tree_and_leaf: Portrait of John Keble in profile, looking like a charming old gentleman with a sense of humour. (anglican)
tree_and_leaf ([personal profile] tree_and_leaf) wrote2008-12-09 09:30 am

Advent Calendar

Small prize, consisting of, er, the honour of being right, for anyone who spots the (admittedly relatively slight) connection to Sherlock Holmes!





The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady," Gloria!

"For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favoured lady," Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name."
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say--
"Most highly favoured lady," Gloria!

Words: Basque carol;
trans. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924), folk music collector, werewolf expert, and eccentric even by the standards of Victorian clergymen. Not dull, though.

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