YULETIDE
By Alice Furlong
In a stable bare,Lo, the great Ones are.Strew the Ivy and the MyrtleRound about the Virgin’s kirtle!Ass and oxen mildBreathe soft upon the Child!Blow the scent of bygone summerOn your breath to the New-comer!Be ye well contentTo be straitly pentBackwards in the rocky chamberFrom the angel’s wings of amber!Rapt the seraphs sit,With godly faces litIn a radiance shining solelyFrom the Christ-child, meek and holy.High they chant and clearOf the lovely cheerRing down the new evangelsOf the mystic, midnight angels.Faring with good willFrom the misty hill,Every shepherd sacrificethTo the prophet that ariseth.Joseph, Mary’s spouse,Prince of David’s House,Bendeth low in adorationsTo the Ruler of the Nations.Who doth sweetly restOn his Mother’s breast,Lord of the lightnings and the thunders!Mary’s heart keeps all these wonders.
In a stable bare,Lo, the great Ones are.Strew the Ivy and the MyrtleRound about the Virgin’s kirtle!Ass and oxen mildBreathe soft upon the Child!Blow the scent of bygone summerOn your breath to the New-comer!Be ye well contentTo be straitly pentBackwards in the rocky chamberFrom the angel’s wings of amber!Rapt the seraphs sit,With godly faces litIn a radiance shining solelyFrom the Christ-child, meek and holy.High they chant and clearOf the lovely cheerRing down the new evangelsOf the mystic, midnight angels.Faring with good willFrom the misty hill,Every shepherd sacrificethTo the prophet that ariseth.Joseph, Mary’s spouse,Prince of David’s House,Bendeth low in adorationsTo the Ruler of the Nations.Who doth sweetly restOn his Mother’s breast,Lord of the lightnings and the thunders!Mary’s heart keeps all these wonders.
In a stable bare,Lo, the great Ones are.Strew the Ivy and the MyrtleRound about the Virgin’s kirtle!
In a stable bare,
Lo, the great Ones are.
Strew the Ivy and the Myrtle
Round about the Virgin’s kirtle!
Ass and oxen mildBreathe soft upon the Child!Blow the scent of bygone summerOn your breath to the New-comer!
Ass and oxen mild
Breathe soft upon the Child!
Blow the scent of bygone summer
On your breath to the New-comer!
Be ye well contentTo be straitly pentBackwards in the rocky chamberFrom the angel’s wings of amber!
Be ye well content
To be straitly pent
Backwards in the rocky chamber
From the angel’s wings of amber!
Rapt the seraphs sit,With godly faces litIn a radiance shining solelyFrom the Christ-child, meek and holy.
Rapt the seraphs sit,
With godly faces lit
In a radiance shining solely
From the Christ-child, meek and holy.
High they chant and clearOf the lovely cheerRing down the new evangelsOf the mystic, midnight angels.
High they chant and clear
Of the lovely cheer
Ring down the new evangels
Of the mystic, midnight angels.
Faring with good willFrom the misty hill,Every shepherd sacrificethTo the prophet that ariseth.
Faring with good will
From the misty hill,
Every shepherd sacrificeth
To the prophet that ariseth.
Joseph, Mary’s spouse,Prince of David’s House,Bendeth low in adorationsTo the Ruler of the Nations.
Joseph, Mary’s spouse,
Prince of David’s House,
Bendeth low in adorations
To the Ruler of the Nations.
Who doth sweetly restOn his Mother’s breast,Lord of the lightnings and the thunders!Mary’s heart keeps all these wonders.
Who doth sweetly rest
On his Mother’s breast,
Lord of the lightnings and the thunders!
Mary’s heart keeps all these wonders.