Great treasure is in thy Son,--and wealth that suffices to make all rich;--for the treasures of kings are impoverished,--but He fails not nor can be measured."

16. "Whether haply some other be for you--the King that is born, enquire ye concerning Him.--This is the son of a lowly woman,--of one who is not meet to look on a King."

17. "Can it be that light should ever miss--the way whereon it has been sent? It was not darkness that summoned and led us;--in light we walked, and thy Son is King."

18. "Lo! ye see a babe without speech,--and the house of His mother empty and needy,--and of that which pertains to a king nought is in it:--how then in it is a king to be seen?"

19. "Lo! we see that without speech and at rest--is the King, and lowly as thou hast said:--but again we see that the stars--in the highest He bids haste to proclaim Him."

20. "It were meet, O men, that ye should enquire--who is the King, and then adore him;--lest haply your way has been mistaken,--and another is the King that is born."

21. "It were meet, O maiden, that thou shouldst receive it,--that we have learned that thy Son is King,--from the star of light that errs not,--and plain is the way, and he has led us."

22. "The Child is a little one, and lo! he has not--the diadem of a king and of a throne;--and what have ye seen that ye should pay honour to Him,--as to a king, with your treasures?"

23. "A little one, because He willed it for quietness' sake,--and meek now until He be revealed.--A time shall be for Him when all diadems--shall bow down and worship Him."

24. "Armies he has none;--nor has my Son legions and troops:--in the poverty of His mother He dwells;--why then King is He called by you?"

25. "The armies of thy Son are above;--they ride on high, and they flame,--and one of them it was that came and summoned us,--and all our country was dismayed."

26. "The Child is a babe, and how is it possible--He should be King, unknown to the world?--And they that are mighty and of renown,--how can a babe be their ruler?"

27. "Thy babe is aged, O Virgin,--and Ancient of Days and exalted above all and Adam beside Him is very babe,--and in Him all created things are made new."

28. "It is very seemly that ye should expound--all the mystery and explain it;--who it is that reveals to you the mystery of my Son,--that He is a King in your region."

29. "It is likewise seemly for thee to accept this,--that unless the truth had led us we had not wandered hither from the ends of the earth,--nor come for the sake of thy Son."

30. "All the mystery as it was wrought--among you there in your country,--reveal ye to me now as friends.--Who was He that called you to come to me?"

31. "A mighty Star appeared to us--that was glorious exceedingly above the stars,--and our land by its fire was kindled;--that this King had appeared it bore tidings to us."

32. "Do not, I beseech you, speak of--these things in our land lest they rage,--and the kings of the earth join together--against the Child in their envy."

33. "Be not thou dismayed, O Virgin!--Thy Son shall bring to nought all diadems, and set them underneath his heel;--and they shall not subdue Him Whom they envy."

34. "Because of Herod I am afraid,--that unclean wolf, lest he assail me,--and draw his sword and with it cut off--the sweet cluster before it be ripe."

35. "Because of Herod fear thou not;--for in the hands of thy Son is his throne placed:--and as soon as He shall reign it shall be laid low,--and his diadem shall fall on the earth beneath."

36. "A torrent of blood is Jerusalem,--wherein the excellent ones are slain;--and if she perceives Him she will assail Him.--In mystery speak ye, and noise it not abroad."

37. "All torrents, and likewise swords,--by the hands of thy Son shall be appeased;--and the sword of Jerusalem shall be blunted,--and shall not desire at all to kill."

38. "The scribes of the priests of Jerusalem--pour forth blood and heed not.--They will arouse murderous strife--against me and against the Child; O Magi, be silent!"

39. "The scribes and the priests will be unable--to hurt thy son in their envy;--for by Him their priesthood shall be dissolved,--and their festivals brought to nought."

40. "A Watcher revealed to me, when I received--conception of the Babe, that my Son is a King;--that His diadem is from on high and is not dissolved,--he declared to me even as ye do."

41. "The Watcher, therefore, of whom thou hast spoken--is he who came as a star,--and was shown to us and brought us good tidings--that He is great and glorious above the stars."

42. "That Angel declared to me--in his good tidings, when he appeared to me,--that to His Kingdom no end shall be--and the mystery is kept and shall not be revealed."

43. "The Star also declared again to us--that thy Son is He that shall keep the diadem.--His aspect was something changed,--and he was the Angel and made it not known to us."

44. "Before me when the Watcher showed himself,--he called Him his Lord before He was conceived;--and as the Son of the Highest announced Him to me:--but where His Father is he made not known to me."

45. "Before us he proclaimed in the form of a star--that the Lord of the Highest is He Who is born;--and over the stars of light thy Son is ruler,--and unless He commands they rise not."

46. "In your presence, lo! there are revealed--other mysteries, that ye may learn the truth;--how in virginity I bare my Son,--and He is Son of God; go ye, proclaim Him!"

47. "In our presence the Star taught us--that His Birth is exalted above the world and above all beings is thy Son,--and is Son of God according to thy saying."

48. "The world on high and the world below bear witness to Him,--all the Watchers and the stars,--that He is Son of God and Lord.--Bear ye His fame to your lands!"

49. "All the world on high, in one star,--has stirred up Persia and she has learnt the truth,--that thy Son is Son of God,--and to Him shall all peoples be subject."

50. "Peace bear ye to your lands:--peace be multiplied in your borders!--As apostles of truth may ye be believed--in all the way that ye shall pass through."

51. "The peace of thy Son, it shall bear us--in tranquillity to our land, as it has led us hither;--and when His power shall have grasped the worlds,--may He visit our land and bless it!

52. "May Persia rejoice in your glad tidings!--may Assyria exult in your coming--And when my Son's Kingdom shall arise,--may He plant His standard in your country!"

53. Let the Church sing with rejoicing,--"Glory in the Birth of the Highest,--by Whom the world above and the world below are illumined!"--Blessed be He in Whose Birth all are made glad!