W à ¼à Âobie leà ¼y ("In the Manger He Lies") is a traditional Polish Christmas carol. In 1920, the song was translated into English as "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" by Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed (1885-1933), a British musician and playwright. Reed found the carol in the hymnal à Âpiewniczek Pieà Âni Koà Âcielne (published 1908), though the song itself may date back as far as the 13th century. The Polish text could possibly be attributed to Piotr Skarga (1536-1612). The carolâÂÂs melody refers to the coronation polonaise of the Polish king, Wà Âadysà Âaw IV Vasa.
Its rhythm resembles that of the polonaise, one of the Polish national dances popularized, among others, by Frédéric Chopin. The short, rhymed phrases lead to a crescendo in each stanza's final lines: "Christ the babe is lord of all, Christ the babe was born for you!"
W à ¼à Âobie leà ¼y! KtÃ³à ¼ pobieà ¼y <br /> KolÃÂdowaàmaà Âemu<br /> Jezusowi Chrystusowi<br /> Dzià  nam narodzonemu?<br /> Pastuszkowie przybywajcie<br /> Jemu wdziÃÂcznie przygrywajcie<br /> Jako Panu naszemu.
My zaà  sami z piosneczkami<br /> Za wami pospieszymy<br /> A tak Tego Maleà Âkiego<br /> Niech wszyscy zobaczymy<br /> Jak ubogo narodzony<br /> Pà Âacze w stajni poà Âoà ¼ony<br /> WiÃÂc go dzià  ucieszymy.
English lyrics by Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed (As appears in Carols for Choirs, Book 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs)
Infant holy, <br /> Infant lowly, <br /> For His bed a cattle stall; <br /> Oxen lowing, <br /> Little knowing <br /> Christ the Babe is Lord of all. <br /> Swift are winging <br /> Angels singing, <br /> Noels ringing, <br /> Tidings bringing, <br /> Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, <br /> Shepherds keeping <br /> Vigil till the morning new; <br /> Saw the glory, <br /> Heard the story, <br /> Tidings of a Gospel true. <br /> Thus rejoicing, <br /> Free from sorrow, <br /> Praises voicing, <br /> Greet the morrow, <br /> Christ the Babe was born for you!
The carol has been recorded by: