A great and mighty wonder,
a full and holy cure!
the Virgin bears the Infant
with virgin-honour pure:

Repeat the hymn again
'To God on high be glory,
and peace on earth to men.'

The Word becomes incarnate,
and yet remains on high;
and cherubim sing anthems
to shepherds from the sky:

While thus they sing your Monarch,
those bright angelic bands,
rejoice, ye vales and mountains,
ye oceans, clap your hands:

Since all he comes to ransom,
by all be he adored,
the infant born in Bethl'em,
the Saviour and the Lord:


St. Germanus (c. 634 - 734)
tr. John Mason Neale (1818-66)