SCENES IN THE LIFE OF THE SAVIOUR. The Annunciation. And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." LUKE i, 28. LOWLIEST of women, and most glorified! In thy still beauty sitting calm and lone, A stately prophetess of victory From her proud lyre had struck a tempest's tone, Thy virgin head beneath its crown didst bow, THE ANNUNCIATION. And take to thy meek breast th' all-holy word, Which living harps the choirs of heaven among Felicia D. Hemans. 19 Bethlehem. THEY speak to me of princely Tyre, Great Sidon's daughter of the North; They speak of Rome and Babylon,- They praise the hundred-gated Thebes, Old Mizraim's diadem, The city of the sand-girt Nile; But I will speak of Bethlehem. They speak of Athens, star of Greece, Dear city, where heaven met with earth, I'll speak, O happy Bethlehem! Horatius Bonar. The Birth-Song of Christ. CALM on the listening ear of night Celestial choirs from courts above And angels, with their sparkling lyres, The answering hills of Palestine Send back the glad reply; And greet from all their holy heights O'er the blue depths of Galilee There comes a holier calm; And Sharon waves, in solemn praise, "Glory to God!" the sounding skies Loud with their anthems ring; "Peace to the earth, good will to men, From Heaven's eternal King." |