Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913

Then sped my thought to keep that first Christmas of all When the shepherds watching by their folds ere the dawn Heard music in the fields.

and marvelling could not tell Whether it were angels

or the bright stars singing.

Now blessed be the tow'rs

that crown England so fair That stand up strong in prayer unto God for our souls: Blessed be their founders

(said I) an' our country folk Who are ringing for Christ in the belfries to-night With arms lifted to clutch

the rattling ropes that race Into the dark above

and the mad romping din.

But to me heard afar
it was starry music
Angels' song, comforting
as the comfort of Christ
When He spake tenderly

to His sorrowful flock: The old words came to me by the riches of time

Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913

Mellow'd and transfigured
as I stood on the hill

Heark'ning in the aspect

of th' eternal silence.

ROBERT BRIDGES

84.

Ο

NOËL

I

N a winter's night long time ago

(The bells ring loud and the bells ring low), When high howled wind, and down fell snow (Carillon, Carilla).

Saint Joseph he and Nostre Dame,
Riding on an ass, full weary came

From Nazareth into Bethlehem.

And the small child Jesus smile on you.

II

And Bethlehem inn they stood before

(The bells ring less and the bells ring more), The landlord bade them begone from his door (Carillon, Carilla).

'Poor folk' (says he), 'must lie where they may,
For the Duke of Jewry comes this way,
With all his train on a Christmas Day.'
And the small child Jesus smile on you.

Noël

III

Poor folk that may my carol hear

(The bells ring single and the bells ring clear),
See! God's one child had hardest cheer!
(Carillon, Carilla.)

Men grown hard on a Christmas morn;
The dumb beast by and a babe forlorn.

It was very, very cold when our Lord was born.
And the small child Jesus smile on you.

IV

Now these were Jews as Jews must be
(The bells ring merry and the bells ring free).
But Christian men in a band are we
(Carillon, Carilla).

Empty we go, and ill-bedight,

Singing Noël on a winter's night.
Give us to sup by the warm firelight,
And the small child Jesus smile on you.

HILAIRE BELLOC

85.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

This Lair was a

HE Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,

His hair was like a light.

(O weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.)

86.

A Christmas Carol

The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star.

(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,

His hair was like a fire.

(O weary, weary is the world,

But here the world's desire.)

The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,

And all the flowers looked up at him,

And all the stars looked down.

G. K. CHESTERTON

THE CREATURES' NOWEL

W with the humble and the high,

HERE Mary keeps her court

The little dog has sport

For he is also by.

The creatures of the earth

They have great joy and mirth
On the night of the Great Birth.

The hedgehog and the hare
Are of that Birth aware,
Their timid footsteps go,
Quick, furtive, over the snow,

87.

The Creatures' Nowel

They come thro' the cold
The young Child to behold,
In the stable bare.

They have no fear there,
No hurt and no annoy,
But great bliss and joy
With the Baby Boy,

In that safe stable's shade
With none to make afraid,
To kill or to destroy.

The lamb in his white fleece
Plays with the wolf in peace,

The leopard lies down with the kid,
The ox and the ass they bid

The lion to share their straw;

All creatures tame or wild

Are there with the Little Child;

The ox says 'moo' and the ass hee-haw'.

R. L. GALES

THE HEAVENLY NOEL

OH!

H! what great thing is done to-night,
Or what good news has sped?

What ails the blessèd Saints in heaven,
They cannot rest in bed?

But up and down so ceaselessly

They go in joy and dread.