This is the King of Israel,
  Of all in Gentile lands that dwell: 
  The King to Abram and his seed
  Throughout all ages erst decreed.

  To him ’twas given his progeny
  As stars innumerous to see: 
  First of believers! moved to slay
  His only son, so God to obey.

  Behold the Flower of David shine,
  Of Jesse’s root the Branch benign: 
  The sceptre spread with blossoms rare
  Wields o’er the world its lordship fair.

  Roused by the portent of the sky
  The sages fix their gaze on high,
  And speed them ’neath the furrowed way
  Marked by the star’s effulgent ray.

  At length its flaming steps it stayed
  Poised over where the Child was laid: 
  Straightway with downcast mien it shed
  Its splendours on the sacred Head.

  Whereat the travellers outpour
  Of Eastern gifts their treasure-store,
  Myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense,
  Gold meet for regal opulence.

  Behold herein the triple sign
  Of Thy pure being, King divine: 
  Seeing the Father willed in Thee
  To plant a threefold majesty.

  The gift of gold thee King proclaims: 
  Thee God the fragrant incense names: 
  The myrrh declares that Death shall thrust
  Within the tomb Thy body’s dust.

  Ah! that dark sepulchre, whose fold
  God’s body quenched in death doth hold: 
  Yet shall He from that durance wake
  And Death’s strong prison-fetters break.

  O Bethlehem! no longer thou
  The least of cities:  all shall vow
  That thou art greatest on the earth: 
  For thou man’s King didst bring to birth.

  Yea thou didst on thy bosom bear
  The All-loving Father’s only heir: 
  Man of the Thunderer’s Spirit made
  And God in human flesh arrayed.

  The prophets witnessed to the bond
  Which sealed to Him the realm profound: 
  The Father’s Kingdom He received
  And the vast legacy perceived.

  All things are His in sea and sky,
  In hell beneath, in heaven on high: 
  From East to setting sun, in fee
  He holds the earth’s immensity.

  Distraught, the tyrant base doth hear
  That now the King of Kings draws near
  To reign in David’s seat of state
  And Israel’s empire dominate.

  “Betrayed are we,” he maddened cries,
  “Our throne’s usurper doth arise: 
  Go, soldiers, go with sword in hand
  And slay all babes within my land.

  “Spare no male child:  each nurse’s robe
  Your scrutinizing steel must probe: 
  Spare not the suckling infant, though
  O’er mother’s breast its life-blood flow.

  “On Bethlehem our suspicion falls,
  On every hearth within its walls: 
  Lest mothers with love’s tender zeal
  Some manly scion may conceal.”

  With daggers drawn the infuriate crew
  Upon their murderous errand flew: 
  Each latest offspring of the womb
  To bloody death they foully doom.