| |
| PEACE brooded o’er earth, in the distance afar, | |
| Had died the harsh echo of clangorous war; | |
| The heart of the nations from tumult reposed, | |
| The long opened temple of Janus was closed. | |
| |
| Night’s canopy over Judæa now hung; | 5 |
| The harp of the minstrel lay still and unstrung; | |
| The shepherds together sat watching the fold, | |
| While round them reigned darkness and silence and cold. | |
| |
| But whence came that shaft, than a daybeam more bright, | |
| Shot suddenly through the still heart of the night? | 10 |
| What melody startles her silent domain, | |
| Awaking the echo from mountain to plain? | |
| |
| All the pale winter’s stars are extinguished as one, | |
| Yet the light that conceals them is not like the sun; | |
| It moves with the swiftness of wings, it descends, | 15 |
| While its luminous track the strange music attends! | |
| |
| But cold as the night air of Israel’s plains | |
| The blood of the shepherds congeals in their veins; | |
| They speak not, but heart unto heart beats aloud, | |
| While glory envelops them all as a cloud. | 20 |
| |
| And now, in their midst, shines an angel of light,— | |
| Quick vanishes fear at the radiant sight! | |
| And hark, in the words of their own native tongue, | |
| ‘Good tidings of joy’ by the angel are sung! | |
| |
| ‘This day in the city of David is born | 25 |
| A Saviour, whose birth is redemption’s glad morn; | |
| No longer through darkness and doubt shall ye grope, | |
| In Bethlehem’s manger lies Israel’s Hope!’ | |
| |
| A chorus angelic re-echoes in heaven | |
| The glorious news to the meek shepherds given,— | 30 |
| ‘Peace, peace and good-will unto earth!’ is their song, | |
| While praises to God the loud pæan prolong. | |
| |
| ’Tis gone the bright vision,—its music hath ceased! | |
| But lo, there ariseth a Star in the East; | |
| O’er the manger it stands in its glory alone,— | 35 |
| The despot beholds it, while trembles his throne. | |
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| Oh, awful to him is the radiance mild | |
| That circles the brow of the heavenly Child! | |
| That cradle where Innocence sleeps is his dread, | |
| And Guilt feels the doom that hangs over his head. | 40 |
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| But joy to the watchers of Zion! that star, | |
| Predicted and seen by the prophets afar, | |
| Now points with its beams to the place of His birth | |
| Whose kingdom shall rule all the kingdoms of earth. | |
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