O'er all his brethren he shall reign as king, To harbour those that are at enmity. 75 80 85 What power, what force, what mighty spell, if not Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot? 90 The next Quantity and Quality fpake in profe, then Relation was call'd by his name. RIVERS arife; whether thou be the fon Of utmost Tweed, or Oofe, or gulphy Dun, Or rocky Avon, or of fedgy Lee, [The reft was profe.] 95 100 III. On III. On the MORNING of CHRIST'S NATIVITY. THI I. HIS is the month, and this the happy morn, Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born, That he our deadly forfeit fhould release, II. That glorious form, that light unfufferable, And that far-beaming blaze of majesty, Wherewith he wont at Heav'n's high council-table ro To fit the midst of Trinal Unity, 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. Say heav'nly Mufe, fhall not thy facred vein 15 Afford a prefent to the Infant God? Haft thou no verse, no hymn, or folemn strain, 20 Now while the Heav'n by the fun's team untrod, IV. See IV. See how from far upon the eastern road 25 IT was the winter wild, While the Heav'n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger 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. 35 She woo's the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, And on her naked fhame, 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. 40 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 strikes an universal 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 stood, Unftain'd with hoftile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings fat ftill with awful eye, 55 As if they surely knew their sovran 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 whift 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 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 befpake and bid them go. VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, 70 75 The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for fhame, ડ As his inferior flame The new inlighten'd world no more should need He saw a greater sun 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; 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. $5 90 IX. When |