StoryTitle("caps", "Verses from the Shepherds' Hymn") ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Young dawn of our eternal day; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We saw Thine eyes break from the East, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And chase the trembling shades away: ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We saw Thee, and we blest the sight, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Poor world, said I, what wilt thou do ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To entertain this starry stranger? ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Is this the best thou canst bestow— ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A cold and not too cleanly manger?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Contend, the powers of heaven and earth, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To fit a bed for this huge birth. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Proud world, said I, cease your contest, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And let the mighty babe alone; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The phœnix builds the phœnix' nest,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Love's architecture is His own. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The babe, whose birth embraves this morn, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Made His own bed ere He was born. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I saw the curl'd drops, soft and slow, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Come hovering o'er the place's head, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Off'ring their whitest sheets of snow, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To furnish the fair infant's bed. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Forbear, said I, be not too bold; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Your fleece is white, but 'tis too cold. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I saw th' obsequious seraphim", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Their rosy fleece of fire bestow, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For well they now can spare their wings, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Since Heaven itself lies here below. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Well done, said I; but are you sure ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Your down, so warm, will pass for pure? ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No, no, your King's not yet to seek ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Where to repose His royal head; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "See, see how soon His new-bloom'd cheek ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2SQ", "", "'Twixt mother's breasts is gone to bed! ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sweet choice, said we; no way but so,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Not to lie cold, you sleep in snow! ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "She sings Thy tears asleep, and dips ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Her kisses in Thy weeping eye; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "She spreads the red leaves of Thy lips, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That in their buds yet blushing lie.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "She 'gainst those mother diamonds tries ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The points of her young eagle's eyes. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Welcome—tho' not to those gay flies, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Gilded i' th' beams of earthly kings, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Slippery souls in smiling eyes—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But to poor shepherds, homespun things, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose wealth's their flocks, whose wit's to be ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Well read in their simplicity. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet, when young April's husband show'rs ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Shall bless the fruitful Maia's bed,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We'll bring the first-born of her flowers, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To kiss Thy feet and crown Thy head. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To Thee, dread Lamb! whose love must keep ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The shepherds while they feed their sheep. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To Thee, meek Majesty, soft King", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Of simple graces and sweet loves! ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Each of us his lamb will bring, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Each his pair of silver doves! ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "At last, in fire of Thy fair eyes, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ourselves become our own best sacrifice!", "") ?>
Poet("Richard Crashaw", "1613?–1649") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>