HYMN FOR THE NATIVITY. O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, From out His secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. The Hymn. It was the winter wild, While the heaven-born Child All meanly wrapp'd in the rude manger lies; Had d ff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathise : To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. Only with speeches fair She woos the gentle air, To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw; Should look so near upon her foul deformities. But He, her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; And, waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land. No war, or battle's sound, Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung; Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; 55 8 And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovereign Lord was by. But peaceful was the night His reign of peace upon the earth began: Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. The stars, with deep amaze, For all the morning light Of Lucifer, that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid 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. The shepherds on the lawn, Or ere the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; 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 Their hearts and ears did greet, HYMN FOR THE NATIVITY. As never was by mortal finger strook; Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took: With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. Nature, that heard such sound Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat the airy region thrilling, 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. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-faced night array'd; And sworded seraphim Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and solemn choir, With inexpressive notes to Heaven's new-born Heir. Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made, But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set, And the well-balanced world on hinges hung; And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. Ring out, ye crystal spheres, Once bless our human ears, If ye have power to touch our senses so, And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; 57 And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovereign Lord was by. But peaceful was the night His reign of peace upon the earth began: Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. The stars, with deep amaze, For all the morning light Of Lucifer, that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid 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. The shepherds on the lawn, Or ere the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; 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 Their hearts and ears did greet, HYMN FOR THE NATIVITY. As never was by mortal finger strook; Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took: With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. Nature, that heard such sound Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat the airy region thrilling, 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. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-faced night array'd; And sworded seraphim Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and solemn choir, With inexpressive notes to Heaven's new-born Heir. Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made, But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set, And the well-balanced world on hinges hung; And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. 57 |