Thus, from their coats involved of leaves and silk, Slowly they freed the odorous thorn-tree"s milk, The gray myrrh, and the ca.s.sia, and the spice, Filling the wind with frankincense past price, With hearts of blossoms from a hundred glens And essence of a thousand rose-gardens, Till the night"s gloom like a royal curtain hung Jewelled with stars, and rich with fragrance flung Athwart the arch; and, in the cavern there The air around was as the breathing-air Of a queen"s chamber, when she comes to bed, And all that glad earth owns gives goodlihead.
Witness them entering,--these three from afar-- Who knew the skies, and had the strange white star To light their nightly lamp, thro" deserts wide Of Bactria, and the Persic wastes, and tide Of Tigris and Euphrates; past the snow Of Ararat, and where the sand-winds blow O"er Ituraea; and the crimson peaks Of Moab, and the fierce, bright, barren reeks From Asphalt.i.ties; to this hill--to thee Bethlehem-Ephrata! Witness these three Gaze, hand in hand, with faces grave and mild, Where, "mid the gear and goats, Mother and Child Make state and splendor for their eyes. Then lay Each stranger on the earth, in the Indian way, Paying the "eight prostrations;" and was heard Saying softly, in the Indian tongue, that word Wherewith a Prince is honored. Humbly ran, On this, the people of their caravan And fetch the gold, and--laid on gold--the spice, Frankincense, myrrh: and next, with reverence nice, Foreheads in dust, they spread the precious things At Mary"s feet, and worship Him who clings To Mary"s bosom drinking soft life so Who shall be life and light to all below.
"For, now we see," say they, departing: "plain The star"s word comes to pa.s.s! The Buddh again Appeareth, or some Boddhisat of might Arising for the west, who shall set right, And serve and reconcile; and, maybe, teach Knowledge to those who know. We, brothers, each, Have heard yon shepherds babbling: if the sky Speaketh with such, heaven"s mercy is drawn nigh!
Well did we counsel, journeying to this place!
Yon hour-old Babe, milking that breast of grace, The world will praise and worship, well-content."
Then, fearing Herod, to their homes they went Musing along the road. But he alway Angered and troubled, bade his soldiers slay Whatever man-child sucked in Bethlehem.
Lord! had"st Thou been all G.o.d, as pleaseth them Who poorly see Thy G.o.dlike self, and take True glory from Thee for false glory"s sake: Co-equal power, as these--too bold--blaspheme, Ruler of what Thou camest to redeem; Not Babe Divine, feeling with touch of silk For fountains of a mortal Mother"s milk With sweet mouth buried in the warm feast thus, And dear heart growing great to beat for us, And soft feet waiting till the way was spread Whereby what was true G.o.d in Thee should tread Triumphant over woe and death to bliss,-- Thou, from Thy cradle would"st have stayed in this Those butchers! With one angel"s swift decree, Out of the silver cohorts lackeying Thee, Thou had"st thrust down the bitter prince who killed Thine innocents! Would"st Thou not? Was"t not willed?
Alas! "Peace and good-will" in agony Found first fruits! Rama heard that woful cry Of Rachel weeping for the children; lone, Uncomforted, because her babes are gone.
Herod the King! hast thou heard Rachel"s wail Where rest.i.tution is? Did aught avail Somewhere? at last? past life? after long stress Of heavy shame to bring forgetfulness?
If such grace be, no hopeless sin is wrought; Thy b.l.o.o.d.y blade missed what its vile edge sought; Mother, and Child, and Joseph--safe from thee-- Journey to Egypt, while the eastern Three Wind homewards, lightened of their spice and gold; And those great days, that were to be, unfold In the fair fields beside the shining sea Which rolls, "mid palms and rocks, in Galilee.
_Sir Edwin Arnold._
_It Brings Good Cheer._
"You may talk of Country Christma.s.ses, Their thirty pound b.u.t.ter"d eggs, their pies of carps" tongues; Their pheasants drench"d with ambergris; the carca.s.ses of three fat wethers bruised for gravy to make sauce for a single peac.o.c.k!"
_Ma.s.singer._
OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED.
All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined, Come, here is good news for to pleasure your mind; Old Christmas is come for to keep open house, He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse.
Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
A long time together he hath been forgot, They scarce could afford to hang on the pot; Such miserly sneaking in England hath been, As by our forefathers ne"er us"d to be seen; But now he"s returned, you shall have in brief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The times were ne"er good since Old Christmas was fled, And all hospitality hath been so dead; No mirth at our festivals late did appear, They scarcely would part with a cup of March beer; But now you shall have for the ease of your grief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The butler and baker, they now may be glad, The times they are mended, though they have been bad; The brewer, he likewise may be of good cheer, He shall have good trading for ale and strong beer; All trades shall be jolly, and have for relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The holly and ivy about the walls wind, And show that we ought to our neighbors be kind, Inviting each other for pastime and sport, And where we best fare, there we most do resort; We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The cooks shall be busied by day and by night, In roasting and boiling, for taste and delight; Their senses in liquor that"s nappy they"ll steep, Though they be afforded to have little sleep; They still are employed for to dress us in brief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Although the cold weather doth hunger provoke, "Tis a comfort to see how the chimneys do smoke; Provision is making for beer, ale, and wine, For all that are willing or ready to dine: Then haste to the kitchen for diet the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
All travellers, as they do pa.s.s on their way, At gentlemen"s halls are invited to stay, Themselves to refresh, and their horses to rest, Since that he must be Old Christmas"s guest; Nay, the poor shall not want, but have for relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Now Mock-beggar-hall it no more shall stand empty, But all shall be furnisht with freedom and plenty; The h.o.a.rding old misers, who us"d to preserve The gold in their coffers, and see the poor starve, Must now spread their tables, and give them in brief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The court, and the city, and country are glad, Old Christmas is come to cheer up the sad; Broad pieces and guineas about now shall fly, And hundreds be losers by cogging a die, Whilst others are feasting with diet the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Those that have no coin at the cards for to play, May sit by the fire and pa.s.s time away, And drink of their moisture contented and free, "My honest, good fellow, come, here is to thee!"
And when they are hungry, fall to their relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Young gallants and ladies shall foot it along, Each room in the house to the music shall throng, Whilst jolly carouses about they shall pa.s.s, And each country swain trip about with his la.s.s; Meantime goes the caterer to fetch in the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
The cooks and the scullion, who toil in their frocks, Their hopes do depend upon their Christmas-box; There is very few that do live on the earth But enjoy at this time either profit or mirth; Yea, those that are charged to find all relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Then well may we welcome Old Christmas to town, Who brings us good cheer and good liquor so brown; To pa.s.s the cold winter away with delight, We feast it all day, and we frolic all night; Both hunger and cold we keep out with relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
Then let all curmudgeons who dote on their wealth, And value their treasure much more than their health, Go hang themselves up, if they will be so kind; Old Christmas with them but small welcome shall find; They will not afford to themselves without grief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced-pies, and roast-beef.
_Evans" Old Ballads._
THE TRENCHERMAN.
My master and dame, I well perceive, Are purposed to be merry to-night, And willingly hath given me leave To combat with a Christmas Knight.
Sir Pig, I see, comes prancing in And bids me draw if that I dare; I care not for his valor a pin, For Jack of him will have a share.
My lady goose among the rest Upon the table takes her place, And piping-hot bids do my best, And bravely looks me in the face; For pigs and geese are gallant cheer, G.o.d bless my master and dame therefore!
I trust before the next New Year To eat my part of half a score.
I likewise see good minced-pie Here standing swaggering on the table; The lofty walls so large and high I"ll level down if I be able; For they be furnished with good plums, And spiced well with pepper and salt, Every prune as big as both my thumbs To drive down bravely the juice of malt.
Fill me some of your Christmas beer, Your pepper sets my mouth on heat, And Jack"s a-dry with your good cheer, Give me some good ale to my meat.
And then again my stomach I"ll show, For good roast-beef here stoutly stands; I"ll make it stoop before I go, Or I"ll be no man of my hands.
And for the plenty of this house G.o.d keep it thus well-stored alway; Come, butler, fill me a good carouse, And so we"ll end our Christmas day.
_New Christmas Carols._
BAN AND BLESSING.
Now Christmas comes, "tis fit that we Should feast and sing and merry be, Keep open house, let fiddlers play; A fig for cold, sing care away!
And may they who thereat repine, On brown bread and on small beer dine.
Make fires with logs, let the cooks sweat With boiling and with roasting meat; Let ovens be heat for fresh supplies Of puddings, pasties, and minced-pies.
And whilst that Christmas doth abide Let b.u.t.t"ry-door stand open wide.
Hang up those churls that will not feast Or with good fellows be a guest, And hang up those would take away The observation of that day; O may they never minced-pies eat, Plum-pudding, roast-beef, nor such meat.
But blest be they, awake and sleep, Who at that time a good house keep; May never want come nigh their door, Who at that time relieve the poor; Be plenty always in their house Of beef, veal, lamb, pork, mutton, souse.
_Poor Robin"s Almanac._