The Birth Of Christ
: CELEBRATIONALFRED TENNYSON
The time draws near the birth of Christ;
The moon is hid--the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.
Four voices of four hamlets round,
From far and near, on mead and moor,
Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound.
Each voice four changes on the wind,
That now dilate and now decrease,
Peace and good-will, good-will and peace,
Peace and good-will to all mankind.
Rise, happy morn! rise, holy morn!
Draw forth the cheerful day from night;
O Father! touch the east, and light
The light that shone when hope was born!
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Hymn For The Nativity
EDWARD THRING Happy night and happy silence downward softly stealing, Softly stealing over land and sea, Stars from golden censors swing a silent eager feeling Down on Judah, down on Galilee; And all the wistful air, ... Hymn On The Nativity
JOHN MILTON It was the winter wild, While the heaven-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature, in awe of him, Had doffed her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no s... In Excelsis Gloria
When Christ was born of Mary free, In Bethlehem, in that fair citie, Angels sang there with mirth and glee, _In Excelsis Gloria!_ Herdsmen beheld these angels bright, To them appearing with great light, Who sai... Mark Well My Heavy Doleful Tale
ANONYMOUS Mark well my heavy doleful tale, For Twelfth-day now is come, And now I must no longer sing, And say no words but mum; For I perforce must take my leave Of all my dainty cheer, Plum-porridge, roa... Masters In This Hall
ANONYMOUS To Bethlem did they go, the shepherds three; To Bethlem did they go to see whe'r it were so or no, Whether Christ were born or no To set men free. Masters, in this hall, Hear ye news to-day ... Merry Christmas
ANON In the rush of the merry morning, When the red burns through the gray, And the wintry world lies waiting For the glory of the day; Then we hear a fitful rushing Just without upon the stair, See two wh... Minstrels And Maids
WILLIAM MORRIS Outlanders, whence come ye last? _The snow in the street and the wind on the door._ Through what green seas and great have ye past? _Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._ From far away, O ma... Neighbors Of The Christ Night
NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH Deep in the shelter of the cave, The ass with drooping head Stood weary in the shadow, where His master's hand had led. About the manger oxen lay, Bending a wide-eyed gaze Upon the lit... New Prince New Pomp
ROBERT SOUTHWELL Behold a simple, tender Babe, In freezing winter night, In homely manger trembling lies; Alas! a piteous sight. The inns are full; no man will yield This little Pilgrim bed; But forced h... O Little Town Of Bethlehem
PHILLIPS BROOKS O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears ... Old Christmas Returned
All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined, Come here is good news for to pleasure your mind, Old Christmas is come for to keep open house, He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse: Then come, boys, and welcome for diet t... Santa Claus
ANON He comes in the night! He comes in the night! He softly, silently comes; While the little brown heads on the pillows so white Are dreaming of bugles and drums. He cuts through the snow like a ship through the foa... Sery
RICHARD WATSON GILDER With wild surprise Four great eyes In two small heads, From neighboring beds Looked out--and winked-- And glittered and blinked At a very queer sight In the dim starlight. As pl... Sly Santa Claus
MRS. C.S. STONE All the house was asleep, And the fire burning low, When, from far up the chimney, Came down a Ho! ho! And a little, round man, With a terrible scratching, Dropped into the room With... So Now Is Come Our Joyfulst Feast
GEORGE WITHER So, now is come our joyfulst feast, Let every man be jolly; Each room with ivy leaves is drest, And every post with holly. Though some churls at our mirth repine, Round your foreheads garlands twine... Song Of The Holly
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Blow, blow thou winter wind-- Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude! Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude. He... The Adoration Of The Wise Men
CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER Saw you never in the twilight, When the sun had left the skies, Up in heaven the clear stars shining, Through the gloom like silver eyes? So of old the wise men watching, Saw a little st... The Angels
WILLIAM DRUMMOND Run, shepherds, run where Bethlehem blest appears. We bring the best of news; be not dismayed: A Saviour there is born more old than years, Amidst heaven's rolling height this earth who stayed. In a poo... The Birth Of Christ
ALFRED TENNYSON The time draws near the birth of Christ; The moon is hid--the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist. Four voices of four hamlets round, From far a... The Boar's Head Carol
(Sung at Queen's College, Oxford.) The boar's head in hand bear I, Bedecked with bays and rosemary; And I pray you, my masters, be merry, Quot estis in convivio. _Caput apri defero Reddens laudes domino._ ... The Ceremonies For Christmas Day
ROBERT HERRICK Kindle the Christmas brand, and then Till sunset let it burn; Which quench'd, then lay it up again Till Christmas next return. Part must be kept wherewith to teend The Christmas log next year, ... The Christmas Carol
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH The minstrels played their Christmas tune To-night beneath my cottage eaves; While, smitten by a lofty moon, The encircling laurels, thick with leaves, Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen That ... The Christmas Fires
ANNE P.L. FIELD The Christmas fires brightly gleam And dance among the holly boughs, The Christmas pudding's spicy steam With fragrance fills the house, While merry grows each friendly soul Over the foaming wassa... The Christmas Holly
ELIZA COOK The holly! the holly! oh, twine it with bay-- Come give the holly a song; For it helps to drive stern winter away, With his garment so sombre and long; It peeps through the trees with its berries of red, ... The Christmas Silence
MARGARET DELAND Hushed are the pigeons cooing low On dusty rafters of the loft; And mild-eyed oxen, breathing soft, Sleep on the fragrant hay below. Dim shadows in the corner hide; The glimmering lantern's ra... The End Of The Play
WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY The play is done--the curtain drops, Slow-falling to the prompter's bell: A moment yet the actor stops, And looks around, to say farewell. It is an irksome word and task; And, when h... The Glad Evangel
KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN When the Child of Nazareth was born, the sun, according to the Bosnian legend, leaped in the heavens, and the stars around it danced. A peace came over mountain and forest. Even the rotten stump stood straight and healthy ... The Glorious Song Of Old
EDMUND H. SEARS It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold, Peace on the earth, good-will to men, From heaven's all-gracious King... The Knighting Of The Sirloin Of Beef By Charles The Second
ANON The Second Charles of England Rode forth one Christmas tide, To hunt a gallant stag of ten, Of Chingford woods the pride. The winds blew keen, the snow fell fast, And made for earth a pall, As tired... The Mahogany-tree
WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY Christmas is here; Winds whistle shrill, Icy and chill, Little care we; Little we fear Weather without, Sheltered about The Mahogany-Tree. Once on the boughs Birds of... The Newest Thing In Christmas Carols
ANONYMOUS God rest you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay; Not even the dyspeptic plats Through which you'll eat your way; Nor yet the heavy Christmas bills The season bids you pay; No, nor the ever ... The Night After Christmas
ANNE P.L. FIELD Twas the night after Christmas in Santa-Claus land And to rest from his labors St. Nicholas planned. The reindeer were turned out to pasture and all The ten thousand assistants discharged till the fall. Th... The Shepherd's Song
EDMUND BOLTON Sweet music, sweeter far Than any song is sweet: Sweet music, heavenly rare, Mine ears, O peers, doth greet. You gentle flocks, whose fleeces pearled with dew, Resemble heaven, who... The Shepherds
WILLIAM DRUMMOND, OF HAWTHORNDEN O than the fairest day, thrice fairer night! Night to blest days in which a sun doth rise Of which that golden eye which clears the skies Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow-light! And bl... The Shepherds In Judea
MARY AUSTIN Oh, the Shepherds in Judea, They are pacing to and fro, For the air grows chill at twilight And the weanling lambs are slow! Leave, O lambs, the dripping sedges, quit the bramble and the ... The Three Kings
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Three Kings came riding from far away, Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar; Three Wise Men out of the East were they, And they traveled by night and they slept by day, For their guide was a bea...