IV. See how from far upon the eastern road 23 IT was 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. II. Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with finful blame, The faintly veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look fo near upon her foul deformities. 30 35 40 III. But III. 45 But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding 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. No war, or battel's found IV. Was heard the world around: The idle fpear and shield were high up hung, The hooked chariot ftood, Unftain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings fat still with awful eye, 55 As if they furely knew their fovran Lord was by. 60 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, Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed wave. VOL. III. G VI. The VI. 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 their Lord himself befpake and bid them go. VII. And though the fhady gloom 70 75 Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, 80 And hid his head for shame, As his inferior flame 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 fhepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a ruftic 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 filly thoughts fo bufy keep. IX. When When fuch music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the ftringed noise, As all their fouls in blifsful rapture took : The air, fuch pleasure loth to lose, 95 With thousand echoes 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 To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its last fulfilling ; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. XI. At laft furrounds their fight A globe of circular light, 105 110 That with long beams the shame-fac'd night array'd; The helmed Cherubim, And fworded Seraphim, Are seen in glittering ranks with wings difplay'd, Harping in loud and folemn quire, With unexpreffive notes to Heaven's new-born Heir. Such mufic (as 'tis faid) Before was never made, XII. But when of old the fons of morning fung, While the Creator great His conftellations fet, And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And caft the dark foundations deep, 120 And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. XIII. Ring out, ye cryftal Spheres, Once blefs our human ears, (If ye have power to touch our senses so) And let your filver chime Move in melodious time, 125 And let the bafe of Heaven's deep organ blow, 130 And with your ninefold harmony Make up full confort to th' angelic fymphony. For if fuch holy fong Inwrap our fancy long, XIV. Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold, 135 And fpeckled Vanity Will ficken foon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mold, And Hell itself will pass away, And leave her dolorous manfions to the peering day. XV. Yea |