This is Edward Caswall’s C19 translation of the ancient Latin text, ~C4, by Aurelius Prudentius. It is set to a C16 tune STUTTGART by Christian F. Witt.
CWB II has a variant of this one called, “Earth Has Many a Noble City” to the same tune.
The editor here conceded his text is “alt” and I’m not sure of its provenance, but there is so much difference between versions of this text at some point it becomes someone else’s translation. I’m concernd about the incarnate bear as well.
1 Bethlehem, of noblest cities
None can once with thee compare;
Thou alone the Lord of heaven
Didst for us incarnate bear.2 Fairer than the sun at morning
Was the star that told his birth;
To the lands their God announcing,
seen in human form on earth.3 By its wondrous beauty guided,
See, the eastern kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer,
Gifts of incence, gold and myrrh.4 Solemn things of mystic meaning!
Incense doth the God disclose;
Gold a royal Child proclaimeth;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.5 Holy Jesus, in your brightness,
To the gentle world display’d,
With the Father and the Spirit.
Endless praise to thee be paid.
For comarison puprposes, here is the text at Hymnary:
1 Earth has many a noble city;
Bethl’hem, thou dost all excel:
out of thee the Lord from heaven
came to rule his Israel.2 Fairer than the sun at morning
was the star that told his birth,
to the world its God announcing
seen in fleshly form on earth.3 Eastern sages at his cradle
make oblations rich and rare;
see them give in deep devotion,
gold and frankincense and myrrh.4 Sacred gifts of mystic meaning:
incense doth their God disclose,
gold the King of kings proclaimeth,
myrrh his sepulcher foreshows.5 Jesu, whom the Gentiles worshipped
at thy glad Epiphany,
unto thee with God the Father
and the Spirit glory be.