O'er all his brethren he shall reign as king, And peace fhall lull him in her flowery lap; 75 89 85 What power, what force, what mighty fpell, if not Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot? 90 The next Quantity and Quality spake in profe, then RIVERS arife; whether thou be the fon Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythian's name, [The reft was profe.] 95 100 III. On III. On the MORNING of CHRIST'S NATIVITY, Compos'd 1629. I. HIS is the month, and this the happy morn, Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born, That he our deadly forfeit should release, II. That glorious form, that light unfufferable, He laid afide; and here with us to be, Forfook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. III. 5 15 Say heav'nly Muse, shall not thy facred vein bright? 4 20 IV. See IV. See how from far upon the eastern road THE IT was the winter wild, HYMN. I. 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 Master so to sympathize: It was no feafon then for her To wanton with the fun her lufty paramour. 25 30 35 II. Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, And on her naked shame, 40 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. III. But But he her fears to cease, III. Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; She, crown'd with olive green, came foftly sliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, 45 With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, She ftrikes an univerfal peace through fea and land, No war, or battel's found IV. Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung, The hooked chariot stood, Unftain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet fpake not to the armed throng, And kings fat ftill with awful eye, 56 As if they surely knew their sovran. Lord was by. 6 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. XII. G VI. The VI. The ftars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in ftedfast 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 bespake 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 The new inlighten'd world no more should need; He faw a greater fun appear 70 75 80 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; 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. 85 90 IX. When |