LXXXIII A WISH Happy were he could finish forth his fate Of worldly folk, there should he sleep secure; 5 Then wake again, and yield God ever praise; Content with hip, with haws, and brambleberry; In contemplation passing still his days, And change of holy thoughts to make him merry: Who, when he dies, his tomb might be the bush 10 Where harmless robin resteth with the thrush: -Happy were hel R. Devereux, Earl of Essex LXXXIV SAINT JOHN BAPTIST The last and greatest Herald of Heaven's King Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild, Among that savage brood the woods forth bring, Which he more harmless found than man, and mild. 5 His food was locusts, and what there doth spring, With honey that from virgin hives distill'd; Parch'd body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing Made him appear, long since from earth exiled. There burst he forth: All ye whose hopes rely 10 On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn, Repent, repent, and from old errors turn! -Who listen'd to his voice, obey'd his cry? Only the echoes, which he made relent, Rung from their flinty caves, Repent! Repent! W. Drummond The Golden Treasury Book Second LXXXV ODE ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S This is the month, and this the happy morn That He our deadly forfeit should release, That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable, 10 Wherewith He wont at Heaven's high council-table To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid aside; and, here with us to be, Forsook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay 15 Sav, heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain Now while the heaven, by the sun's team untrod, 20 Hath took no print of the approaching light, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? 103 See how from far, upon the eastern road, And lay it lowly at His blessed feet; 5 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 heaven-born Child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; 5 Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. Only with speeches fair 10 She woos the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow; Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw; 15 Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should 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 sliding 20 Down through the turning sphere, His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; She strikes a universal peace through sea and land. 25 No war, or battle's sound Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high uphung; Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the arméd throng; As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. 5 But peaceful was the night His reign of peace upon the earth began: Smoothly the waters kist 10 Whispering new joys to the mild oceán— Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charméd wave. The stars, with deep amaze, 15 Bending one way their precious influence; For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow 20 Until their 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, 25 As his inferior flame The new-enlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater Sun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear. The shepherds on the lawn 30 Or ere the point of dawn Sate simply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they than That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below; 35 Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep: When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet As never was by mortal finger strook- Answering the stringéd noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took: 5 The air, such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. Nature, that heard such sound Of Cynthia's seat the airy region thrilling, 10 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 Heaven and Earth in happier union. 15 At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light That with long beams the shamefaced night array'd; The helméd Cherubim And sworded Seraphim 20 Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and solemn quire With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's new-born Heir. Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made 25 But when of old the Sons of Morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set And the well-balanced world on hinges hung; And cast the dark foundations deep, 30 And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. Ring out, ye crystal spheres! Once bless our human ears, If ye have power to touch our senses so; 35 Move in melodious time; And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; Make up full consort to the angelic symphony. |