ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. I. THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, And with his father work us a perpetual peace. II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, Wherewith he wont at heav'n's high council-table To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, 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. Say, heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein 15 Now while the heav'n 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? IV. See how from far upon the eastern road 25 19 sun's team] Henry IV. P. I. act iii. sc. 4. 'heavenlyharness'd team.' Todd. 23 star-led] 'The starre-led sages that would Christ behold.' Bancroft's Sec. B. of Epigrams, Ep. 228. Todd. Storer's Life of Wolsey, p. 21. • When wise magicians wandered far awide 23 wisards] Spenser's F. Q. iv. xii. 2. ' antique wisards.' i. iv. 12. and strong advizement of six wizards old.' Warton. The Syracusan wizard did invent.' Storer's Life of Wolsey, p. 12. And Fitz-Geffrey's Holy Raptures, p.37.17. While the heav'n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to him Had dofft 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. Only with speeches fair She woos the gentle air II. To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded that her Maker's eyes Should look so near upon her foul deformities. III. But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace ; 30 35 40 45 [sliding She, crown'd with olives green, came softly Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, IV. Nor war, or battle's sound Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung, The hooked chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sov'reign Lord was by. 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 kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, 65 64 whist] Nash's Dido, 1594. The ayre is cleere, and southerne windes are whist.' Todd. Golding's Ovid, p. 63. 'The waters whist.' 'Winds whist.' Aylet's Divine Poems, p. 65. If the winde be whist.' Marlowe's Hero and Leander, p. 13. 'far from the toure, when all is whist and still.' And see S. Hardinge's Com. Verses to W. Browne, from MS. in Beloe's Anecd. vi. 68. The winds that erst were whist Beginne to roare, Each tree, your songes beinge mist, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, [wave. While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed VI. The stars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in steadfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; 70 But in their glimmering orbs did glow, VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for shame, 5 80 Each sproutinge pauncie in the meade The weepinge brooke in grovelling tones glide umblinge doun, 77 This stanza copied from Spenser's April. I sawe Phœbus thrust out his golden hede But when he saw how broade her beames did sprede, Hee blush't to see another sunne belowe, Ne durst againe his fierie face outshowe.' &c. Warton. |