This Endris Night

This en­dris night1 I saw a sight

A star as bright as day;

And ev­er among a maid­en sung

Lullay

by by

lul­lay.

This love­ly lady sat and sung

And to her Child did say:

My Son

my Bro­ther

Fa­ther

dear

Why li­est Thou thus in hay?

My sweet­est bird

thus ’tis re­quired

Though Thou be King ve­ray2;

But nev­er­theless I will not cease

To sing

By by

lul­lay.

The Child then spake in His talk­ing

And to his mo­ther said:

“Yea

I am known as Heav­en-King

In crib though I be laid.

For an­gels bright down to Me light3:

Thou know­est ’tis no nay4:

And for that sight thou may’st de­light

To sing

By by

lul­lay.

“Now

sweet Son

since Thou art a king

Why art Thou laid in stall?

Why dost not or­der thy bed­ding

In some great king­ès hall?

Methinks5 ’tis right that king or knight

Should lie in good ar­ray:

And then among

it were no wrong

To sing

By by

lul­lay.

“Mary mo­ther

I am thy child

Though I be laid in stall;

For lords and dukes shall wor­ship Me

And so shall king­ès all.

Ye shall well see that king­ès three

Shall come on this twelfth day.

For this be­hest give Me thy breast

And sing

By by

lul­lay.

“Now tell

sweet Son

I Thee do pray

Thou art my Love and Dear—

How should I keep Thee to Thy pay6

And make Thee glad of cheer?

For all Thy will I would ful­fill—

Thou know­est well

in fay7;

And for all this I will Thee kiss

And sing

By by

lul­lay.

“My dear mo­ther

when time it be

Take thou Me up on loft

And set Me then up­on thy knee

And han­dle me full soft.

And in thy arm thou hold Me warm

And keep Me night and day

And if I weep

and may not sleep

Thou sing

By by

lul­lay.

“Now sweet Son

since it is come so

That all is at Thy will

I pray Thee grant to me a boon8

If it be right and skill9—

That child or man

who will or can

Be mer­ry on my day

To bliss Thou bring—and I shall sing

Lullay

by by

lul­lay.