Classic Poem

The hilly region crossed with haste,
 Its last dark ridge discerned no more,
Bright as the bow that spans a waste
 She stood beside her cousin's door

And spake: that greeting came from God!
 Filled with the Spirit from on high
Sublime the aged mother stood,
 And cried aloud in prophecy:

“Soon as thy voice had touched mine ears
 The child in childless age conceived,
Leaped up for joy! Throughout all years
 Blessed the woman who believed.”

Type of electing love! 'tis thine
 To sound God's greeting from the skies!
Thou speak'st, and faith, a babe divine,
 Leaps up thy Babe to recognize.

Within true hearts the second birth
 Exults, though blind as yet and dumb.
The child of grace his hands puts forth,
 And prophesies of things to come.

V

F ESTUM N ATIVITATIS

Primeval night had repossessed
 Her empire in the fields of space;
Calm lay the kine on earth's dark breast;
 The earth lay calm in heaven's embrace.

That hour, where shepherds kept their flocks,
 From God a glory sudden fell;
The splendour smote the trees and rocks,
 And lay, like dew, along the dell.

God's angel close beside them stood:
 “Fear nought,” that angel said, and then,
“Behold, I bring you tidings good:
 The Saviour Christ is born to men.”

And straightway round him myriads sang
 Again that anthem, and again,
Till all the hollow valley rang,
 “Glory to God, and peace to men.”

Thus in the violet-scented grove,
 The May breeze murmuring softly by them,
The children sang. Who Mary love
 The long year through have Christmas nigh them!