Or Humber loud, that keeps the Scythian's name, Or Meday smooth or royal tower'd Thame. [The rest was prose.] ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. Composed in 1629 This is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, He laid aside; and, here with us to be, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clas III. Say, heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, Now while the Heaven by the sun's team untrod, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? IV. See how from far upon the eastern road Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, THE HYMN It was the winter wild, I. While the Heaven-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger Nature in awe to him Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize; It was no season then for her To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. Only, with speeches fair, She woes the gentle air, II. To hide her guilty front with innocent snow; And on her naked shame, Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw; Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look so near upon her foul deformities. But he her fears to cease III. Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came softly-sliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous cloads dividing, And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an universal peace through sea and land No war, or battle's sound IV. Was heard the world around, The idle spear and shield were high up hung, The hooked chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the arm'd throng; And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sov'reign Lord was ty. But peaceful was the night, V. Wherein the Prince of Light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds, with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kiss'd, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave VI. The stars, with deep amaze, Stand fix'd in steadfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence, But in their glimering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed And hide his head for shame, As his inferior flame The new enlighten'd world no more should need⚫ He saw a greater Sun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree, could bear. VIII. The shepherds on the lawn. Or ere the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic W Full little thought they then, That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below: Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. When such music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook ; Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took : The air, such pleasures loth to lose, With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. X. Nature that heard such sound, Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done. And that her reign had here its last fulfilling ; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all Heaven and Earth in happier union XI. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-fac'd night ar ray'd; The helmed Cherubim, And sworded Seraphim, Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, ❤ Harping in loud and solemn choir, With unexpressive notes, to Heaven' "ew-born Heir. Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made, XII. But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellation set, And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the welt'ring waves their oozy channel keep XIII. Ring out, ye crystal Spheres, Once bless our human ears, (If ye have power to touch our senses so,) And let your silver chime love in melodious time; And let the base of Heaven's deep organ blow And with your ninefold harmony Make up full concert to th' angelic symphony. For if such holy song nwrap our fancy long, XIV. |