Christ's Nativity
: SIGNIFICANCE AND SPIRITHENRY VAUGHAN
Awake, glad heart! get up and sing!
It is the Birthday of thy King.
Awake! awake!
The sun doth shake
Light from his locks, and, all the way
Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day.
Awake! awake! hark how th' wood rings,
Winds whisper, and the busy springs
A concert make!
Man is their high-priest, and should rise
To offer up the sacrifice.
I would I were some bird, or star,
Fluttering in woods, or lifted far
Above this inn,
And road of sin!
Then either star or bird should be
Shining or singing still to thee.
I would I had in my best part
Fit rooms for thee! or that my heart
Where so clean as
Thy manger was!
But I am all filth, and obscene;
Yet, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean.
Sweet Jesu! will then. Let no more
This leper haunt and soil thy door!
Cure him, ease him,
O release him!
And let once more, by mystic birth,
The Lord of life be born in earth.
More
-
A Christmas Carol
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL What means this glory round our feet, The Magi mused, more bright than morn? And voices chanted clear and sweet, To-day the Prince of Peace is born! What means that star, the Shepherds said, ... A Christmas Carol
AUBREY DE VERE They leave the land of gems and gold, The shining portals of the East; For Him, the woman's Seed foretold, They leave the revel and the feast. To earth their sceptres they have cast, And crowns... A Christmas Carol
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. ... A Christmas Carol
JOSIAH GILBERT HOLLAND There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer And a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful sing, For the ... A Christmas Carol
CHRISTIAN BURKE The trees are hung with crystal lamps, the world lies still and white, And the myriad little twinkling stars are sharp with keener light; The moon sails up the frost-clear sky and silvers all the snow, As she d... A Christmas Carol For Children
MARTIN LUTHER Good news from heaven the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a child is given, To crown us with the joy of heaven. This is the Christ, our God and Lord, Who in all need ... A Christmas Hymn
ALFRED DOMETT It was the calm and silent night! Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was Queen of land and sea. No sound was heard of clashing wars; Peace brooded o'er ... A Christmas Hymn
ANON Written in the Chapel of the Manger, in the Convent Church of Bethlehem, Palestine: In the fields where, long ago, Dropping tears, amid the leaves, Ruth's young feet went to and fro, Binding up the scattered sheav... A Christmas Insurrection
ANNE P.L. FIELD In the hush of a shivery Christmas-tide dawn Sing hey! sing ho! heigho! Three small frozen figures hung stiff and forlorn Sing hey! sing ho! heigho! Three dim ghostly forms in the glimmering gray ... A Christmas Lullaby
JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS Sleep, baby, sleep! The Mother sings: Heaven's angels kneel and fold their wings. Sleep, baby, sleep! With swathes of scented hay Thy bed By Mary's hand at eve was spread. ... A Christmas Song
WILLIAM COX BENNETT Blow, wind, blow, Sing through yard and shroud; Pipe it shrilly and loud, Aloft as well as below; Sing in my sailor's ear The song I sing to you, Come home, my sailor true, For Chris... A Christmas Song
TUDOR JENKS When mother-love makes all things bright, When joy comes with the morning light, When children gather round their tree, Thou Christmas Babe, We sing of Thee! When manhood's brows are bent in... A Hymn On The Nativity Of My Saviour
BEN JONSON I sing the birth was born to-night The author both of life and light; The angels so did sound it. And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light, and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they f... A Prayer At Bethlehem
ANNE P.L. FIELD O pulsing earth with heart athrill With infinite creative will! O watchful shepherds in whose eyes Sweet hopes and promises arise! O angel-host whose chanting choir Proclaims fulfillment of desire! ... A Visit From St Nicholas
CLEMENT C. MOORE 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; ... An Ode On The Birth Of Our Saviour
ROBERT HERRICK In numbers, and but these few, I sing thy birth, O Jesu! Thou pretty baby, born here With sup'rabundant scorn here; Who for thy princely port here, Hadst for thy place Of birth, a base Ou... An Offertory
MARY MAPES DODGE Oh, the beauty of the Christ Child, The gentleness, the grace, The smiling, loving tenderness, The infantile embrace! All babyhood he holdeth, All motherhood enfoldeth-- ... Ballade Of Christmas Ghosts
ANDREW LANG Between the moonlight and the fire In winter twilights long ago, What ghosts we raised for your desire, To make your merry blood run slow! How old, how grave, how wise we grow! No Christmas ghost can make... Bells Across The Snows
FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL O Christmas, merry Christmas! Is it really come again, With its memories and greetings, With its joy and with its pain? There's a minor in the carol, And a shadow in the light, And ... Brightest And Best Of The Sons Of The Morning
REGINALD HEBER Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning! Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid! Cold on His cradle the dewdr... Carol
O Child of Mary's tender care! O little Child so pure and fair! Cradled within the manger hay On that divine first Christmas day! The hopes of every age and race Are centered in Thy radiant face! O Child whose glory ... Ceremonies For Christmas
ROBERT HERRICK Come, bring with a noise, My merry, merry boys, The Christmas log to the firing, While my good dame, she Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring. With the last year's b... Christ's Nativity
HENRY VAUGHAN Awake, glad heart! get up and sing! It is the Birthday of thy King. Awake! awake! The sun doth shake Light from his locks, and, all the way Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day. ... Christmas
ANON Once in Royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for His bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ that little child. He came down to earth from Heaven... Christmas
NAHUM TATE While shepherds watch'd their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. Fear not, said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind)... Christmas
ROSE TERRY COOKE Here comes old Father Christmas, With sound of fife and drums; With mistletoe about his brows, So merrily he comes! His arms are full of all good cheer, His face with laughter glows, He sh... Christmas Bells
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, ... Christmas Bells
ANON There are sounds in the sky when the year grows old, And the winds of the winter blow-- When night and the moon are clear and cold, And the stars shine on the snow, Or wild is the blast and the bitter sleet ... Christmas Bells
JOHN KEBLE Wake me to-night, my mother dear, That I may hear The Christmas Bells, so soft and clear, To high and low glad tidings tell, How God the Father loved us well; How God the Eternal Son Came to undo what... Christmas Carol
JAMES S. PARK So crowded was the little town On the first Christmas day, Tired Mary Mother laid her down To rest upon the hay. (Ah, would my door might have been thrown Wide open on her way!) But when th... Christmas Carol
PHILLIPS BROOKS The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, And its soul full of music bursts forth on the air, When the song o... Christmas Carol
As Joseph was a-waukin' He heard an angel sing, This night shall be the birthnight Of Christ our heavenly King. His birth-bed shall be neither In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of paradise, But in ... Christmas Carol
Listen, lordings, unto me, a tale I will you tell; Which, as on this night of glee, in David's town befell. Joseph came from Nazareth with Mary, that sweet maid; Weary were they nigh to death, and for a lodging prayed. In the ... Christmas Day
CHARLES WESLEY Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies, With the angelic ho... Christmas In The Olden Time
WALTER SCOTT On Christmas-eve the bells were rung; The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hall was dressed with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry men go, To gather in the mistletoe. Thus opened wide the baron... Christmas Song
EDMUND HAMILTON SEARS Calm on the listening ear of night Come heaven's melodious strains, Where wild Judea stretches far Her silver-mantled plains; Celestial choirs from courts above Shed sacred glories there; ... Christmas Song
LYDIA A.C. WARD Why do bells for Christmas ring? Why do little children sing? Once a lovely, shining star, Seen by shepherds from afar, Gently moved until its light Made a manger-cradle bright. There a darli... Church Decking At Christmas
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Would that our scrupulous sires had dared to leave Less scanty measure of those graceful rites And usages, whose due return invites A stir of mind too natural to deceive; Giving the memory help when... Cradle Hymn
ISAAC WATTS Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber; Holy angels guard thy bed; Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head. Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends pro... December
HARRIET F. BLODGETT I Oh! holly branch and mistletoe. And Christmas chimes where'er we go. And stockings pinned up in a row! These are thy gifts, December! II And if the year has made thee old, ... Fairy Faces
ANON Out of the mists of childhood, Steeped in a golden glory, Come dreamy forms and faces, Snatches of song and story; Whispers of sweet, still faces; Rays of ethereal glimmer, ... God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
DINAH MARIA MULOCK God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas-day. The dawn rose red o'er Bethlehem, the stars shone through the gray, When Jesus Christ, our Savi... God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
OLD CAROL God rest you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Was born upon this day. To save us all from Satan's pow'r When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort ... Hang Up The Baby's Stocking
[Emily Huntington Miller] Hang up the baby's stocking: Be sure you don't forget; The dear little dimpled darling! She ne'er saw Christmas yet; But I've told her all about it, And she opened her big blue eyes, ...