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The Poetical Works of John Milton



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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ON THE MORNING OF CHRISTS NATIVITY.Compos'd 1629.IThis is the Month, and this the happy mornWherin the Son of Heav'ns eternal King,Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,Our great redemption from above did bring;For so the holy sages once did sing,That he our deadly forfeit should release,And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.IIThat glorious Form, that Light unsufferable,And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,Wherwith he wont at Heav'ns high Councel-Table, 10To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,He laid aside; and here with us to be,Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day,And chose with us a darksom House of mortal Clay.IIISay Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred veinAfford a present to the Infant God?Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein,To welcom him to this his new abode,Now while the Heav'n by the Suns team untrod,Hath took no print of the approching light, 20And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright?IVSee how from far upon the Eastern rodeThe Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet,O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,And lay it lowly at his blessed feet;Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet,And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire,From out his secret Altar toucht with hallow'd fire. The Hymn.IIT was the Winter wilde,While the Heav'n-born-childe, 30All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies;Nature in aw to himHad doff't her gawdy trim,With her great Master so to sympathize:It was no season then for herTo wanton with the Sun her lusty Paramour.IIOnly with speeches fairShe woo'd the gentle AirTo hide her guilty front with innocent Snow,And on her naked shame, 40Pollute with sinfull blame,The Saintly Vail of Maiden white to throw,Confounded, that her Makers eyesShould look so near upon her foul deformities.IIIBut he her fears to cease,Sent down the meek-eyd Peace,She crown'd with Olive green, came softly slidingDown through the turning sphearHis ready Harbinger,With Turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50And waving wide her mirtle wand,She strikes a universall Peace through Sea and Land.IVNo War, or Battails soundWas heard the World around,The idle spear and shield were high up hung;The hooked Chariot stoodUnstain'd with hostile blood,The Trumpet spake not to the armed throng,And Kings sate still with awfull eye,As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60VBut peacefull was the nightWherin the Prince of lightHis raign of peace upon the earth began:The Windes with wonder whist,Smoothly the waters kist,Whispering new joyes to the milde Ocean,Who now hath quite forgot to rave,While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmed wave.VIThe Stars with deep amazeStand fit in steadfast gaze, 70Bending one way their pretious influence,And will not take their flight,For all the morning light,Or Lucifer that often warned them thence;But in their glimmering Orbs did glow,Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go....