Chapter I: Front Matter (1)

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals.
Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved.
Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

A BOOK OF
CHRISTMAS VERSE

SELECTED BY
H. C. BEECHING

SECOND EDITION
REVISED

LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1926

Oxford University Press

_London_ _Edinburgh_ _Glasgow_ _Copenhagen_
_New York_ _Toronto_ _Melbourne_ _Cape Town_
_Bombay_ _Calcutta_ _Madras_ _Shanghai_

Humphrey Milford Publisher to the UNIVERSITY

_Printed in England_
_At the_ OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
_By John Johnson_
_Printer to the University_
*/

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The original edition of _A Book of Christmas Verse_ was issued
in 1895. At his death in 1919 Dean Beeching left a copy of the book
marked with deletions and corrections, and an amount of new matter for
insertion. This revision has been carried out, and both deletions and
additions have been a little increased. But substantially the book
remains the same; its editor’s divisions have been preserved, and the
omission of his own preface to the first edition is in accord with his
markings. A few poems by contemporary writers have been added.

Dean Beeching’s acknowledgements for permission to use copyright poems
are here reprinted from his notes:

For No. 54 to the authorities of Christ Church, Oxford; for No. 71 to
Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 112 to Mr. Robert Bridges; for No. 113 to
Messrs. Kegan Paul and Trench; for No. 133 to the Chiswick Press; and
for No. 114 to Mr. Davidson (with an omission specially sanctioned by
him). Nos. 78 and 79 (by Gerard Hopkins and Selwyn Image) appeared for
the first time in this book.

For poems now appearing for the first time acknowledgements are due as
follows: for No. 77, by Coventry Patmore, to Messrs. George Bell; for
No. 81, by R. L. Stevenson, to Messrs. Chatto & Windus; for No. 82,
by Mrs. Meynell, to Messrs. Burns & Oates; for No. 83 to Mr. Robert
Bridges; for No. 84., by Mr. Hilaire Belloc, to Messrs. Duckworth;
for No. 85 (from _The Wild Knight_) to Mr. G. K. Chesterton and
Messrs. Dent; for Nos. 86 and 87 to the Rev. R. L. Gales; for No. 88,
by Miss Sayers, to Mr. Basil Blackwell; for No. 89 to Mr. J. D. C.
Pellow; for No. 90 to Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 91 to Mrs. Chesterton;
for No. 92 to Mr. Francis Keppel.

CONTENTS

EARLY CAROLS PAGE
1. Welcome Yule 3
2. I sing of a Maiden 4
3. As Joseph was a-walking 4
4. Now is Christëmas ycome 5
5. This Endris Night 8
6. Lullay, my Liking, my Dear Son 10
7. Saint Stephen was a Clerk 11
8. The Shepherds’ Offerings 13
9. Can I not sing but Hoy! 15
10. When Christ was born of Mary free 18
11. Be we merry in this Feast 18
12. Man, be merry as Bird on Berry 19
13. All this Time this Song is best 20
14. Mater, ora filium 21
15. Eya, Jesus hodie 22
16. Ave maris stella 23
17. Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël 24
18. Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose 25

TRADITIONAL CAROLS
19. God rest you merry, Gentlemen 29
20. Remember, O thou Man 31
21. I saw Three Ships 33

LATER POEMS AND CAROLS
22. Of the Nativity of Christ _William Dunbar_ 37
23. The Burning Babe _Robert Southwell_ 39
24. New Prince, New Pomp _Robert Southwell_ 40
25. New Heaven, New War _Robert Southwell_ 41
26. A Child my Choice _Robert Southwell_ 43
27. Nativity _John Donne_ 44
28. For Christmas Day _Joseph Hall_ 45
29. A Hymn on the Nativity of
my Saviour _Ben Jonson_ 45
30. The Shepherds’ Song _Edmund Bolton_ 46
31. Of the Epiphany _Sir John Beaumont_ 48
32. The Angels _William Drummond_ 50
33. The Shepherds _William Drummond_ 50
34. A Rocking Hymn _George Wither_ 51
35. Gloria in Excelsis _Giles Fletcher_ 53
36. Who can forget? _Giles Fletcher_ 54
37. A Christmas Carol _Robert Herrick_ 56
38. An Ode on the Birth of our
Saviour _Robert Herrick_ 57
39. Christmas _George Herbert_ 59
40. On the Morning of Christ’s
Nativity _John Milton_ 60
41. A Hymn of the Nativity _Richard Crashaw_ 69
42. Satan’s Sight of the Nativity _Richard Crashaw_ 74
43. A Hymn for the Epiphany _Richard Crashaw_ 77
44. Hymn for Christmas Day _Jeremy Taylor_ 80
45. Hymn for Christmas Day _Jeremy Taylor_ 81
46. Christmas Day _Joseph Beaumont_ 82
47. Sonnet XXV _Joseph Beaumont_ 85
48. On the Nativity of our
Saviour _J. M._ 85
49. The Shepherds _Henry Vaughan_ 87
50. Christ’s Nativity _Henry Vaughan_ 89
51. And they laid Him in a
Manger _Sir Edward Sherburne_ 90
52. At the Sign of the Heart 91
53. Lodged in an Inn 92
54. Yet if His Majesty our
Sovereign Lord 93
55. And art Thou come, Blest Babe? 94
56. Song of the Angels at the
Nativity _Nahum Tate_ 95
57. Shepherds, rejoice _Isaac Watts_ 96
58. A Cradle Song _Isaac Watts_ 97
59. A Hymn for Christmas Day _John Byrom_ 98
60. A Hymn for Christmas Day _Philip Doddridge_ 99
61. A Hymn for Christmas Day _Charles Wesley_ 100
62. The Shepherds went their
hasty Way _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 101
63. From Ottfried’s Paraphrase
of the Gospel _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 103
64. The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 104
65. Brightest and best of the
Sons of the Morning! _Reginald Heber_ 105
66. They leave the Land of
Gems and Gold _Aubrey de Vere_ 106
67. Christmas and New Year
Bells _Alfred Tennyson_ 107
68. The First Christmas Eve _Alfred Domett_ 109
69. Christ was born on Christmas
Day _John Mason Neale_ 111
70. A Christmas Carol _Charles Kingsley_ 112
71. A Christmas Carol _Christina Rossetti_ 113
72. Masters, in this Hall _William Morris_ 115
73. Outlanders, whence come ye
last? _William Morris_ 117
74. Sir Galahad, A Christmas
Mystery _William Morris_ 119
75. Aishah Schechinah _R. S. Hawker_ 128
76. King Arthur’s Waes-hael _R. S. Hawker_ 130
77. Regina Coeli _Coventry Patmore_ 131
78. Mary Mother of Divine
Grace, compared to the
Air we breathe _Gerard Hopkins_ 132
79. A Meditation for Christmas
Day _Selwyn Image_ 136
80. A Morning Song for Christmas
Day _Herbert P. Horne_ 137
81. Christmas at Sea _R. L. Stevenson_ 139
82. Unto us a Son is given _Alice Meynell_ 142
83. Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 _Robert Bridges_ 143
84. Noël _Hilaire Belloc_ 145
85. A Christmas Carol _G. K. Chesterton_ 146
86. The Creatures’ Nowel _R. L. Gales_ 147
87. The Heavenly Noel _R. L. Gales_ 148
88. Carol _Dorothy L. Sayers_ 150
89. Christmas Carol _J. D. C. Pellow_ 150
90. The Oxen _Thomas Hardy_ 151
91. How far is it to Bethlehem? _Frances Chesterton_ 152
92. Epiphany _Francis Keppel_ 153

POEMS ON CHRISTMAS MERRY-MAKING
93. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell 157
94. Man, be joyful 157
95. Make we merry 158
96. Holly and Ivy 159
97. Alleluia, Alleluia 159
98. Ivy Chief of Trees it is 160
99. Nay, Ivy, nay 161
100. Hey, hey, hey, hey 162
101. Caput apri defero 163
102. Nowel, Nowel, Nowel, Nowel 164
103. Proface, welcome, welcome 164
104. Christmas Merry-making _George Wither_ 165
105. Ceremonies for Christmas _Robert Herrick_ 169
106. The Wassail _Robert Herrick_ 170
107. Twelfth Night _Robert Herrick_ 172
108. To Sir Simond Steward _Robert Herrick_ 173
109. Song _Thomas Campion_ 175
110. Song 176
111. The Damsel donn’d her
Kirtle Sheen _Sir Walter Scott_ 176
112. Winter was not unkind _Robert Bridges_ 178
113. Ballade of Christmas Ghosts _Andrew Lang_ 179
114. Christmas Eve _John Davidson_ 180
115. Now have good Day! 184

LATIN HYMNS
116. Puer natus in Bethlehem 189
117. Heu quid jaces stabulo _John Mauburn_ 190
118. Adeste fideles 191
119. Corde natus ex Parentis _Prudentius_ 193
120. Ave Jesu, Deus magne 194
121. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell 195

INDEX OF AUTHORS 197

INDEX OF FIRST LINES 198

EARLY CAROLS

1. WELCOME YULE

_Welcome Yule, thou merry man,
In worship of this holy day._

Welcome be thou, heaven-king,
Welcome, born in a morning,
Welcome, for whom we shall sing
_Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, Stephen and John,
Welcome Innocents, every one;
Welcome Thomas, martyr one;
_Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, good new year,
Welcome Twelfth day, both in fere;
Welcome Saintës, lief and dear;
_Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, Candlemas,
Welcome be ye, Queen of bliss,
Welcome both to more or less,
_Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye that are here;
Welcome all and make good cheer;
Welcome all, another year,
_Welcome Yule._

2. I SING OF A MAIDEN

I sing of a maiden
That is makeless;[1]
King of all kingës
To her son she ches;[2]
He came also[3] still
There his mother was,
As dew in April
That falleth on the grass.
He came also still
To his mother’s bower,
As dew in April
That falleth on the flower.
He came also still
There his mother lay,
As dew in April
That falleth on the spray.
Mother and maiden
Was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Goddes mother be.

[1] Matchless.

[2] Chose.

[3] As.

3. AS JOSEPH WAS A-WALKING

As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing:—
‘This night shall be born
Our heavenly King;

‘He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall;

‘He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But all in fair linen
As were babies all.

‘He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks on the mould.

‘He neither shall be christened
In white wine or red,
But with fair spring water
With which we were christened.’

4. NOW IS CHRISTËMAS YCOME

Now is Christëmas ycome,
Father and Son together in one,
Holy Ghost as ye be one
In fere,
God send us a good new year.

I would you sing and I might
Of a Child is fair in sight,
His mother him bare this endris[4] night
So still,
And as it was his will.

There came three kings fro Galilee
Into Bethlem, that fair citee,
To seek him that should ever be
By right,
Lord and king and knight.

As they came forth with their off’ring,
They met with Herod, that moody king,
This tide,
And this to them he said,

‘Of whence be ye, you kingës three?’
‘Of the East, as ye may see,
To seek him that should ever be
By right,
Lord and king and knight.’

‘When you at this child have be
Come home again by me,
Tell me the sights that you have see,
I pray,
Go you no nother way.’

They took their leave both old and ying[5]
Of Herod, that moody king:
They went forth with their offering
By night,
By the star that shone so bright,

Till they came in to the place
Where Jesu and his mother was;
Offered they up with great solace
In fere,
Gold and ’cense and myrrh.

When they had their offering made
As the Holy Ghost them bade,
Then were they both merry and glad
And light:
It was a well fair sight.

Anon as they away went
The Father of heaven an angel sent
To these three Kings that made present
This tide,
And thus to them he said,

‘My Lord have warned you every one
By Herod king you go not home:
For an you do he will you slowe
And strow,[6]
And do you mickle woe.’

They yeden all another way
Thorough the might of Goddes lay[7]
As the angel to them did say
Full right:
It was a well fair sight.

When they were come to their countree
Glad and blithe they were all three
Of the sights that they had see;
By dene[8]
The company was clean.

Kneel we now here adown;
Pray we in good devotion
To the King of great renown
For grace
In heaven to have a place.

[4] Last.

[5] Young.

[6] Lay low.

[7] Law.

[8] Forthwith.

5. THIS ENDRIS NIGHT

This endris[9] night
I saw a sight,
A star as bright as day;
And ever among[10]
A maiden sung
Lullay, byby, lullay.

This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child gan say,
‘My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest thou thus in hay?
My sweetë brid,[11]
Thus it is betid
Though thou be King veray;
But, nevertheless,
I will not cease
To sing byby, lullay.’

The child then spake in his talking; and to his mother said—
‘I am beknown for heaven’s king, in crib though I be laid;
For angels bright
Down to me light,
Thou knowest it is no nay.
And of that sight
Thou mayest be light,
To sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now sweetë son, since thou art king, why art thou laid in stall?
Why ne thou ordainèd thy bedding in some great kingës hall?
Methinketh it right
That king or knight
Should lie in good array;
And then among
It were no wrong
To sing byby, lullay.’

‘Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall,
Lords and dukes shall worship me, and so shall kingës all.
Ye shall well see,
The kingës three
Shall come the twelfthë day;
For this behest
Give me thy breast,
And sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now tell me, sweet son, I thee pray, thou art me lief and dear,
How should I keep thee to thy pay,[12] and make thee glad of cheer?
For all thy will
I would fulfil,
Thou weet’st full well in fay.[13]
And for all this
I will thee kiss,
And sing byby, lullay.’

‘My dear mother, when time it be, thou take me up aloft,
And settë me upon thy knee, and handle me full soft.
And in thy arm
Thou hile[14] me warm,
And keepë night and day;
If I weep
And may not sleep,
Thou sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now, sweet son, since it is so, that all is at thy will,
I pray thee grant to me a boon if it be right and skill,[15]
That child or man
That will or can
Be merry upon my day;
To bliss them bring,
And I shall sing
Lullay, byby, lullay.’

[9] Last.

[10] Anon.

[11] Bird.

[12] Content.

[13] Faith.

[14] Cover.

[15] Reasonable.

6. LULLAY, MY LIKING, MY DEAR SON

Lullay, my liking, my dear son, my sweeting,
Lullay, my dear heart, my own dear darling.

I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing.
She lulled a little child, a sweet lording.
Lullay, &c.

That ilke lord is that that made all thing,
Of all lordës he is lord, of all kingës king.
Lullay, &c.

There was mickle melody at that childës birth,
All that were in heaven’s bliss they made mickle mirth.
Lullay, &c.

Angels bright they sung that night and saiden to that child,
Blessed be thou, and so be she that is both meek and mild.
Lullay, &c.

Pray we now to that child, and to his mother dear.
Grant them his blessing that now maken cheer.
Lullay, &c.

7. SAINT STEPHEN WAS A CLERK

Saint Stephen was a clerk
In King Herodës hall,
And servèd him of bread and cloth
As every king befall.

Stephen out of kitchen came,
With boarës head on hand,
He saw a star was fair and bright
Over Bethlem stand.

He cast adown the boarës head
And went into the hall:
‘I forsake thee, King Herodës,
And thy workës all.

‘I forsake thee, King Herodës,
And thy werkës all;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all.’

‘What aileth thee, Stephen?
What is thee befall?
Lacketh thee either meat or drink
In King Herodës hall?’

‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink
In King Herodës hall;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all.’

‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art thou wode[16]
Or thou ginnest to breed?[17]
Lacketh thee either gold or he
Or any richë weed?’[18]

‘Lacketh me neither gold or fee,
Ne none richë weed;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Shall help us at our need.’

‘That is also[19] sooth, Stephen,
Also sooth, i-wis,[20]
As this capon crowë shall
That lieth here in my dish.’

That word was not so soonë said,
That word in that hall,
The capon crew, ‘Christus natus est,’
Among the lordës all.

‘Riseth up, my tormentors,
By two and also by one,
And leadeth Stephen out of this town,
And stoneth him with stone.’

Tooken they Stephen
And stoned him in the way,
And therefore is his even
On Christës own day.

[16] Mad.

[17] Become (mad).

[18] Dress.

[19] As.

[20] Certainly.

8. THE SHEPHERDS’ OFFERINGS

_Angel._
Herdmen hend,[21]
Dread ye no thing
Of this star that ye do see;
For this same morn
God’s son is born
In Bethlem of a maiden free.

_First Shepherd._
Hail maid, mother, and wife so mild!
As the angel said, so have we fand.
I have nothing to present with thy child
But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand;
Wherein much pleasure that I have fand;
And now, to honour thy glorious birth,
Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.

_Second Shepherd._
Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame!
For in a poor lodging here art thou laid,
So the angel said and told us thy name;
Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head!
And now of one thing thou art well sped,
For weather thou hast no need to complain,
For wind, ne sun, hail, snow, and rain.

_Third Shepherd._
Hail be thou, Lord over water and lands!
For thy coming all we may make mirth.
Have here my mittens to put on thy hands,
Other Treasure have I none to present thee with.

_Mary._
Now, herdmen bend,
For your coming
To my child shall I pray,
As he is heaven king
To grant you his blessing
And to his bliss that ye may wend
At your last day.

_Here the Shepherds sing_:
As I out rode this enderes[22] night
Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight,
And all about their fold a star shone bright;
They sang _terli_, _terlow_;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.

Down from heaven, from heaven so high,
Of angels there came a great company,
With mirth and joy and great solemnity,
They sang _terli_, _terlow_;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.

[21] Courteous.

[22] Last.

9. CAN I NOT SING BUT HOY!

_Can I not sing but Hoy!_
_When the jolly shepherd made so much joy!_

The shepherd upon a hill he sat,
He had on him his tabard and his hat,
His tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat.
His name was called Jolly, Jolly Wat;
For he was a good herds-boy,
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy.
_Can I not sing but hoy._

The shepherd upon a hill was laid,
His dog to his girdle was tayd,
He had not slept but a little braid,
But _gloria in excelsis_ was to him said;
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

The shepherd on a hill he stood,
Round about him his sheep they yode,
He put his hand under his hood,
He saw a star as red as blood.
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

Now farewell Mall, and also Will,
For my love go ye all still,
Unto I come again you till,
And ever more Will ring well thy bell.
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

Now must I go there Christ was born,
Farewell, I come again to-morn;
Dog, keep well my sheep fro the corn,
And warn well Warroke when I blow my horn!
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

When Wat to Bethlehem come was,
He sweat, he had gone faster than a pace.
He found Jesus in a simple place,
Between an ox and an ass.
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

The shepherd said anon right:
‘I will go see yon ferly[23] sight,
Where as the angel singeth on-height,
And the star that shineth so bright!’
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

‘Jesus, I offer to thee here my pipe,
My skirt, my tar-box, and my scrip,
Home to my fellows now will I skip,
And also look unto my sheep!’
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

‘Now farewell, mine own herds-man Wat!’
‘Yea,’fore God, Lady, even so I hat![24]
Lull well Jesus in thy lap.
And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cap!’
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

‘Now may I well both hop and sing,
For I have been at Christ’s bearing;
Home to my fellows now will I fling;
Christ of heaven to His bliss us bring!
Ut hoy!
For in his pipe he made so much joy!
_Can I not sing, &c._

[23] Wondrous.

[24] Am called.

10. WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN OF MARY FREE

When Christ was born of Mary free
In Bethlem, in that fair citee,
Angels sang there with mirth and glee,
_In excelsis gloria._

Herdmen beheld these angels bright,
To them appearèd with great light,
And said, ‘God’s son is born this night.’
_In excelsis gloria._

The King is comen to save kind,
As in scripturës we find,
Therefore this song have we in mind,
_In excelsis gloria._

Then, Lord, for thy great grace
Grant us in bliss to see thy face
When we may sing to thee solace,
_In excelsis gloria._

11. BE WE MERRY IN THIS FEAST

_Be we merry in this feast,_
_In quo Salvator natus est._

In Bethlehem that noble place,
As by prophecy said it was,
Of the Virgin Mary full of grace,
Salvator mundi natus est.
_Be we merry, &c._

On Christmas night an angel it told
To the shepherds, keeping their fold,
That into Bethlehem with beastës wold,[25]
Salvator mundi natus est.
_Be we merry, &c._

The shepherds were compassèd right,
About them was a full great light;
‘Dread ye nought’, said the angel bright,
‘Salvator mundi natus est.’
_Be we merry, &c._

‘Behold to you we bring great joy;
For why[26] Jesus is born this day,
To us, of Mary, that mild may,[27]
Salvator mundi natus est.’
_Be we merry &c._

And thus in faith find it ye shall,
Lying poorly in an oxes-stall.
The shepherds then God lauded all,
Quia Salvator mundi natus est.
_Be we merry &c._

[25] Would go.

[26] Because.

[27] Maid.

12. MAN, BE MERRY AS BIRD ON BERRY

_Man, be merry as bird on berry_
_And all thy care let away._

This time is born a child full good,
He that us bought upon the rood;
He bound the devil that is so wood,
Till the dreadful doomës-day.

When the child of mickle might
Would be born of Mary bright,
A token he sent to king and knight,
A star that shone both night and day.

The star shone as bright as fire,
Over all the world both far and near,
In token He was without peer;
And peerless he shall lasten ay.

The xii day come kingës three
Out of the east, with heartë free;
To worship Him they kneeled on knee
With gold and myrrh and frankincense.

13. ALL THIS TIME THIS SONG IS BEST

_All this time this song is best:_
_Verbum caro factum est!_

This night there is a child born
That sprang out of Jesse’s thorn;
We must sing and say thereforn
_Verbum caro factum est!_

Jesus is the childës name
And Mary mild is his dame;
All our sorrow shall turn to game,
_Verbum caro factum est._

It fell upon high midnight,
The stars shone both fair and bright,
The angels sang with all their might
_Verbum caro factum est._

Now kneel we down on our knee,
And pray we to the Trinity,
Our help, our succour for to be!
_Verbum caro factum est._

14. MATER, ORA FILIUM

_Mater, ora filium_
_ut post hoc exilium_
_nobis donet gaudium_
_beatorum omnium!_

Fair maiden, who is this bairn
That thou bearest in thine arm?
Sir, it is a Kingës Son,
That in heaven above doth wone.[28]
_Mater, ora, &c._

Man to father he hath none,
But Himself God alone!
Of a maiden He would be born,
To save mankind that was forlorn!
_Mater, ora, &c._

Three Kingës brought him presents,
Gold, myrrh, and frankincense,
To my Son full of might,
King of Kings and Lord of right!
_Mater, ora, &c._

Fair maiden, pray for us
Unto thy Son, sweet Jesus,
That He will send us of His grace
In heaven on high to have a place.
_Mater, ora, &c._

[28] Dwell.

15. EYA, JESUS HODIE

_Eya, Jesus hodie_
_Natus est de virgine._

Blessed be that maid Mary!
Born He was of her body;
Goddes son that sit’th on high,
_Non ex virili semine._

In a manger of an ass
Jesu lay and lulled was,
Hardë painës for to pass,
_Pro peccante homine._

Kingës came from divers land
With great giftës in their hand,
In Bethlem the child they fand,
_Stellae ducti lumine._

Man and child both old and young
Now in his blissful coming
To that child may we sing
_Gloria tibi, Domine._

Nowel, nowel in this hall,
Make merry, I pray you all;
Unto the child may we call
_Ullo sine crimine_.

16. AVE MARIS STELLA

_Ave maris stella_
The star on the sea,
_Dei Mater alma_
Blessed mot[29] she be,
_Atque semper virgo_
Pray thy son for me,
_Felix caeli porta,_
That I may come to thee.

Gabriel that archangel,
He was messenger;
So fair he gret our Lady
With an ’ave’ so clear:
‘Hail be thou, Mary,
Be thou, Mary,
Full of Goddes grace,
And Queen of Mercy.’

[29] May.

17. NOËL, NOËL, NOËL, NOËL

_Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,_
_This is the salutation of Gabriel!_

Tidings true there be come new, sent from the Trinity
By Gabriel to Nazareth, city of Galilee,
A clean maiden and pure virgin thoro’ her humility
Conceived the second person in divinity.
_Noël._

When he first presented was before her fair visage
In most demure and goodly wise he did to her homage
And said, ‘Lady, from heaven so high, that lordës heritage
The which of thee born would be, I am sent on message.’
_Noël._

‘Hail, virgin celestial, the meekest that ever was;
Hail, temple of deity, and mirror of all grace;
Hail, virgin pure, I thee ensure within full little space
Thou shalt receive and Him conceive that shall bring great solace.’
_Noël._

Then again to the angel she answered womanly,
‘Whatever my lord command me do, I will obey meekly;
_Ecce sum humillima ancilla Domini,
Secundum verbum tuum_, she said, _fiat mihi._’
_Noël._

18. OF A ROSE, A LOVELY ROSE

_Of a rose, a lovely rose,_
_Of a rose is all my song._

Listen, lordings, both eld and ying,
How this rose began to spring;
Such a rose to my liking
In all this world ne know I none.

The angel came from heaven’s tower
To greet Mary with great honour,
And saidë she should bear the flower
That should break the fiendës bond.

The flower sprung in high Bethlem,
That is bothë bright and sheen;
The rose is Mary, heaven’s queen,
Out of her bosom the blossom sprung.

The firstë branch is full of might,
That sprung on Christëmass night;
The star shone over Bethlem bright
That is both broad and long.

The second branch sprung to hell,
The fiendës power down to fell;
Therein might none soulë dwell;
Blessed be the time the rose sprung.

The third branch is good and swote,
It sprang to heaven crop[30] and root,
Therein to dwell and be our boot,
Every day it showeth in priestës hand.

Pray we to her with great honour,
She that bare the blessed flower,
She be our help and succoúr,
And shield us from the fiendës bond.

[30] Tip.

TRADITIONAL CAROLS

19. GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Saviour
Who was born on Christmas Day,
To save our souls from Satan’s fold
Which long time had gone astray.
_And ’tis tidings of comfort and joy._

From him that is our Father
The Blessed Angel came,
And to the watchful shepherds brought
The tidings of the same;
That there was born in Bethlehem
The Son of God by name.
_And ’tis, &c._

Fear not, then said God’s Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a Virgin pure and bright;
He is able to advance you
And throw down Satan quite.
_And ’tis, &c._

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind.
And straight they went to Bethlehem
The Son of God to find.
_And ’tis, &c._

But when they came to Bethlehem
Where as our Saviour lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen fed on hay,
Our blessed Lady kneeling by
Unto the Lord did pray.
_And ’tis, &c._

At which with sudden gladness
The shepherds then were filled,
When as the Babe of Israel
Thus when they had beheld.
Before his mother thus to lie
The Scripture thus fulfilled.
_And ’tis, &c._

Now let me all of you entreat
That are within this place,
That each dear loving Xian
The other would embrace.
For the happy time of Xmas
Is drawing on apace.
_With its, &c._

This version is from a broadside in the British Museum; another version is given in Sandy’s _Christmas Carols_ (1833), of which the last verse is:

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place;
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace:
This holy tide of Xmas
All others doth deface.
_With its, &c._

20. REMEMBER, O THOU MAN

Remember, O thou man,
O thou man, O thou man,
Remember, O thou man,
Thy time is spent.
Remember, O thou man,
How thou earnest to me than,
And I did what I can:
Therefore repent.

Remember Adam’s fall,
O thou man, O thou man,
Remember, O thou man,
From Heaven to Hell.
Remember Adam’s fall,
How we were condemnèd all
To Hell perpetual
There for to dwell.

Remember God’s goodness,
O thou man, O thou man,
Remember God’s goodness
And promise made.
Remember God’s goodness,
How his only Son He sent
Our sins for to redress;
Be not afraid!

The Angels all did sing,
O thou man, O thou man,
The Angels all did sing
On Sion Hill;

The Angels all did sing
Praise to our heavenly king
And peace to man living
With right good will.

The shepherds amazèd was,
O thou man, O thou man,
The shepherds amazèd was,
To hear the Angels sing.
The shepherds amazèd was,
How this should come to pass,
That Christ our Messias
Should be our king.

To Bethlehem did they go,
O thou man, O thou man,
To Bethlehem did they go
This thing to see;
To Bethlehem did they go
To see whether it was so,
Whether Christ was born or no
To set us free.

As th’ Angels before did say,
O thou man, O thou man,
As th’ Angels before did say,
So it came to pass.
As th’ Angels before did say
They found him wrapt in hay
In a manger where he lay,
So poor he was.

In Bethlehem was he born,
O thou man, O thou man,
In Bethlehem was he born
For mankind dear.
In Bethlehem was he born
For us that were forlorn,
And therefore took no scorn
Our sins to bear.

In a manger laid he was,
O thou man, O thou man,
In a manger laid he was
At this time present.
In a manger laid he was,
Between an ox and an ass
And all for our trespass;
Therefore repent.

Give thanks to God alway
O thou man, O thou man,
Give thanks to God alway
With hearts most jolly.
Give thanks to God alway
Upon this blessed day,
Let all men sing and say
Holy, holy.

21. I SAW THREE SHIPS

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas day in the morning?

Our Saviour Christ and His lady
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
Our Saviour Christ and His lady
On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed unto Bethlehem
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
O they sailed unto Bethlehem
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
And all the angels in heaven shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas day in the morning!

LATER POEMS AND CAROLS

22. ON THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

_Rorate Coeli desuper!_
Heavens, distil your balmy showers,
For now is risen the bright daystar
From the Rose Mary, flower of flowers;
The clear sun, whom no cloud devours,
Surmounting Phoebus in the east,
Is comen of his heavenly towers;
_Et nobis Puer natus est._

Archangels, angels, dominations,
Thrones, potentates, and martyrs seir,[31]
And all the heavenly operations,
Star, planet, firmament, and sphere,
Fire, earth, air, and water clear,
To Him give loving, most and least,
That come is in so meek maneir;
_Et nobis Puer natus est._

Sinners, be glad, and penance do,
And thank your Maker heartily,
For He, that ye might not come to,
To you is comen full humbly,
Your soulës with His blood to buy,
And loose you of the fiend’s arrest,
And only of His own mercy;
_Pro nobis Puer natus est._

Celestial fowlës in the air,
Sing with your notes upon hight,
In firthës and forests fair.
Be mirthful now, at all your might,
For passed is your dully night;
Aurora has the cloudis perced,
The sun is risen with gladsome light,
_Et nobis Puer natus est._

Now spring up flowrës from the root,
Revert you upward naturally,
In honour of the blessed fruit
That rose up from the Rose Mary;
Lay out your leavës lustily,
From dead take life now, at the least,
In worship of that Prince worthy,
_Qui nobis Puer natus est._

Sing heaven imperial, most of height,
Regions of air make harmony;
All fish in floud, and fowl of flight,
Be mirthful and make melody;
All Gloria in Excelsis cry,
Heaven, earth, sea, man, bird, and beast,
He that is crowned above the sky.
_Pro nobis Puer natus est._
WILLIAM DUNBAR

[31] Many.

23. THE BURNING BABE

As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear.
Who scorched with exceeding heat such floods of tears did shed,
As though His floods should quench His flames with what His
tears were fed;
Alas, quoth He, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I.
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns;
The fuel Justice layeth on, and Mercy blows the coals;
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defiled souls;
For which, as now on fire I am, to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath, to wash them in my blood:
With this He vanished out of sight, and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I called unto mind that it was Christmas day.
ROBERT SOUTHWELL

24. NEW PRINCE, NEW POMP

Behold a silly tender Babe,
In freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies,
Alas! a piteous sight.

The inns are full, no man will yield
This little Pilgrim bed;
But forced He is with silly beasts
In crib to shroud His head.

Despise Him not for lying there,
First what He is inquire;
An orient pearl is often found
In depth of dirty mire.

Weigh not His crib, His wooden dish,
Nor beast that by Him feed;
Weigh not His mother’s poor attire,
Nor Joseph’s simple weed.

This stable is a prince’s court,
This crib His chair of state;
The beasts are parcel of His pomp,
The wooden dish His plate.

The persons in that poor attire
His royal liveries wear;
The Prince Himself is come from heaven
This pomp is prizèd there.

With joy approach, O Christian wight!
Do homage to thy King;
And highly praise this humble pomp
Which He from heaven doth bring.
ROBERT SOUTHWELL

25. NEW HEAVEN, NEW WAR

Come to your heaven, you heavenly quires!
Earth hath the heaven of your desires:
Remove your dwelling to your God,
A stall is now His best abode;
Sith men their homage do deny,
Come, angels, all their faults supply.

His chilling cold doth heat require,
Come, Seraphim, in lieu of fire;
This little ark no cover hath,
Let Cherubs’ wings His body swathe;
Come, Raphael, this Babe must eat,
Provide our little Tobie meat.

Let Gabriel be now His groom,
That first took up His earthly room;
Let Michael stand in His defence,
Whom love hath linked to feeble sense;
Let Graces rock when He doth cry,
And Angels sing His lullaby.

The same you saw in heavenly seat
Is He that now sucks Mary’s teat;
Agnize[32] your King a mortal wight,
His borrowed weeds lets[33] not your sight;
Come, kiss the manger where He lies;
That is your bliss above the skies.

This little Babe so few days old
Is come to rifle Satan’s fold,
All hell doth at His presence quake,
Though He Himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmèd wise
The gates of hell He will surprise.

With tears He fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries;
His arrows, looks of weeping eyes;
His martial ensigns, cold and need;
And feeble flesh His warrior’s steed.

His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall,
His crib His trench, hay-stalks His stakes,
Of shepherds He His muster takes;
And thus, as sure His foe to wound,
The angels’ trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that He hath pight;
Within His crib is surest ward,
This little Babe will be thy guard;
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
ROBERT SOUTHWELL

[32] Acknowledge.

[33] Hinders.

26. A CHILD MY CHOICE

Let folly praise that fancy loves,
I praise and love that Child,
Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word,
Whose head no deed defiled.

I praise Him most, I love Him best,
All praise and love is His;
While Him I love, in Him I live,
And cannot live amiss.

Love’s sweetest mark, laud’s highest theme,
Man’s most desirèd light,
To love Him life, to leave Him death,
To live in Him delight.

He mine by gift, I His by debt,
Thus each to other due,
First friend He was, best friend He is,
All times will try Him true.

Though young, yet wise; though small, yet strong;
Though man, yet God He is;
As wise He knows, as strong He can,
As God He loves to bless.

His knowledge rules, His strength defends,
His love doth cherish all;
His birth our joy, His life our light,
His death our end of thrall.

Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants,
Yet doth His angels sing;
Out of His tears, His sighs and throbs,
Doth bud a joyful spring.

Almighty Babe, whose tender arms
Can force all foes to fly,
Correct my faults, protect my life,
Direct me when I die!
ROBERT SOUTHWELL

27. NATIVITY

Immensity, cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-beloved imprisonment;
There He hath made Himself to His intent,
Weak enough now into our world to come:
But oh! for thee, for Him, hath th’ inn no room?
Yet lay Him in His stall, and from the orient
Stars and wise men will travel, to prevent
Th’ effect of Herod’s jealous general doom.
See’st thou, my soul! with thy faith’s eyes, how He,
Which fills all place, yet none holds Him, doth lie!
Was not His pity towards thee wondrous high,
That would have need to be pitied by thee?
Kiss Him, and with Him into Egypt go,
With His kind mother who partakes thy woe.
JOHN DONNE

28. FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

Immortal Babe, who this dear day
Didst change Thine heaven for our clay,
And didst with flesh Thy godhead veil,
Eternal Son of God, all hail!

Shine, happy star; ye angels, sing
Glory on high to heaven’s King:
Run, shepherds, leave your nightly watch,
See heaven come down to Bethlehem’s cratch.

Worship, ye sages of the east,
The King of gods in meanness dressed,
O blessèd maid, smile and adore
The God thy womb and arms have bore.

Star, angels, shepherds, and wise sages,
Thou virgin glory of all ages,
Restorèd frame of heaven and earth,
Joy in your dear Redeemer’s birth!
JOSEPH HALL

29. A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY SAVIOUR

I sing the birth was born to-night,
The Author both of life and light,
The angel so did sound it:
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th’ Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed our soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father’s wisdom willed it so,
The Son’s obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature;
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him we do win,
Who made Himself the price of sin
To make us heirs of glory!
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:
Can man forget the story?
BEN JONSON

30. THE SHEPHERDS’ SONG

Sweet music, sweeter far
Than any song is sweet:
Sweet music, heavenly rare,
Mine ears, O peers, doth greet.
You gentle flocks, whose fleeces pearled with dew
Resemble heaven, whom golden drops make bright,
Listen, O listen, now, O not to you
Our pipes make sport to shorten weary night:
But voices most divine
Make blissful harmony:
Voices that seem to shine,
For what else clears the sky?
Tunes can we hear, but not the singers see,
The tunes divine, and so the singers be.

Lo, how the firmament
Within an azure fold
The flock of stars hath pent,
That we might them behold,
Yet from their beams proceedeth not this light,
Nor can their crystals such reflection give.
What then doth make the element so bright?
The heavens are come down upon earth to live:
But hearken to the song,
Glory to glory’s King,
And peace all men among,
These quiristers do sing.
Angels they are, as also (shepherds) He
Whom in our fear we do admire to see.

Let not amazement blind
Your souls, said he, annoy:
To you and all mankind
My message bringeth joy.
For lo! the world’s great Shepherd now is born,
A blessèd Babe, an Infant full of power:
After long night uprisen is the morn,
Renowning Bethlem in the Saviour.
Sprung is the perfect day,
By prophets seen afar:
Sprung is the mirthful May,
Which winter cannot mar.
In David’s city doth this Sun appear
Clouded in flesh, yet, shepherds, sit we here?
EDMUND BOLTON

31. OF THE EPIPHANY

Fair eastern star, that art ordained to run
Before the sages, to the rising sun,
Here cease thy course, and wonder that the cloud
Of this poor stable can thy Maker shroud:
Ye heavenly bodies glory to be bright,
And are esteemed as ye are rich in light,
But here on earth is taught a different way,
Since under this low roof the Highest lay.
Jerusalem erects her stately towers,
Displays her windows and adorns her bowers;
Yet there thou must not cast a trembling spark,
Let Herod’s palace still continue dark;
Each school and synagogue thy force repels,
There Pride enthroned in misty error dwells:
The temple, where the priests maintain their quire,
Shall taste no beam of thy celestial fire,
While this weak cottage all thy splendour takes:
A joyful gate of every chink it makes.
Here shines no golden roof, no ivory stair,
No king exalted in a stately chair,
Girt with attendants, or by heralds styled,
But straw and hay enwrap a speechless Child.
Yet Sabae’s lords before this Babe unfold
Their treasures, offering incense, myrrh, and gold.

The crib becomes an altar: therefore dies
No ox nor sheep; for in their fodder lies
The Prince of Peace, who, thankful for His bed,
Destroys those rites in which their blood was shed:
The quintessence of earth He takes, and fees,
And precious gums distilled from weeping trees;
Rich metals and sweet odours now declare
The glorious blessings which His laws prepare,
To clear us from the base and loathsome flood
Of sense, and make us fit for angels’ food,
Who lift to God for us the holy smoke
Of fervent prayers with which we Him invoke,
And try our actions in the searching fire,
By which the seraphims our lips inspire:
No muddy dross pure minerals shall infect,
We shall exhale our vapours up direct:
No storm shall cross, nor glittering lights deface
Perpetual sighs which seek a happy place.
SIR JOHN BEAUMONT

32. THE ANGELS

Run, shepherds, run, where Bethlehem blest appears,
We bring the best of news; be not dismayed;
A Saviour there is born more old than years,
Amidst heaven’s rolling height this earth who stayed.
In a poor cottage inned, a virgin maid
A weakling did Him bear, who all upbears;
There is He poorly swaddled, in manger laid,
To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:
Run, shepherds, run, and solemnize His birth.
This is that night—no, day, grown great with bliss,
In which the power of Satan broken is:
In heaven be glory, peace unto the earth!
Thus singing, through the air the angels swam,
And cope of stars re-echoèd the same.
WILLIAM DRUMMOND

33. THE SHEPHERDS

O than the fairest day, thrice fairer night!
Night to blest days in which a sun doth rise,
Of which that golden eye which clears the skies
Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow-light!
And blessèd ye, in silly pastor’s sight,
Mild creatures, in whose warm crib now lies
That heaven-sent Youngling, holy-maid-born Wight,
Midst, end, beginning of our prophecies!

Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter spread,
Though withered—blessèd grass that hath the grace
To deck and be a carpet to that place!
Thus sang, unto the sounds of oaten reed,
Before the Babe, the shepherds bowed on knees,
And springs ran nectar, honey dropped from trees.
WILLIAM DRUMMOND

34. A ROCKING HYMN

Sweet baby, sleep! What ails my dear?
What ails my darling thus to cry?
Be still, my child, and lend thine ear
To hear me sing thy lullaby.
My pretty lamb, forbear to weep;
Be still, my dear; sweet baby, sleep!

Thou blessèd soul, what canst thou fear?
What thing to thee can mischief do?
Thy God is now thy Father dear;
His holy spouse thy mother too.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep!

Whilst thus thy lullaby I sing,
For thee great blessings ripening be;
Thine Eldest Brother is a King,
And hath a kingdom bought for thee.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

Sweet baby, sleep, and nothing fear;
For whosoever thee offends
By thy protector threatened are,
And God and angels are thy friends.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

When God with us was dwelling here,
In little babes He took delight:
Such innocents as thou, my dear,
Are ever precious in His sight.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

A little Infant once was He,
And strength in weakness then was laid
Upon His virgin-mother’s knee,
That power to thee might be conveyed.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

In this thy frailty and thy need
He friends and helpers doth prepare,
Which thee shall cherish, clothe, and feed,
For of thy weal they tender are.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

The King of kings, when He was born,
Had not so much for outward ease;
By Him such dressings were not worn,
Nor such-like swaddling clothes as these.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

Within a manger lodged thy Lord,
Where oxen lay and asses fed;
Warm rooms we do to thee afford,
An easy cradle or a bed.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

The wants that He did then sustain
Have purchased wealth, my babe, for thee;
And by His torments and His pain
Thy rest and ease securèd be.
My baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.

Thou hast, yet more, to perfect this,
A promise and an earnest got
Of gaining everlasting bliss,
Though thou, my babe, perceiv’st it not.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep.
GEORGE WITHER

35. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

As on the night before this happy morn,
A blessèd angel unto shepherds told
Where (in a stable) He was poorly born,
Whom nor the earth nor heaven of heavens can hold:
Thro’ Bethlehem rung
This news at their return;
Yea, angels sung
That God with us was born;
And they made mirth because we should not mourn.
Their angel carol sing we, then,
To God on high all glory be,
For peace on earth bestoweth He,
And sheweth favour unto men.

This favour Christ vouchsafèd for our sake;
To buy us thrones, He in a manger lay;
Our weakness took, that we His strength might take;
And was disrobed that He might us array;
Our flesh He wore,
Our sin to wear away;
Our curse He bore,
That we escape it may;
And wept for us, that we might sing for aye.
With angels therefore, sing again,
To God on high all glory be,
For peace on earth bestoweth He,
And sheweth favour unto men.
GILES FLETCHER

36. WHO CAN FORGET?

Who can forget—never to be forgot—
The time, that all the world in slumber lies,
When, like the stars, the singing angels shot
To earth, and heaven awakèd all his eyes
To see another sun at midnight rise
On earth? Was never sight of pareil fame,
For God before man like Himself did frame,
But God Himself now like a mortal man became.

A Child He was, and had not learnt to speak,
That with His word the world before did make;
His mother’s arms Him bore, He was so weak,
That with one hand the vaults of heaven could shake,
See how small room my infant Lord doth take,
Whom all the world is not enough to hold!
Who of His years, or of His age hath told?
Never such age so young, never a child so old.

And yet but newly He was infanted,
And yet already He was sought to die;
Yet scarcely born, already banishèd;
Not able yet to go, and forced to fly:
But scarcely fled away, when by and by
The tyrant’s sword with blood is all defiled,
And Rachel, for her sons, with fury wild,
Cries, ‘O thou cruel king, and O my sweetest child!’

Egypt His nurse became, where Nilus springs,
Who, straight to entertain the rising sun,
The hasty harvest in his bosom brings;
But now for drought the fields were all undone,
And now with waters all is overrun:
So fast the Cynthian mountains poured their snow,
When once they felt the sun so near them glow,
That Nilus Egypt lost, and to a sea did grow.