I. THE GOLDEN TREASURY. BOOK SECOND. LXXXV. ODE ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. THIS is the month, and this the happy morn 5 That he our deadly forfeit should release, And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. 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, To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, Forsook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. Say, heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, A 15 Now while the heaven, by the sun's team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, 20 And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? See how from far, upon the eastern road, The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet: O run, prevent them with thy humble ode And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the angel quire, From out his secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. 25 It was the winter wild THE HYMN. While the heaven-born Child 30 All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for her 35 To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. She, crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding 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. No war, or battle's sound Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high uphung; 55 Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the arméd throng; As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60 Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charméd wave. Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. 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-enlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater Sun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear. The shepherds on the lawn Or ere the point of dawn 80 85 Sate 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. When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet As never was by mortal finger strook Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringéd noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took: The air, such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. Nature that heard such sound Beneath the hollow round Now was almost won 90 35 95 101 Of Cynthia's seat the aery region thrilling, To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its last fulfilling; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all heaven and earth in happier union. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light 105 110 |