The Christmas Donkey

A friend of mine sent along a charming medieval Christmas carol , the first one I’ve encountered about the flight into Egypt.

Orientis partibus adventavit asinus
pulcher et fortissimus sarcinis aptissimus

In eastern lands the ass arrived
handsome and strong, fit for burden

Hey, sir asne, hey!

Get up, Sir Ass, get up.

Hic in collibus Sichan
iam nutritus sub Ruben
transiit per Iordanem saliit in Bethlehem

Here in the hills of Sichan,
already suckled below the Ruben
he crosses the Jordan, he enters Bethlehem

Saltu vincit hinnulos
dammas et capreolos
super dromedarios velox madianeos

In his leaps he conquers the mules,
the fallow deer and roebucks
and surpasses the fast camels of the Medes

Aurum de Arabia thus et myrrham de Saba
tulit in ecclesia virtus Asinaria

Gold from Arabia, incense and myrrh from Saba
this gallant ass brought to the church

Dum trahit vehicula multa cum sarcinula
illius mandibula dura terit pabula

While he pulls carts, many with heavy loads
his jaws grind tough fodder

Cum aristis hordeum comedit et carduum
triticum e palea
segregat in area

He eats barley, beards and all, and spiny thistles
the wheat from the chaff
he separates on the threshing floor

Amen dicas, asine, iam satur de gramine
Amen, amen itera aspernare vetera

You say “amen” ass, all filled with grass
“Amen, amen” once again, spurning the past.