Page:Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics.djvu/58

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See how from far, upon the eastern road, The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet: O run, prevent them with thy humble odeAnd lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou, the honour first thy Lord to greet,And join thy voice unto the angel quireFrom out his secret altar touch’d with hallow’d fire.
THE HYMN
It was the winter wild While the heaven-born Child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to himHad doff’d her gaudy trim,With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for herTo wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour.
Only with speeches fairShe woos the gentle airTo 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 eyesShould look so near upon her foul deformities.
But he, her fears to cease,Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crown’d with olive green, came softly slidingDown through the turning sphereHis ready harbinger,With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; And waving wide her myrtle wand,She strikes a universal peace through sea and land.
No war, or battle’s soundWas heard the world around:The idle spear and shield were high up hung; The hookéd chariot stood
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