III. S O N G.

Ymphs and Shepherds dance no more
By fandy Ladons Lillied banks,

On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar,

Trip no more in twilight ranks, Though Erymanth your lofs deplore,

A better foyl shall give ye thanks.

From the ftony Manalus,

Bring your flocks and live with us,

Here ye

fhall have greater grace,

To serve the Lady of this Place.

Though Syrinx your Pan's Mistress were,

Yet Syrinx well might wait on her.

Such a rural Queen "ki

All Arcadia hath not seen.woll

HIS is the Month, and this the happy Morn

TH

Wherein the Son of Heav'ns eternal King,
Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,
Our great Redemption from above did bring;
For fo the holy Sages once did fing,

That he our deadly forfeit should release,
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.

II.

That glorious Form, that Light unfufferable,
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,

Wherewith he wont at Heav'ns high Council-Table

To fit the midst of Trinal Unity,

He laid afide, and here with us to be a 1

Forfook the Courts of everlasting Day,

And chose with us a darkfom House of mortal Clay,

III.

Say Heav'nly Mufe, fhall not thy facred vein
Afford a Present to the Infant God?

Haft thou no verfe, no hymn, or folemn ftrein,
To welcome him to this his new abode,

Now while the Heav'n by the Sun's team untrod,
Hath took no print of the approaching light,
And all the spangled hoft keep watch in squadrons

[bright?

C.

See how from far upon the Eastern rode
The Star-led Wifards hafte with odours fweet,
O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,
And lay it lowly at his bleffed feet;
Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet,
And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire,
From out his fecret Altar toucht with hallow'd fire.

All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to him

Had doff't her gawdy trim,

With her great Master so to fympathize: It was no season then for her

To wanton with the Sun her lufty Paramour.

To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow, And on her naked shame,

Pollute with finful blame,

The Saintly Veil of Maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes

Should look so near upon her foul deformities.

She crown'd with Olive green, came softly sliding

Down through the turning fphear

His ready Harbinger,

And waving wide her mirtle wand,

She strikes an univerfal Peace through Sea and Land. · IV.

No War, or Battles found

Was heard the World around

The idle Spear and Shield were high up hung,

The hooked Chariot flood,

Unftain'd with hostile blood,

The Trumpet fpake not to the armed throng, And Kings fat still with awful Eye,

As if they furely knew their Soveraign Lord was by.

V.

But peaceful was the night

Wherein the Prince of light

His reign of peace upon the earth began:

The Winds with wonder whift,

Smoothly the Waters kift,

Whispering new joys to the mild Ocean,

Who now hath quite forgot to rave,

While Birds of Calm fit brooding on the charmed

VI.

[Wave,

The Stars with deep amaze

Stand fixt in fteadfast gaze,

Bending