Favorite Poems
Out of Your Sleep Arise and Wake[1]
Noel, noel, noel,
Noel, noel, noel!
Out of your sleep arise and wake,
For God mankind now hath i-take[2],
All of a maid
without any make[3]:
Of all women she beareth the bell[4].
Noel!
And through a maide fair and wise
Now man is made of full great price[5];
Now angels kneel to
man's service,
And at this time all this befell.
Noel!
Now man is brighter than the sun;
Now man in heaven on high shall wone[6];
Blessed be God this
game is begun,
And his mother empress of hell.
Noel!
That[7] ever was thrall[8], now is he free;
That[9] ever was small, now great is she;
Now shall God deem[10]
both thee and me
Unto his bliss if we do well.
Noel!
Now man may to heaven wend;
Now heaven and earth to him they bend;
He that was foe now
is our friend,
This is no nay that I you tell.
Noel!
Now, blessèd brother, grant us grace
At doomesday to see thy face
And in thy court to
have a place,
That we may there sing noel.
Noel!
Anonymous Lyrics of the Fifteenth Century
[1]To properly appreciate this poem, it should be sung to a medieval tune (something like the tune used in most medieval fair scenes on television or in movies)
[2]For God has taken the form of man.
[3]From a woman without peer, or from a woman without match.
[4]"Beareth the bell" takes the prize. The mother of Christ is first among women.
[5]"Price" worth
[6]"wone" dwell
[7]"That" who
[8]"Thrall" under a spell
[9]"That" who
[10]"Deem" judge or take