ing them in their follies, and many were the real friends and benefactors of their species.

8. The Chaldean Magi are among the most scientific and venerable of the philosophers of antiquity. They informed themselves of the languages of different countries, and acquired the learning of Egypt, and of Greece, besides the knowledge of the true God, which the Hebrew people, who were so long domesticated among them, carried into their country. The visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, is recorded by Saint Matthew. They must have been acquainted with the Hebrew prophecies, and they expected the coming of Christ. The relation is the following:

9. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall como a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

10. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may

come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him and, when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."

THE EPIPHANY.

Deep in Sabea's fragrant groves retired,
Long had the eastern sages studious dwelt,
By love sublime of sacred science fired:

Long had they trained the inquiring youth, With liberal hand the bread of wisdom dealt, And sung, in solemn verse, mysterious truth, The sacred characters they knew to trace, Derived from Egypt's elder race;

And all that Greece, with copious learning fraught, Through different schools, by different masters taught;

And all Arabia's glowing store

Of fabled truths and rich poetic lore:

Stars, plants and gems, and talismans they knew, And far was spread their fame, and wide their praises grew.

The admiring East their praises spread: But with uncheated eyes themselves they view'd; Mourning they sat with dust upon their head, And oft in melancholy strain

The fond complaint renewed, [in vain. How little yet they knew, how much was learned For human guilt and human woe

Their sympathizing sorrows flow;

Their hallowed prayers ascend in incense pure;
They mourned the narrow bounds assigned
To the keen glances of the searching mind;
They mourned the ills they could not cure,
They mourned the doubts they could not clear,
They mourned that prophet yet, nor seer,
The great Eternal had made known,

Or reached the lowest step of that immortal throne.

And oft the starry cope of Heaven beneath, When day's tumultuous sounds had ceased to breathe.

With fixed foot as rooted there,

Through the long night they drew the chilly air, While gliding o'er their head,

In solemn silence dread,

The ethereal orbs their shining course pursued; In holy trance, enwrapt the sages stood,

With folded arms laid on their reverend breast, And to that Heaven they knew, their Orisons addrest.

A star appears; they mark its kindling beam, O'er night's dark breast unusual splendors stream; The lesser lights that deck the sky

In wondering silence softly rolling by,
At the fair stranger seemed to gaze,

Or veiled their trembling fires and half withdrew their rays.

The blameless men the wonder saw, And hailed the joyful sign with pious awe, They knew 'twas none of all the train With which in shadowy forms and shape uncouth, Monsters of earth and of the main,

Remote from nature as from truth,

Their learned pens the sky had figured o'er No star with such kind aspect shone before; Nor e'er did wandering planet stoop so low To guide benighted pilgrims through this world of [woe

The heavenly impulse they obey, The new-born light directs their way; Through deserts never marked by human tread And billowy waves of loose unfaithful sand, O'er many an unknown hill and foreign strand The silver clue unerring led,

And peopled towns they pass, and glittering spires; No cloud could veil its light, no sun could quench its fires.

Thus passed the venerable pilgrims on,

Till Salem's* stately towers before them shone, And soon their feet her hallowed pavements prest, Not in her marble courts to rest,

From pomp and shining state aloof,

Their shining guide its beams withdrew;
And points their path, and points their view,
To Bethlehem's rustic cots, to Mary's lowly roof.

There the bright centinel kept watch,
While other stars arose and set;

For there, beneath its humble thatch,

[met.

Weakness and power, and heaven and earth were Now, sages, now your search give o'er, Believe, fall prostrate, and adore!

[here;

Here spread your spicy gifts, your golden offerings
No more the fond complaint renew,
Of human guilt and mortal woe,

[fear;

Of knowledge checked by doubt, and hope with What angels wished to see, ye view;

What angels wished to learn, ye know;

Peace is proclaimed to man, and heaven begun below.

There are no obscurities in these verses, except in the passage,

66 They knew 'twas none of all the train," &c.

Those who have seen a celestial globe, know that its surface represents a map of the stars. The

* Jerusalem.