III. On the MORNING of CHRIST'S NATIVITY. I. HIS is the month, and this the happy morn, ΤΗ Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King, Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born, Our great redemption from above did bring; That he our deadly forfeit should release, II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, And that far-beaming blaze of majesty, 5 Wherewith he wont at Heav'n's high council-table re To fit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid afide; and here with us to be, Forfook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. III. Say heav'nly Mufe, fhall not thy facred vein Afford a prefent to the Infant God? Haft thou no verfe, no hymn, or folemn strain, 20 Now while the Heav'n by the fun's team untrod, IV. See IV. See how from far upon the eastern road O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, 25 With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no feafon then for her To wanton with the fun her lufty paramour. Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air II. To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with finful blame, The faintly veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look fo near upon her foul deformities. 35 40 III. But III. But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came foftly fliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, 45 With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an univerfal peace through fea and land. No war, or battel's found IV. Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung, 55 The hooked chariot stood, Unftain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings fat ftill with awful eye, As if they furely knew their fovran Lord was by. 60 V. But peaceful was the night, Wherein the Prince of light His reign of peace upon the earth began : The winds with wonder whist Smoothly the waters kist, Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed wave. VOL. III. G VI. The VI. The ftars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in stedfast 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 glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself befpake and bid them go. VII. And though the fhady gloom Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for fhame, As his inferior flame The new inlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater sun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree, could bear. VIII. The fhepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a rustic row ; 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 filly thoughts fo bufy keep. 85 90 IX. When When fuch mufic sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger ftrook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the ftringed noife, As all their fouls in blissful rapture took : The air, fuch pleasure loth to lose, 95 With thousand echoes ftill prolongs each heav'nly close. X. Nature that heard fuch found, Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's feat, the aery region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its lafst fulfilling ; She knew fuch harmony alone Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. XI. At laft furrounds their fight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-fac'd night array'd; The helmed Cherubim, And fworded Seraphim, Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and folemn quire, 115 With unexpreffive notes to Heaven's new-born Heir. |