No purple here is seen, no pomp of splendour,
Rude swaddling bands enfold each sacred Limb,
Yet shepherds kneel, their silent praise to render,
And Seraphs wondering, chant their carolhymn.
The gentle stars in solemn courses wending, Throw their soft lustre o'er the mangershed,
With JESUS' sleeping smile their radiance blending,
Till one bright halo circles round His Head,
4. Angels with folded wing, and breath abated,
Gaze tremblingly upon that Little ONE, Muse on their GOD's Great Glory Incarnated, And worship JESUS, GOD and Mary's Son.
5. Earth does not heed, though Heaven itself rejoices,
While myriads swell the' Gloria' sung on High,
No echo can they find' mid earthly voices, Save Mary, singing her sweet lullaby;--
6. Mary, and those who love with her to ponder
On mysteries half- seen, yet half- concealed, Longing to know- yet willing still to wonder, Waiting in faith, till all shall be revealed.
Such souls alone can contemplate the Glory, Which, darkling, breaks upon their eager sight,
True hearts which own the Incarnation story, Need ask no greater sign,-no clearer light.
They muse in Faith,-and He in Mercy shineth,
They gaze in silence, and the darkness flies;
" EMMANUEL" on Mary's heart reclineth,
He sleeps, He wakes,-Behold the DayStar rise!
When, as in verses 4, 5 and 6, the first syllable is accented, the first crotchet should be omitted, and the voices come in or the first beat of the bar. A little care in the division of syllables will make every line run smoothly,