An early Cristmas post.

I know it is still a bit early for Christmas posts, but a befriended cellist and leader of a baroque ensemble asked me to translate the following text. It has been set on music and she wants to perform it for her Christmas program. I have been unable to trace the author, but my guess is late Mediaeval or Renaissance period.

There is no performance of this song on Youtube, but maybe early next year with me amongst the public!

1.Illibata, ter beata

Jesu natalitia

Collaudemus, et clamemus

Omnia felicia.

Terra plaude, caelum gaude

Resonet laetitia.

2.Virgo mirum, ventre virum

Amplexata tenuit

Et Creator, hic Viator

Fieri non renuit.

Terra plaude, caelum gaude

Virgo Deum genuit

 3.Ille piae, flos Mariae

Virginale lilium

Huc de caelo, magno zelo

Venit in exilium.

Terra plaude, caelum gaude

Lauda Dei Filium.

4.Non in aula, sed in caula

Natus est puerulus.

Deus gemit, vento tremit,

Flet pro nobis querulus.

Terra plaude, caelum gaude

Venit ad nos Iesulus

illibatus: uninjured, immaculate

Illibata  natalitia: unlike the Buddha, who is born every aeon again, Jesus as far as I know has only been born once, so why the plural? One could argue that it is because of the rhyme with felicia and laetitia, but the plural in Latin is sometimes used to intensify, like soles is used for `great heat’, so: the great immaculate birth.

Virgo mirum, ventre virum amplexata tenuit = Virgo mirum virum tenuit, amplexata ventre

venter ventris (m.): belly

amplexor amplexatus sum: to embrace

teneo tenui: to keep, hold

Viator: the idea is that a human being is just passers-by (viator) on earth, so viator = homo

hic fieri non renuit: does to refuse to become here

Ille piae, flos Mariae Virginale lilium = Ille flos piae Mariae, virginale lilium,

lilium: the lily is the flower of purity

huc: to this place

zelus: zeal

exilium: again the idea of the world as a transitory place

caula (Late Latin): stable

gemo gemui: to sigh, groan

tremo tremui: tremble, shiver

querulus: complaining