the home book of verse-1-第41节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE BURNING BABE
As I in hoary winter's night
Stood shivering in the snow；
Surprised I was with sudden heat
Which made my heart to glow；
And lifting up a fearful eye
To view what fire was near；
A pretty babe all burning bright
Did in the air appear；
Who； scorched with excessive heat；
Such floods of tears did shed；
As though His floods should quench His flames；
Which with His tears were bred：
〃Alas！〃 quoth He； 〃but newly born
In fiery heats I fry；
Yet none approach to warm their hearts
Or feel my fire but I！
〃My faultless breast the furnace is；
The fuel； wounding thorns；
Love is the fire； and sighs the smoke；
The ashes； shames and scorns；
The fuel Justice layeth on；
And Mercy blows the coals；
The metal in this furnace wrought
Are men's defiled souls：
For which； as now on fire I am
To work them to their good；
So will I melt into a bath；
To wash them in my blood。〃
With this He vanished out of sight
And swiftly shrunk away；
And straight I called unto mind
That it was Christmas Day。
Robert Southwell ＇1561？…1595＇
TRYSTE NOEL
The Ox he openeth wide the Doore；
And from the Snowe he calls her inne；
And he hath seen her Smile therefor；
Our Ladye without Sinne。
Now soone from Sleep
A Starre shall leap；
And soone arrive both King and Hinde：
Amen； Amen：
But O； the Place co'd I but finde！
The Ox hath hushed his voyce and bent
Trewe eyes of Pitty ore the Mow；
And on his lovelie Neck； forspent；
The Blessed layes her Browe。
Around her feet
Full Warme and Sweete
His bowerie Breath doth meeklie dwell：
Amen； Amen：
But sore am I with Vaine Travel！
The Ox is host in Judah stall
And Host of more than onelie one；
For close she gathereth withal
Our Lorde her littel Sonne。
Glad Hinde and King
Their Gyfte may bring；
But wo'd to…night my Teares were there；
Amen； Amen：
Between her Bosom and His hayre！
Louise Imogen Guiney ＇1861…1920＇
CHRISTMAS CAROL
As Joseph was a…waukin'；
He heard an angel sing；
〃This night shall be the birthnight
Of Christ our heavenly King。
〃His birth…bed shall be neither
In housen nor in hall；
Nor in the place of paradise；
But in the oxen's stall。
〃He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold；
But in the wooden manger
That lieth in the mould。
〃He neither shall be washen
With white wine nor with red；
But with the fair spring water
That on you shall be shed。
〃He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall；
But in the fair； white linen
That usen babies all。〃
As Joseph was a…waukin'；
Thus did the angel sing；
And Mary's son at midnight
Was born to be our King。
Then be you glad； good people；
At this time of the year；
And light you up your candles；
For His star it shineth clear。
Unknown
〃BRIGHTEST AND BEST OF THE SONS OF THE MORNING〃
Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning！
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid！
Star of the East； the horizon adorning；
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid！
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining；
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall；
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining；
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all！
Say； shall we yield Him； in costly devotion；
Odors of Edom and offerings divine？
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean；
Myrrh from the forest； or gold from the mine？
Vainly we offer each ample oblation；
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure：
Richer by far is the heart's adoration；
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor。
Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning！
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid！
Star of the East； the horizon adorning；
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid！
Reginald Heber ＇1783…1826＇
CHRISTMAS BELLS
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old； familiar carols play；
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And thought how； as the day had come；
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Till； ringing； singing on its way；
The world revolved from night to day；
A voice； a chime；
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Then from each black； accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South；
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth…stones of a continent；
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And in despair I bowed my head；
〃There is no peace on earth；〃 I said；
〃For hate is strong；
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep：
〃God is not dead； nor doth He sleep！
The Wrong shall fail；
The Right prevail；
With peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ＇1807…1882＇
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
The Christ…child lay on Mary's lap；
His hair was like a light。
（O weary； weary were the world；
But here is all aright。）
The Christ…child lay on Mary's breast；
His hair was like a star。
（O stern and cunning are the kings；
But here the true hearts are。）
The Christ…child lay on Mary's heart；
His hair was like a fire。
（O weary； weary is the world；
But here the world's desire。）
The Christ…child stood at Mary's knee；
His hair was like a crown；
And all the flowers looked up at Him；
And all the stars looked down。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS
There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam；
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home。
The crazy stable close at hand；
With shaking timber and shifting sand；
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome。
For men are homesick in their homes；
And strangers under the sun；
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done。
Here we have battle and blazing eyes；
And chance and honor and high surprise；
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun。
A Child in a foul stable；
Where the beasts feed and foam；
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home；
We have hands that fashion and heads that know；
But our hearts we lost … how long ago！
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome。
This world is wild as an old wives' tale；
And strange the plain things are；
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war；
But our rest is as far as the fire…drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star。
To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come；
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome。
To the end of the way of the wandering star；
To the things that cannot be and that are；
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
THE FEAST OF THE SNOW
There is heard a hymn when the panes are dim；
And never before or again；
When the nights are strong with a darkness long；
And the dark is alive with rain。
Never we know but in sleet and snow
The place where the great fires are；
That the midst of earth is a raging mirth；
And the heart of the earth a star。
And at night we win to the ancient inn；
Where the Child in the frost is furled；
We follow the feet where all souls meet；
At the inn at the end of the world。
The gods lie dead where the leaves lie red；
For the flame of the sun is flown；
The gods lie cold where the leaves are gold；
And a Child comes forth alone。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
MARY'S BABY
Joseph； mild and noble； bent above the straw：
A pale girl； a frail girl； suffering he saw；
〃O my Love； my Mary； my bride； I pity thee！〃
〃Nay； Dear；〃 said Mary； 〃all is well with me！〃
〃Baby； my baby； O my babe；〃 she sang。
Suddenly the golden night all with music rang。
Angels leading shepherds； shepherds leading sheep：
The silence of worship broke the mother's sleep。
All the meek and lowly of all the world were there；
Smiling； she showed them that her Child was fair；
〃Baby； my baby；〃 kissing Him she said。
Suddenly a flaming star through the heavens sped。
Three old men and weary knelt them side by side；
The world's wealth forswearing； majesty and pride；
Worldly might and wisdom before the Babe bent low：
Weeping； maid Mary said； 〃I love Him so！〃
〃Baby； my baby；〃 and the Baby slept。
Suddenly on Calvary all the olives wept。
Shaemas OSheel ＇1886…
GATES AND DOORS
A Ballad of Christmas Eve
There was a gentle hostler
（And blessed be his name！）
He opened up the
