English poem
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
by Hezekiah Butterworth (1839–1905)
This hymn of Charles Wesley, dating about 1730, was evidently written with the "Adeste Fideles" in mind, some of the stanzas, in fact, being almost like translations of it. The form of the two first lines was originally--
Hark! how all the welkin rings, "Glory to the King of Kings!"
--but was altered thirty years later by Rev. Martin Madan (1726-1790) to--
Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King!
Other changes by the same hand modified the three following stanzas, and a fifth stanza was added by John Wesley--
Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings.