Say, heav'nly muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant God? Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein To welcome him to this his new abode Now while the Heav'n by the suns team untrod Hath took no print of the approaching light, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? IV. See how from far upon the eastern rode The star-led Wisards{4} haste with odours sweet; O run, prevent{5} them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the angel quire,{6} From out his secret altar toucht with hallow'd fire. 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 of him Had doff't her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for her To wanton with the sun her lusty paramour.{7} II. Onely with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with sinfull blame, The saintly veil of maiden{8} white to throw: Confounded that her Makers eyes Should look so near upon her foul deformities. III. But he, her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace, She, crown'd with olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphear,{9} His ready harbinger,{10} With turtle{11} wing the amorous clouds dividing, And, waving wide her mirtle wand, She strikes a universall peace{12} through sea and land. IV. No war, or battails sound, Was heard the world around; The idle spear and shield were high up hung; The hooked chariot{13} stood Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And kings sate still with awfull eye,{14} As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. V. But peacefull was the night Wherein the Prince of Light His raign of peace upon the earth began; The windes, with wonder whist,{15} 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. VI. The stars, with deep amaze, Stand fixt in stedfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence,{16} And will not take their flight For{17} all the morning light Or Lucifer{18} that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Untill their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. VII.