Such too, who bend with age and care, And whether grief oppress the heart, ON ETERNITY. [GIBBONS.] WHAT is Eternity? can aught Tell all the leaves, and all the buds, The new-born year;-tell all the drops, Were there a belt that could contain -How scant th' amount! th' attempt how vain, To reach Duration's endless chain ! For when as many years are run, Attend, O man, with awe divine; ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. [MILTON.] THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, Wherewith he wont at Heav'n's high council-tablo He laid aside; and here with us to be, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, Now while the Heav'n by the sun's team untrod, 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. THE HYMN. IT was the winter wild, While the Heav'n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lice; Nature in awe to him Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathise; It was no season then for her To wanton with the sun her lusty paramour. Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air 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. But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came Wiftly sliding Down through the turning sphere His 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 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 sovran Lord was by. But peaceful was the night, His reign of peace upon the earth began; Smoothly the waters kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave The stars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in stedfast 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; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until the 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 bis inferior flame The new enlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater sun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axle-tree could bear. The shepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they then 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. |