John Mason Neale

O'er the Hill and O'er the Vale

O'er the hill and o'er the vale,

Come three kings together,

Caring nought for snow and hail,

Cold and wind and weather;

Now on Persia's sandy plains,

Now where Tigris swells with rains,

They their camels tether;

Now through Syrian lands they go,

Now through Moab, faint and slow,

Now o'er Edom's heather.


O'er the hill and o'er the vale,

Each king bears a present;

Wise men go a Child to hail,

Monarchs seek a peasant:

And a star in front proceeds,

Over rocks and rivers leads,

Shines with beams incessant:

Therefore onward, onward still!

Ford the stream and climb the hill:

Love makes all things pleasant.


He is God ye go to meet:

Therefore incense proffer:

He is King ye go to greet;

Gold is in your coffer.

Also Man, He comes to share

Ev'ry woe that man can bear;

Tempter, railer, scoffer:

Therefore now, against the day

In the grave when Him they lay,

Myrrh ye also offer.