O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, Have thou the honor firft, thy Lord to greet, I The HY MN. I. Twas the winter wild, While the Heav'n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to him Had dofft her gawdy trim, → With her great Mafter fo to fympathize: It was no feafon then for her To wanton with the fun her lufty paramour.. Only with speeches fair II. 28. From out his fecret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. ] Alluding to Ifaiah VI. 6, 7. Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a live eral in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and faid, Lo, this bath touched thy lips, 25 1.30 35 To and thine iniquity is taken away, and ❝ance To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, Pollute with finful blame, The faintly veil of maiden white to throw, Should look so near upon her foul deformities. But he her fears to cease, III. Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace;" 40 45 She crown'd' with olive green, came foftly fliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an univerfal peace through sea and land. The idle fpear and shield were high up hung, 55 The hooked chariot stood, Unftain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings fat still with awful eye, As if they furely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60 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, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 i While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed wave. And will not take their flight, ! For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence ; ༣། ། But in their glimmering orbs did glow, ... 475 Until their Lord himself befpake, and bid them go. VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for shame, As his inferior flame redW 80 The new inlighten'd world no more should need; He faw a greater fun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear. VIII. The shepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a ruftic row; hence, I fuppofe, the game of Whift hath its name, as it requires filence and attention. 86. Or e'er the point of dawn,] Ere with e'er or ever following is 85 Full 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 filly thoughts fo bufy keep. When fuch music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger ftrook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the ftringed noise, As all their fouls in blissful rapture took : The air fuch pleasure loath to lofe, With thousand echo's ftill prolongs each heav'nly close. X. Nature that heard fuch found, Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's feat, the aery region thrilling, Now was almost won |