The Three Kings of Cologne

From out Co­logne there came three kings

To wor­ship Je­sus Christ

their king.

To Him they sought

fine herbs they brought

And many a beau­te­ous gold­en thing;

They brought their gifts to Beth­le­hem town

And in that man­ger set them down.

Then spake the first king

and he said:

O Child

most heav­en­ly

bright

and fair!

I bring this crown to Beth­le­hem town

For Thee

and on­ly Thee

to wear;

So give a heav­en­ly crown to me

When I shall come at last to Thee!

The se­cond

then. I bring Thee here

This roy­al robe

O Child! he cried;

Of silk ’tis spun

and such an one

There is not in the world be­side;

So in the day of doom re­quite

Me with a heav­en­ly robe of white!

The third king gave his gift

and quoth:

Spikenard and myrrh to Thee I bring

And with these twain would I most fain

Anoint the bo­dy of my king;

So may their in­cense some­time rise

To plead for me in yon­der skies!

Thus spake the three kings of Co­logne

That gave their gifts

and went their way;

And now kneel I in pray­er hard by

The cra­dle of the Child to­day;

Nor crown

nor robe

nor spice I bring

As of­fer­ing un­to Christ

my king.

Yet have I brought a gift the Child

May not des­pise

how­ev­er small;

For here I lay my heart to­day

And it is full of love to all.

Take Thou the poor but loy­al thing

My on­ly trib­ute

Christ

my king!