MILTON. HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. I. THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, 5 II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, Wherwith he wont at Heav'ns high councel-table TO To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid aside; and, here with us to be, And chose with us a darksom house of mortal clay. III. Say, heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein 15 Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein, To welcom him to this his new abode Now while the Heav'n by the sun's team untrod And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? 20 IV. See how from far upon the eastern rode And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, From out his secret altar toucht with hallow'd fue. THE HYMN. I. It was the winter wilde While the Heav'n-born childe All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies, Nature in aw to him Had doff't her gawdy trim, 25 30 To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, And on her naked shame, 40 She, crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding, Down through the turning sphear, His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50. And, waving wide her mirtle wand, She strikes a universall peace through sea and land.. No war, or battails sound, Was heard the world around; IV. The idle spear and shield were high up hung; The hooked chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And kings sate still with awfull eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. But peacefull was the night Wherin the Prince of Light V. His raign of peace upon the earth began; The windes, with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kist, Whispering new joyes to the milde ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. Bending one way their pretious 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, Untill their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. The new-enlightn'd world no more should need; He saw a greater sun appear Then his bright throne or burning axle-tree could bear. The shepherds on the lawn Or ere the point of dawn VIII. Sate simply chatting in a rustick row; Full little thought they than That the mighty Pan Was kindly com to live with them below; Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busie keep, IX. When such musick sweet Their hearts and ears did greet As never was by mortall finger strook, Divinely warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissfull rapture took; The air, such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echo's still prolongs each heav'nly close. X. Nature, that heard such sound Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat the airy region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was don, And that her raign had here its last fulfilling; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. XI. 85 90 95 100 105 At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-fac't Night array'd ; The helmed Cherubim, The sworded Seraphim Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displaied, Harping in loud and solemn quire With unexpressive notes to Heav'n's new-born Heir. And the well-ballanc't world on hinges hung, And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the weltring waves their oozy channel keep. 120 Ring out, ye crystall sphears; Once bless our humane ears XIII. 125 (If ye have power to touch our senses so), And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, And let the base of Heav'ns deep organ blow, 130 And with your ninefold harmony Make up full consort to th' angelike symphony. For, if such holy song XIV. Enwrap our fancy long, Time will run back, and fetch the age of Gold; And speckl'd Vanity 135 Will sicken soon and die, And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould; And Hell it self will pass away, And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 140 Yea, Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, XV. Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, Mercy will set between, Thron'd in celestiall sheen, 145 With radiant feet the tissued clouds down stearing; And Heav'n, as at som festivall, Will open wide the gates of her high palace haii. |