COME, we shepherds, whose blest sight To all our world of well-stolen joy To show us aught worth looking at. Tell him we now can show him more Tell him, Tityrus, where th' hast been, TITYRUS. Gloomy night embraced the place The Babe looked up and shewed His face; 5 ΙΟ 15 It was Thy day, Sweet! and did rise, Not from the East, but from Thine eyes. Chorus. It was Thy day, Sweet. THYRSIS. Winter chid aloud, and sent By those sweet eyes' persuasive powers, Where he meant frost, he scattered flowers. 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. THYRSIS. Proud world, said I, cease your contest, And let the mighty Babe alone. 40 45 The phoenix builds the phoenix' nest, Love's architecture is his own. In the Holy Nativity of our Lord God. 13 The Babe whose birth embraves this morn, Made His Own bed ere He was born. 50 Chorus.-The Babe whose. TITYRUS. I saw the curled drops, soft and slow, Come hovering o'er the place's head; 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. THYRSIS. I saw the obsequious Seraphims Their rosy fleece of fire bestow. 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? TITYRUS. 55 60 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 'Twixt 's mother's breasts is gone to bed. Sweet choice, said we! no way but so We saw Thee: and we blest the sight, We saw Thee, by Thine Own sweet light. Chorus. We saw Thee, &c. FULL CHORUS. Welcome, all wonders in one sight! 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. 80 Warms in the one, cools in the other. 90 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: She 'gainst those mother-diamonds, tries The points of her young eagle's eyes. Welcome, though not to those gay flies, But to poor shepherds' home-spun things; Yet when young April's husband-showers Shall bless the fruitful Maia's bed, 95 100 We'll bring the first-born of her flowers 105 To kiss Thy feet, and crown Thy head. To Thee, dread Lamb! Whose love must keep The shepherds, more than they the sheep. To Thee, meek Majesty! soft King Till burnt at last in fire of Thy fair eyes, IIO VI. UPON EASTER DAY. RISE heir of fresh Eternity, From thy virgin tomb! Rise mighty Man of wonders, and Thy World with Thee! Thy tomb the universal East, Nature's new womb, Thy tomb, fair Immortality's perfumèd nest. Of all the glories make Noon gay, This is the Morn; This Rock buds forth the fountain of the streams of Day; In Joy's white annals live this hour When Life was born; No cloud scowl on His radiant lids, no tempest lower. Life, by this Light's nativity, All creatures have; 5 ΙΟ Death only by this Day's just doom is forced to die, 15 Nor is Death forced; for may he lie Throned in Thy grave, Death will on this condition be content to die |