Let him embrave1 his own bright tresses When he hath done all he may, To make himself rich in his rise, All will be darkness to the day That breaks from one of these bright eyes. And soon this sweet truth shall appear, Here are beauties shall bereave him 2 And swear faith to Thy sweeter powers; OUR BLESSED LORD IN HIS CIRCUMCISION TO HIS FATHER то I Thee these first-fruits of My growing death, (For what else is My life?) lo, I bequeath. II Taste this, and as Thou lik'st this lesser flood 1 Decorate. 3 The sun worshippers. 2 The sun. III Thy wrath that wades here now, ere long shall swim, The flood-gate shall be set wide ope for Him. IV Then let Him drink, and drink, and do His worst, To drown the wantonness of His wild thirst. V Now's but the nonage1 of My pains, My fears VI The day of My dark woes is yet but morn, VII Yet may these unfledged griefs give fate some guess, These cradle-torments have their towardness. VIII These purple buds of blooming death may be IX And till My riper woes to age are come, 1 Not come to maturity. 2 Prelude, type. IN THE GLORIOUS EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD A HYMN SUNG AS BY THE THREE KINGS DEDICATION TO THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY MADAM,1 'Mongst those long rows of crowns that gild your race,2 3 These royal sages sue for decent place: The daybreak of the Nations; their first ray, When the dark World dawn'd into Christian Day, And smil'd i' th' Babe's bright face: the purpling bud And rosy dawn of the right royal Blood, Fair first-fruits of the Lamb, sure kings in this, But the World's homage, scarce in these well-blown,1 Does rise a radiant crop of royal stems, A golden harvest of crown'd heads, that meet Swells high, fair confluence of all high-born blood: 1 Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. 2 She was the daughter of Henry iv. of France. 3 The wise men who came from the East to Christ's cradle. 4 Come to the full flower. With your bright head whole groves of sceptres bend Their wealthy tops, and for these feet contend. So swore the Lamb's dread Sire, and so we see't; Crowns, and the heads they kiss, must court these feet. Fix here, fair Majesty! may your heart ne'er miss IN THE GLORIOUS EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD A HYMN SUNG AS BY THE THREE KINGS 1 King-BRIGHT Babe, Whose awful beauties make The morn incur a sweet mistake; 2 King-For Whom the officious 1 Heavens devise To disinherit the sun's rise: 3 King-Delicately to displace The day, and plant it fairer in Thy face. 1 King-O Thou born King of loves, 2 King Of lights, 3 King-Of joys, 1 Eager heavens devise ways, etc. Chorus-Look up, sweet Babe, look up, and see For love of Thee Thus far from home The East is come To seek herself in Thy sweet eyes. 1 King-We, who strangely went astray, Lost in a bright Meridian 1 night, 2 King-A darkness made of too much day. 3 King-Beckon'd from far By Thy fair star, Lo, at last have found our way. Chorus-To Thee, thou Day of Night, thou East of West, 1 Lo, we at last have found the way To Thee the World's great universal East, King-All-circling point, all-centring sphere, The World's one, round, eternal year. 2 King-Whose full and all-unwrinkled face Nor sinks nor swells with time or place; 3 King-But every where, and every while Is one consistent, solid smile. I King-Not vex'd and tost 2 King Twixt Spring and frost, 3 King-Nor by alternate shreds of light, Sordidly shifting hands with shades and 1 Midnight. The highest point of the night. 2 Impartial. Cf. the Prayer for the Church Militant in the Holy Communion Service in English Book of Common Prayer. "That they may truly and indifferently minister justice." |