Virgo decus nemorum

Settings by composers

• Giovanni Croce SSAATTBB
• Baldassare Donato SSAATTBB

Text and translations

Latin text Virgo decus nemorum Geminasque audita per auras Quaeque sonos ludis Concava saepe meos Hic quis clamor [Amor] Quis natus Virgine magnus [Agnus] Dic oro curita clamat [Amat] Est ne torus mollis sibi stravit quem pia mater [Ater] An est Echo causa tua [Ausa tua] Hunc quis de caelis duxit [Lis duxit] At istam dic vincet [Vincet] Num moriens [Oriens] Diligere hunc ergo par est super omnis Christum [istum] Quid gravius in amore [morae] De flores [Ores] Nunc est Deus ille [Heus ille] An gratum me forereris [Eris] Ad praesepe iter ergo alacres teneamus [Eamus] Munera parva feram [Feram]

English translation Virgin, grace of the forests, Heard on the twin breezes, Which oft incline to give ear to This one, who proclaims aloud: [Love] He who was born of a Virgin, the Exalted [the Lamb]. Say, please, why cry forth [He loves] On this soft pillow that Your pious Mother lays out [on the dark night]?                                                                                           Or is your faint cry occasioned [your daring] By the one who led from heaven [the revolt*] Though victory is declared, [will conquer] Undying, [Arising]! To love this, the same Christ, above all [to Him].] What greater burden to love [than to hold back], Let it blossom [Say now!] Now here lies the very God [It is He]! Come with me in thanksgiving, grateful [shall you be] Let us happily make our way towards the manger [let us go] Small gifts shall I bear [I will bring]. (* a reference to Lucifer’s fall]