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 king�s 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 king�s all.

�Ye shall well see that king�s 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.�