Canten dos jilguerillos Two little goldfinches are singing

al sol infante to the infant sun,

porque los pajaritos that all the little birds

al niño acallen, canten suaves. may sing to child Jesus, softly sing.

Que esta noche de cielo sus voces salen. Tonight from heaven their notes come.

para todos de gozo, de gusto, for all an evening of enjoyment, of relish,

de gloria, y adiós de pena. of glory, and farewell to pain.

Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy upon us.

Christe eleison. Christ have mercy upon us.

Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy upon us.

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Glory be to God on high,

Et in terra pax hominibus and on earth peace,

Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. We praise thee, we bless thee

Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. we worship thee, we glorify thee,

Gratias agimus tibi propter we give thanks to thee

magnam gloriam tuam. for thy great glory.

Domine Deus Rex caelestis, O Lord God, heavenly King,

Deus Pater omnipotens, God the Father Almighty.

Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

Qui tollis peccata mundi, that takest away the sins of the world,

miserere nobis. have mercy upon us.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou that takest away the sins of the

suscipe deprecationem nostrum. world, receive our prayer.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, Thou that sittest at the right hand of God

Quoniam tu solus sanctus. For thou only art holy;

Tu solus Dominus. thou only art the Lord;

Tu solus altissimus, Iesu Christe, thou only, O Christ, art the most high -

cum sancto spiritu with the Holy Ghost,

in Gloria Dei Patris. Amen. in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

óiganme una xacarilla nueva listen to the nice new xácara

que he de cantar en Belén.’ I’m going to sing in Bethlehem.’

‘¡Siempre el garbo y la voz! ‘A jaunty style and voice are always needed,

Yo la cantaré también’. so I’ll sing it too.’

‘¿Cómo qué, cómo qué?’ ‘What’s all this, what’s all this?’

‘A que só me toca a mí, ‘I’m the one to do it,

y el porque yo me lo sé.’ because I know how to.’

‘¿Cómo qué, cómo qué?’ What’s all this, what’s all this, what’s all this?’

‘Pues quitémonos de ruidos ‘Come on, let’s stop shouting

y cantemos a las tres.’ and let’s sing all three of us together.’

¡vaya, vaya de xácara, pues.’ on to the xácara, then!’

En el mesón de la luna In the Moon Inn

junto a la Puerta del Sol next to the Gate of the Sun,

del cielo de una doncella a young girl brought down from heaven

en tierra un lucero dio. a star to us on earth.

A ser galán de las almas So as to become the suitor of souls,

el Verbo al hielo nació the Word of God was born to the freezing world,

que lo tomó con fineza which took him with grace

pero con poco calor. but with little warmth.

Sin duda el Jayán divino Doubtless the divine Giant

ya nasce a morir de amor, willed his birth that he might die of love,

pues cuando se emboza el rostro for when he hides his face

me descubre el coraçón. he opens up his heart to me.

Por ser de la Trinidad Being one of the Trinity

vino por la redempçión. he come down for our redemption.

Metióse en Santa María, He entered unto Holy Mary

ya dado en San Salvador. and so became our Holy Saviour.

Metióse en cuna de nieve He settled into a snowy cradle,

que no es nuevo en su afiçión for there is nothing new, given his love,

dexarse llevar del agua in the spirit of God

el espíritu de Dios. being borne along by water.

Al soberano Cupido The sovereign Cupid was wounded

desde que naçe le hirió by the arrow from the moment of birth,

la flecha, que en el desnudo for a dart wounds flesh

hiere más presto el harpón. more readily when naked.

A matar vivino a la muerte, He came to slay death,

picado de que el amor spurred on by love’s

le dio una herida mortal, having dealt him a mortal blow,

y fue porque le encarnó. and ‘twas because He was incarnated.

Que no se caiga el portal That the gates (of Bethlehem) did not fall down

es un milagro de Dios. is one of God’s miracles.

Bien puede el Jayán haçer Well may the Giant remark

cuenta que ha naçido hoy. that today he has been born.

Se anda perdonando vidas, He goes about forgiving our lives

muy preçiado de león, prized greatly as a lion,

y le suele haçer llorar yet tears are brought to his eyes

el más pobre pecador. by the poorest sinner.

El naçer en la campaña His birth on the battlefield

es prueba de su valor, is proof of his valour,

y esperarle cuerpo a cuerpo and to encounter him hand to hand

es cosa de confesión. is a matter for the confessional.

El sangriento açero esgrime Like Herod he wields a bloody blade,

Herodes, que en su región seeking, in the name of the Lord,

contener mala conçiencia to suppress evil thinking

deseaba ver de Dios. with his kingdom on earth.

¡Bien haya la xacarilla Hurrah for our little xácara

y el padre que la engendró, and for the father who begot it,

y a las que también la cantan and as for those who sing it,

buenas Pascuas las dé Dios! may God grant them a happy Christmas!

Credo in unum Deum, I believe in one God:

Patrem omnipotentem The Father almighty,

factorem caeli et terrae maker of heaven and earth

- credo - and of all things visible and invisible.

visibilium et invisibilium. And - I believe -

Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, in one Lord Jesus Christ,

Filium Dei unigenitum. the only-begotten Son of God,

Et ex Patre natum begotten of his Father

ante omnia saecula. before all worlds.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, God of God, light of light,

Deum verum de Deo vero. very God of very God,

Genitum, non factum, begotten, not made,

consubstantialem Patri: being of one substance with the Father;

per quem omnia facta sunt. by whom all things were made;

Qui propter nos homines, who for us men

et propter nostram salutem and for our salvation

descendit de caelis. came down from from heaven,

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost

ex Maria Virgine: of the Virgin Mary,

e homo factus est. and was made man;

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis and was crucified also for us

sub Pontio Pilato: under Pontius Pilate;

passus et sepultus est. he suffered and was buried;

Et resurrexit tertia die, and the third day he rose again

secundum scripturas. according to the Scriptures,

Et ascendit in caelum: and ascended into heaven,

sedet ad dexteram Patris. and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;

Et iterum venturus est cum gloria and he shall come again with glory,

iudicare vivos et mortuos: to judge both the quick and the dead;

cuius regni non erit finis. whose kingdom shall have no end.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum And I believe in the Holy Chost

Dominum et vivificantem – Credo - the Lord, and Giver of Life,

qui ex Patre, Filioque procedit. who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;

Qui cum Patre, et Filio who with the Father and the Son

simul adoratur et conglorificator: together is worshiped and glorified;

qui locutus est per prophetas. who spake by the Prophets.

Et unam sanctam, catholicam, And I believe one holy Catholic

et apostolicam Ecclesiam. and Apostolic Church;

Confiteor unum baptisma I acknowledge one Baptism

in remissionem peccatorum. for the remission of sins;

Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. and I look for the resurrection of the dead,

Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. and the life of the world to come. Amen.

¡A siolo flasiquiyo! ‘Ah, Mr. Francisco!’

¿Qué manda siol Thome? ‘At your command, Mr. Thomas!

¿Tenemo tura trumenta ‘Do we have all the instruments

templarita cum cunsielta? tuned up together?’

Si siolo ven pote ‘Yes sir, you could well

avisa bosa mise tell your lady that

que sa lo moleno ya the dark-skinned folk are about to

cayendo de pularissa appear, falling about with laughter

y muliendo pol bayla and dying to start dancing.’

llamalo llamalo aplisa ‘Call them out right away,

que a veniro lo branco ya for the White One has come now

y lo niño aspelandosa - the resplendent Child -

y se aleglala ha ha ha ha and he will rejoice, ha ha ha ha!

con lo zambamba ha ha ha ha with the zambomba (friction drum), ha ha ha ha!

con lo guacambe con lo cascave with guacambe dancing and bell-ringing.’

Si siñolo Thome Yes, Mr. Thomas,

repicamo lo rrabe we’ll strum the rebec

ya la panderetiyo Anton and Anton jingling the tambourine,

baylalemo lo neglo al son. all we black people will dance to their sounds.’

Tumbucutu cutu cutu Toomboocootoo…

y toquemo pasito querito and let’s play gently, softly,

tumbucutu cutu cutu toomboocootoo….

no pantemo a lo niño sesu lest we disturb baby Jesus.

Turu neglo de Guinea All of us, blacks from Guinea,

que venimo combirara have come and we’ll invite

a detla e su criara Andrea and her maid,

Munglave con su liblea and Mongrave in his livery.

Y pluque lo branco vea And so that the White One may see

quere branco nos selvimos we love white, we’ll dress

con vayal de un tamo plimo in fine, fleecy white cotton

y haleme a lo niño bu. and give the babe a bit of a scare.

De merico y silujano Let Miguel dress up quickly

se vista Minguel aplisa as a doctor-surgeon,

pues nos culase su clisa so the knife in his hand

las helilas con su mano may heal our wounds.

Bayle el canario y el villano Dance the canario and the villano,

mas no pase pol deltas but don’t step behind

de mula que da lasas a mule that kicks out,

de toro que dira mu. nor a bull that goes moo.

Antoniyo con su sayo Antonio, wearing the smock

que tluxo re pueltorrico he brought from Puerto Rico

saldra vestiro re mico will come out dressed as a monkey,

y Minguel de papangayo. and Miguel as a parrot.

Y quando yegue adorayo And when he goes up to adore

al niño le dira asi the babe he’ll say to him:

si tu yo lamo pol mi ‘if you cry for me,

yo me aleglamo por tu. I’ll be made happy by you.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy,

Pleni sunt caeli et terra Heaven and earth are full

gloria tua. of thy glory,

Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.

Benedictus qui venit Blessed is he that cometh

in nomine Domini. in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum Thus we venerate so great

Veneremur cernui: a sacramental feast,

Et antiquum documentum and the old covenant

Novo cedat ritui; gives way to a new rite.

Praestet fides supplementum May faith preside to supplement

Sensuum defectui. the deficiencies of our senses.

¡Quien uviesse tal ventura sobre las agues If only I had such good fortune on the waters

del mar como uvo el conde Arnaldos of the sea as Count Arnaldos

la mañana de San Juan! on the morning of St. John’s Day.

Con un falcon en la mano la caça yva a caçar, He set out to hunt with a falcon in his hand

vio venire una galera que a tierra quiere llegar, and saw a galley sailing in, trying to reach the shore.

las velas traya de seda, la exercia de un cendal, Her sails were of silk, her rigging of fine linen,

marinero que la mada diziendo viene un cantar and the sailor at the helm was singing a sea-chanty

que la mar fazía en calma, los vientos that calmed the ocean waves and tamed the winds, haze amaynar, los peces que andan en el hondo that enticed the deep-water fish to swim to the

arriba los haze andar, las aves que andan bolando the surface and charmed the flying birds

en el mastel las faze posar: to perch on the mast:

"Galera, la mi galera, Dios te me guarde de mal, "Galley, my galley, may God preserve you from all evil,

de los peligros del mundo sobre aguas de la mar, from the dangers of the world on the waters of the sea,

de los llanos de Almería, del estrecho de Gibraltar from the plains of Almeria, from the straits of Gibraltar,

y del golfo de Venecia y de los bancos de Flandes from the gulf of Venice, and the banks of Flanders,

y del golfo de León donde suelen peligrar." from the gulf of Leon where danger lurks at every turn."

Allí fabló el conde Arnaldos, bien oyréys lo que dirá: Then Count Arnaldos spoke – you shall hear what he said:

"Por dios to ruego, marinero, "For the love of God, sailor, I ask you to tell me

dígasme ora esse cantar." what you are singing."

Respondióle el marinero, tal respuesta le fue a dar: The sailor replied to him, and this is the reply he gave:

"Yo no digo esta canción "I will only tell this song to the one

sino a quien conmigo va." who comes with me on my voyage."

Serafín, que con dulce harmonía Seraphim, you who with sweet harmony

la Vida que nace requebrando estás; are paying court to the new-born Life,

cántale glorias mirándole en penas, sing of glory to him as you watch him suffer,

que amante y quejoso, su alivio es un ¡ay! for, in his love, his sole comfort is a sigh.

¡ay, ay, ay Ah, ah, ah.

Tan fragrantes, lucientes y bellas From afar in heaven and earth,

en cielo y en tierra distantes se ven fragrant, gleaming and beautiful,

las estrellas vestir de colores, the stars seem to be bedecked with colors,

las flores brillar y las selvas arder. the flowers seem to gleam and the woodlands

sparkle.

En albergue, aunque pobre dichoso In a stable, blessed though poor,

en nuevos afectos se mira esta vez now shine with renewed affection

una luna que alumbra el empíreo, a moon lighting up the heavens

y un sol que de aljófar guarnece sus pies. and a sun embellishing his feet.

En los brazos de alma más pura, In the arms of the purest of souls

picado de amor un hermoso clavel a beautiful carnation touched by love

desabrocha el color encarnado reveals the crimson color

del nácar precioso que quiere verter. of the pearly drops it sheds.

¡Oh! mil veces dichosa la culpa, Oh, a thousand times fortunate is original

en cuya sentencia ha llegado a tener sin since the sentence it was given has now

por descargo un tesoro infinito: received a discharge through an infinite treasure:

un Dios por padrino y un Niño por juez. God as godfather and a Son as judge.

Llora el sol y la aurora se alegra, The sun weeps and the dawn rejoices,

la pena y el gozo en sus ojos se ven; pain and joy can be seen in their eyes,

que es afecto muy propio del alma for weeping and laughing are emotions

llorar y reír al amanecer. proper for the spirit.

Un jazmín entre espinas y abrojos A jasmine amidst the thorns and thistles

nos da testimonio en metáfora fiel, is a faithful metaphor that bears witness for

que entre humanos y graves pesares us that amidst the grave cares of human life

siempre hay escondido un divino placer there always lies hidden a divine delight.

Hoy el hombre suspenso y absorto Today man, amazed and spell-bound,

ignora, cobarde, lo mismo que ve: fails to grasp what with his very eyes he

pues mirar tan divino lo humano can see; for the sight of humanity made so

es cosa que apenas se puede entender. divine is something which almost passes

understanding.

Una noche de siglos tan largos A night of time so infinite

dobladas las luces habrá menester, must needs have twice as many lights,

y por eso amanecen dos soles and so two suns rise

que bañan de luz el portal de Belén. to bathe the gate of Bethlehem in light.

Agnus Dei, O Lamb of God

qui tollis peccata mundi: that takest away the sins of the world,

miserere nobis. have mercy upon us.

qui tollis peccata mundi: Thou that takest away the sins of

dona nobis pacem. the world, grant us thy peace.

Convidando está la noche Night-time was an invitation

aquí de músicas varias for various bands

Al recién nacido infante to sing tender, joyful hymns

Canten tiernas alabanzas to the new-born babe,

Alegres cuando festivas whereupon some lovely, festive girls

unas hermosas zagales intoned novel

Con novedad entonaron comic interludes as

juguetes por la guaracha the guaracha was being danced.

¡Ay, que me abraso, divino dueño, Ah, how I burn, divine master,

en la hermosura de tus ojuelos, ay! in the beauty of your little eyes!

¡Ay, cómo llueven ciento luceros Ah, how a hundred stars pour down

rayos de gloria, rayos de fuego, ay! rays of glory, rays of fire!

¡Ay, que la gloria del portaliño Ah, how the glory of the little gate (of Bethlehem)

ya viste rayos, si arroja yelos, ay! is bathed in sunlight even as it shoots out icy shafts!

¡Ay, que su madre, como en su espero, Ah, how his mother, as if transported to his heaven,

mira en su lucencia sus crecimientos, ay! watches him grow in the light he creates!

¡En la guaracha le festinemos Let us drink a toast to the child

mientras el niño se rinde al sueño, ay! with our guaracha while he goes to sleep. .

¡Toquen y bailen, porque tenemos Let them play and dance, because we have

fuego en la nieve, nieve en el fuego, ay! fire in the snow, snow in the fire!

¡Pero el chicote a un mismo tiempo But the little fellow at one and the same time

llora y se ríe, qué dos extremos, ay! cries and laughs, what two extremes!

¡Paz a los hombres dan de los cielos, Peace from heaven to all men is given;

a Dios las gracias porque callemos, ay! let all give thanks to God, for we now may be

silent.