68.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE

T was the calm and silent night:

Iseven hundred years and fifty-three

Had Rome been growing up to might,
And now was Queen of earth and sea :
The clashing of continual wars

Was hushed throughout the wide domain;
Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars

Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.

It was the calm and silent night:
The Senator of ancient Rome

Impatient urged his chariot's flight,
From lordly revel rolling home :
Triumphal arches gleaming swell

His breast with thoughts of boundless sway;
Nought recked the Roman what befell

A paltry province far away,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.

Within that province far away,

Went plodding home the weary boor.

A streak of light before him lay,
Fallen through a half-shut stable door

The First Christmas Eve

Across his path:-he passed; for nought
Told what was going on within;
How bright the stars his only thought,
The air, how calm and cold and thin
In the solemn midnight

Centuries ago.

Oh strange indifference! low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares-
The earth was still, it knew not why,
The world was listening unawares,
How calm a moment may precede

One that shall thrill the world for ever.
To that still moment none would heed,
Man's doom was linked, no more to sever,
In the solemn midnight

Centuries ago.

It is the calm and silent night—

A thousand bells ring out, and throw
Their joyous peals around, and smite
The darkness-charmed and holy now-
The day that erst no name had worn,

To it a blessed name is given,

For in that stable lay, new born,

The Peaceful Prince of earth and heaven-
In the solemn midnight

Centuries ago.

ΠΙΟ

ALFRED DOMETT

69. CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

HRIST was born on Christmas day;

CHRIST

Wreathe the holly, twine the bay;

Christus natus hodie:

The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

He is born to set us free,

He is born our Lord to be,

Ex Maria Virgine:

The God, the Lord, by all adored for ever.

Let the bright red berries glow
Everywhere in goodly show;

Christus natus hodie:

The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

Christian men, rejoice and sing;
'Tis the birthday of a King,

Ex Maria Virgine :

The God, the Lord, by all adored for ever.

Night of sadness, Morn of gladness
Evermore:

Ever, ever, after many troubles sore,
Morn of gladness, evermore and evermore.

Midnight scarcely passed and over,

Drawing to this holy morn,

Very early, very early

Christ was born.

Christ was born on Christmas Day

Sing out with bliss, His name is this—
Emmanuel,

As was foretold in days of old

'Oh! never sin and want and woe this earth will leave, And the bells but mock the wailing round, they sing

so cheery.

How long, O Lord! how long before Thou come again? Still in cellar, and in garret, and on moorland dreary The orphans moan, and widows weep, and poor men toil in vain,

Till earth is sick of hope deferred, though Christmas bells be cheery.'

Then arose a joyous clamour from the wildfowl on the

mere,

Beneath the stars, across the snow, like clear bells

ringing,

And a voice within cried-Listen!-Christmas carols

even here!

Though thou be dumb, yet o'er their work the stars and snows are singing.

A Christmas Carol

Blind! I live, I love, I reign; and all the nations

through

With the thunder of my judgements even now are

ringing;

Do thou fulfil thy work, but as yon wildfowl do,

Thou wilt hear no less the wailing, yet hear through it angels singing.'

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,

Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.