When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
'Twas night but seemed the noon of day:
The star whose light
Was pure and bright,
Shone with unwav'ring ray;
But one bright star,
One glorious star
Guided the Eastern Magi from afar.
Then peace was spread throughout the land;
The lion fed beside the lamb;
And with the kid,
To pastures led,
The spotted leopard fed
In peace, in peace
The calf and bear,
The wolf and lamb reposed together there.
As shepherds watched their flocks by night,
An angel brighter than the sun
Appeared in air,
And gently said,
"Fear not, be not afraid,
Behold, behold,
Beneath your eyes,
Earth has become a smiling Paradise."
_Translated from the Neapolitan_