. Select Minor Poems of John Milton . lay. 1 71, 74. 2 96^ 97, 57 58 MINOR POEMS. m. Say,* Heavenly Muse/ shall not thy sacred vein 15 Afford a present to the Infant God ?Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strainTo welcome him to this his new abode,Now while the heaven, by the Suns team - untrod,Hath took no print of the approaching light, 20 And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright ? See how from far, upon the eastern star-led wizards haste with odours sweet;O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,And lay it lowly at his blessed feet! 25 Have thou the honour first
. Select Minor Poems of John Milton . lay. 1 71, 74. 2 96^ 97, 57 58 MINOR POEMS. m. Say,* Heavenly Muse/ shall not thy sacred vein 15 Afford a present to the Infant God ?Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strainTo welcome him to this his new abode,Now while the heaven, by the Suns team - untrod,Hath took no print of the approaching light, 20 And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright ? See how from far, upon the eastern star-led wizards haste with odours sweet;O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,And lay it lowly at his blessed feet! 25 Have thou the honour first thy Lord to join thy voice unto the angel quire,From out his secret altar touched with hallowed fire. THE HYMN. I. It was the winter wild, While the Heaven-born Child 30 All meanly wrapped in the rude manger lies;Nature in awe to himHad doffed her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize :It was no season then for her 35 To wanton with the Sun, her lusty paramour. J 36. 2 3g^ 21. * P. L. I. 6. * <- ^ ^ t ^ ? I. HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 59 II. Only with speeches fairShe woos the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow,And on her naked shame, 40 Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly veil of maiden white to throw;Confounded, that her Makers eyesShould look so near upon her foul deformities. III. But he, her fears to cease, 45 Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crowned with olive green, came softly slidingDown through the turning sphere,^His ready harbinger. With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; 50 And, waving wide her myrtle wand,She strikes a universal peace through sea and land. IV. No war or battles soundWas heard the world around : The idle spear and shield were high uphung, 55 The hooked chariot stoodUnstained with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng;And kings sat still with awful eye,As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60 9, 10. 6o MINOR POEMS. But peaceful was the nightWherein the Prince of Ligh
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