THIS is the month and this the happy morn
Wherein the Son of Heaven's Eternal King
Of wedded maid and virgin mother born
Our great redemption from above did bring；
For so the holy sages once did sing
That He our deadly forfeit should release
And with His Father work us a perpetual peace.
That glorious Form that Light unsufferable
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty
Wherewith He wont at Heaven's high council-table
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity
He laid aside； and here with us to be
Forsook the courts of everlasting day
And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay.
Say heavenly Muse shall not thy sacred vein
Afford a present to the Infant God？
Hast thou no verse no hymn or solemn strain
To welcome Him to this His new abode
Now while the heaven by the sun's team untrod
Hath took no print of the approaching light
And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright？
See how from far upon the eastern road
The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet：
O run prevent them with thy humble ode
And lay it lowly at His blessed feet；
Have thou the honour first thy Lord to greet
And join thy voice unto the Angel quire
From out His secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire.