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'Twas a child that so did thrive

In grace and feature,

As Heaven and Nature seem'd to strive
Which own'd the creature.

Years he number'd scarce thirteen
When Fates turn'd cruel,

Yet three fill'd zodiacs had he been
The stage's jewel;

And did act (what now we moan)
Old men so duly,

As sooth the Parcae thought him one,
He played so truly.

So, by error, to his fate

They all consented;

But, viewing him since, alas, too late!
They have repented;

And have sought, to give new birth,
In baths to steep him ;

But, being so much too good for earth,
Heaven vows to keep him.

CCCXXVIII

B. Jonson.

ON THE LADY MARY VILLIERS

THE Lady Mary Villiers lies

Under this stone; with weeping eyes
The parents that first gave her birth,
And their sad friends, laid her in earth.

EPITAPHS

If any of them, Reader, were
Known unto thee, shed a tear;
Or if thyself possess a gem
As dear to thee, as this to them,
Though a stranger to this place,
Bewail in theirs thine own hard case:
For thou perhaps at thy return
May'st find thy Darling in an urn.

295

T. Carew.

CCCXXIX

UPON A CHILD THAT DIED

HERE she lies, a pretty bud,
Lately made of flesh and blood:
Who as soon fell fast asleep
As her little eyes did peep.
Give her strewings, but not stir

The earth that lightly covers her.

Herrick.

CCCXXX

ANOTHER

HERE a pretty baby lies
Sung asleep with lullabies :
Pray be silent and not stir

Th' easy earth that covers her.

Herrick.

CCCXXXI

THE BURNING BABE

As I in hoary winter's night
Stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised was I with sudden heat
Which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye

To view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright
Did in the air appear;

Who, scorched with excessive heat,

Such floods of tears did shed

As though His floods should quench His flames,

Which with His tears were fed :

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'Alas!' quoth He, but newly born

In fiery heats I fry,

Yet none approach to warm their hearts Or feel my fire but I !

'My faultless breast the furnace is ;
The fuel, wounding thorns;
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke ;
The ashes, shames and scorns ;

The fuel Justice layeth on,

And Mercy blows the coals,

The metal in this furnace wrought

Are men's defilèd souls :

A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY SAVIOUR 297

For which, as now on fire I am
To work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath,

To wash them in my

blood.'

With this He vanish'd out of sight

And swiftly shrunk away,

And straight I called unto mind

That it was Christmas Day.

CCCXXXII

R. Southwell.

A HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY
SAVIOUR

I SING the Birth was born to-night,
The Author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravish'd shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet search'd, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th' eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,

And freed the soul from danger;

He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

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The Father's wisdom will'd it so,
The Son's obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature ;
And as that wisdom hath decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on him our nature.

What comfort by him do we win,
Who made himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!

To see this Babe, all innocence;
A martyr born in our defence;
Can man forget this story?

B. Jonson.

CCCXXXIII

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

CHORUS

WHAT Sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol for to sing

The birth of this our Heavenly King?
Awake the voice! awake the string!
Heart, ear, and eye, and everything
Awake! the while the active finger
Runs division with the singer.

From the Flourish they came to the Song.
1. Dark and dull night fly hence away!
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turn'd to May.

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