Classic Poem

The HYMN of the three eastern MAGI, adoring our Saviour at his nativity.

From those blessed regions where the sun displays
His blooming light, and spreads his earliest rays;
Where fragrant groves for sacred incense spring,
To thee, great Son of God, our zealous vows we bring.

Hail, mighty infant, offspring of the skies!
Celestial glory lightens in thy eyes;
Thy smiles presage immeasurable grace,
And scenes of paradise are open'd in thy face.

More than the race of man surprizing fair!
More lovely than thy own propitious star!
When first its chearful lustre blest our sight,
Grac'd with superior beams, and well distinguish'd light.

The sun it's conqu'ring glories met by day,
And fac'd his rival with a fainter ray;
In golden robes, amidst the shades it blaz'd
While night, with all her eyes, on the fair stranger gaz'd.

To rich Judea still it led the way,
And hov'ring where th' immortal infant lay;
With darting beams it gilds the blest abode,
And to our longing eyes reveal'd th' unquestion'd God.

Whom thus with pure devotion we adore,
And freely offer all our costly store;
Gold, as a tribute to the new-born king,
And incense to the God, with humble zeal we bring.

The spacious East shall soon converted be,
And all her splendid monarchs kneel to thee.
The sun no more, in folding clouds array'd,
Shall mourn the impious honours to his lustre paid.

Apis shall cease to bellow thro' the croud,
With gilded horns, and flow'ry garlands proud;
Panthea's costly gums shall smoke no more
To gods of monstrous shape, on Nile's polluted shore.

But thou shalt rise in fame, illustrious child,
Of all mankind the Great Redeemer styl'd;
A God in ev'ry language known and blest,
By every bending knee ador'd, and ev'ry tongue confess'd.

Temples to thee with gilded spires shall rise,
And clouds of fragrant incense shade the skies:
In lofty hymns, and consecrated verse,
Succeeding times shall speak thy praise, and thy great name rehearse.

And thee, unblemish'd maid, divinely fair,
Whose tender arms th' eternal monarch bear:
Thrice happy thee posterity shall call,
Pride of thy lovely sex, and grac'd above them all.