In vain, with dull and tuneless ear, And in my heart of hearts would hear 'Tis misty all, both sight and sound— But patience! there may come a time These eyes, that dazzled now and weak, Thinc eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isaiah xxxiii. 17. In fearless love and hope uncloy'd Though scarcely now their laggard glance If Memory sometimes at our spell Meanwhile, if over sea or sky Some tender lights unnotic'd fleet, Or on lov'd features dawn and die, Unread, to us, their lesson sweet; Yet are there saddening sights around, Which Heaven, in mercy, spares us too, And we see far in holy ground, If duly purg'd our mental view. The distant landscape draws not nigh For all our gazing; but the soul, That upward looks, may still descry Nearer, each day, the brightening goal. And thou, too curious ear, that fain Till thou art duly trained, and taught For ever rise, and sing, and shine. CHRISTMAS DAY. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. St. Luke ii. 13. WHAT sudden blaze of song Spreads o'er th' expanse of Heav'n? In waves of light it thrills along, Th' angelic signal given Glory to God!" from yonder central fire Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry quire; Like circles widening round Orb after orb, the wondrous sound Is echoed on for ever: "Glory to God on high, on earth be peace, "And love towards men of love k-salvation and "release." kI have ventured to adopt the reading of the Vulgate, as being generally known through Pergolesi's beautiful composition," Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. C Yet stay, before thou dare To join that festal throng; First stirr'd the tide of song; 'Tis not," the Saviour born in David's home, "To whom for power and health obedient worlds "should come :" 'Tis not," the Christ the Lord :" With fix'd adoring look The choir of Angels caught the word, Nor yet their silence broke: But when they heard the sign, where Christ should be, In sudden light they shone and heavenly harmony. Wrapp'd in his swaddling bands, And in his manger laid, The hope and glory of all lands Is come to the world's aid: No peaceful home upon his cradle smil❜d, Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal Child. |