IN THE HOLY NATIVITY OF OUR LORD GOD. A HYMN SUNG AS BY THE SHEPHERDS: THE HYMN Chorus Come, we shepherds, whose blest sight Hath met Love's noon in Nature's night; To all our world of well-stolen joy Tell him he rises now, too late Tell him we now can show him more Than he e'er show'd to mortal sight; Than he himself e'er saw before, Which to be seen needs not his light. Tell him, Tityrus, where th' hast been, Tell him, Thyrsis, what th' hast seen. TITYRUS Gloomy night embraced the place Where the noble Infant lay. The Babe looked up and showed His face; In spite of darkness, it was day. 10 15 20 It was Thy day, Sweet! and did rise, Not from the East, but from Thine eyes. Chorus: It was Thy day, Sweet, etc. THYRSIS Winter chid aloud, and sent The angry North to wage his wars. And left perfumes instead of scars. By those sweet eyes' persuasive powers, Where he meant frost, he scattered flowers. Chorus: By those sweet eyes', etc. BOTH 25 30 We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, Young dawn of our eternal Day! We saw Thine eyes break from their East, And chase the trembling shades away. We saw Thee; and we blest the sight, 35 We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light. TITYRUS Poor world (said I), what wilt thou do To entertain this starry Stranger? Is this the best thou canst bestow? A cold, and not too cleanly, manger? Contend, the powers of Heaven and Earth, To fit a bed for this huge birth? Chorus: Contend the powers, etc. 40 THYRSIS Proud world, said I, cease your contest, And let the mighty Babe alone. 45 The phoenix builds the phoenix' nest, Love's architecture is his own. The Babe whose birth embraves this morn, Made His Own bed ere He was born. 50 Chorus: The Babe whose, etc. I saw the curled drops, soft and slow, Offering their whitest sheets of snow To furnish the fair Infant's bed; Forbear, said I; be not too bold, Your fleece is white, but 'tis too cold, Chorus: Forbear, said I, etc. THYRSIS I saw the obsequious Seraphims, 55 Their rosy fleece of fire bestow, 60 For well they now can spare their wing, Since Heaven itself lies here below. Well done, said I; but are you sure Your down so warm, will pass for pure? Chorus: Well done, said we, etc. TITYRUS No, no! your King's not yet to seek 65 Where to repose His royal head; See, see, how soon His new-bloom'd cheek 70 'Twixt's mother's breasts is gone to bed. Sweet choice, said we! no way but so Not to lie cold, yet sleep in snow. Chorus: Sweet choice, said we, etc. BOTH We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, Bright dawn of our eternal Day! We saw Thine eyes break from their East, And chase the trembling shades away. We saw Thee: and we blest the sight, | We saw Thee by Thine Own sweet light. Chorus: We saw Thee, etc. FULL CHORUS 75 Welcome all wonders in one sight! 89 Eternity shut in a span! Summer in Winter, Day in Night! Heaven in earth, and God in man! Great, little One! whose all-embracing birth Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth. 85 With many a rarely temper'd kiss That breathes at once both maid and mother, 90 Warms in the one, cools in the other. [She sings Thy tears asleep, and dips Her kisses in Thy weeping eye; She spreads the red leaves of Thy lips, That in their buds yet blushing lie: 95 She 'gainst those mother-diamonds, tries Welcome, though not to those gay flies, 100 Whose wealth's their flock; whose wit, to be Yet when young April's husband-showers We'll bring the first-born of her flowers To Thee, dread Lamb! Whose love must keep Of simple Graces and sweet Loves: Each his pair of silver doves: Till burnt at last in fire of Thy fair eyes, 115 NEW YEAR'S DAY. Rise, thou best and brightest morning! With thine own blush thy cheeks adorning, All the purple pride that laces The crimson curtains of thy bed, Of all the fair cheek'd flowers that fill thee, As this modest maiden lily Our sins have shamed into a rose. |