O'er all his brethren he shall reign as king; And peace shall lull him in her flowery lap; What power, what force, what mighty spell, if not 80 90 The next, QUANTITY and QUALITY, spake in prose: then RELATION was called by his name. Rivers, arise: whether thou be the son Of utmost Tweed, or Ouse, or gulfy Dun, Or Trent, who, like some earth-born giant, spreads Or coaly Tyne, or ancient hallowed Dee, Or Humber loud, that keeps the Scythian's name, The rest was prose. 100 ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY Composed 1629 I THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, II That glorious form, that light unsufferable, Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council-table 10 He laid aside, and, here with us to be, Forsook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. III Say, Heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, 20 Now while the heaven, by the Sun's team untrod, IV See how from far upon the eastern road Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, From out his secret altar touched with hallowed fire. THE HYMN I It was the winter wild, While the heaven-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature, in awe to him, Had doffed 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. II Only with speeches fair She woos the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, And on her naked shame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw; Should look so near upon her foul deformities. 30 40 III But he, her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace: She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphere, His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; 50 And, waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land. IV No war, or battle's sound, Was heard the world around; The idle spear and shield were high uphung; Unstained with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the armèd throng; And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovran 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 kissed, Whispering new joys to the mild Ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmèd wave. VI The stars, with deep amaze, Stand fixed in steadfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warned them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. 70 VII 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-enlightened world no more should need: He saw a greater Sun appear 80 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 row; Full little thought they than 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. 90 |