Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity

    Wherein the Son of Heaven's Eternal King

    Of wedded¹ maid and virgin² mother born

    Our great redemption from above did bring；

    For so the holy sages³ once did sing

    That He our deadly forfeit⁴ should release

    And with His Father work us a perpetual peace.

    That glorious Form that Light unsufferable

    And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty⁵

    Wherewith He wont⁶ at Heaven's high council-table

    To sit the midst of Trinal Unity⁷

    He laid aside； and here with us to be

    Forsook⁸ the courts of everlasting⁹ day

    And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay.

    Say heavenly Muse¹⁰ shall not thy sacred vein¹¹

    Afford a present to the Infant God？

    Hast thou no verse no hymn¹² or solemn strain

    To welcome Him to this His new abode¹³

    Now while the heaven by the sun's team untrod

    Hath took no print of the approaching light

    And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright？

    See how from far upon the eastern road

    The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet：

    O run prevent them with thy humble¹⁴ 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

    From out His secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire.