Tell him we now can show him more
    Than he e’er showed to mortal sight—­
  Than he himself e’er saw before,
    Which to be seen needs not his light: 
  Tell him, Tityrus, where thou hast been;
  Tell him, Thyrsis, what thou hast seen.

  Tityrus.  Gloomy night embraced the place
    Where the noble infant lay: 
  The babe looked up and showed his face: 
    In spite of darkness it was day. 
  It was thy day, sweet, and did rise
  Not from the east, but from thy eyes.
      Chorus. It was thy day, sweet, &c.

  Thyrsis.  Winter chid aloud, and sent
    The angry north to wage his wars: 
  The north forgot his fierce intent,
    And left perfumes instead of scars. 
  By those sweet eyes’ persuasive powers,
  Where he meant frosts, he scattered flowers.
      Chorus. By those sweet eyes’, &c.

  Both.  We saw thee in thy balmy nest,
    Young dawn of our eternal day;
  We saw thine eyes break from the east,
    And chase the trembling shades away. 
  We saw thee, and we blessed the sight;
  We saw thee by thine own sweet light.
      Chorus. We saw thee, &c.

  Tityrus.  “Poor world,” said I, “what wilt thou do
    To entertain this starry stranger? 
  Is this the best thou canst bestow—­
    A cold and not too cleanly manger? 
  Contend, the powers of heaven and earth,
  To fit a bed for this huge birth.”
      Chorus. Contend, the powers, &c.

  Thyrsis.  “Proud world,” said I, “cease your contest,
    And let the mighty babe alone: 
  The phoenix builds the phoenix’ nest—­
    Love’s architecture is his own. 
  The babe, whose birth embraves this morn,
  Made his own bed ere he was born.”
      Chorus. The babe, whose birth, &c.

  Tityrus.  I saw the curl’d drops, soft and slow,
    Come hovering o’er the place’s head,
  Offering their whitest sheets of snow
    To furnish the fair infant’s bed: 
  “Forbear,” said I; “be not too bold: 
  Your fleece is white, but ’tis too cold.”
      Chorus. “Forbear,” said I, &c.

  Thyrsis.  I saw the obsequious seraphim
    Their rosy fleece of fire bestow;
  For well they now can spare their wings,
    Since heaven itself lies here below. 
  “Well done,” said I; “but are you sure
  Your down, so warm, will pass for pure?”
      Chorus. “Well done,” said I, &c.

* * * * *

  Full Chorus.  Welcome all wonders in one sight! 
    Eternity shut in a span! 
  Summer in winter! day in night! 
    Heaven in earth, and God in man! 
  Great little one, whose all-embracing birth
  Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth!

* * * * *