To kings and kindly shepherd men,
And dog, and sheep that turn again,
Of His sweet countenance full fain,

Be health and full increase,

THE ANGELS SINGING

Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi

Propter magnam gloriam tuam.

There lay the Baby King,
Holy and undefiled;

The earth can show no sweeter thing
Than a little child.

A flower is fine and sweet,
And sweet is a bird,

But sweeter far from head to feet

Was the Baby Lord.

A lamb is very meek,

And pure is a dove;

The Lamb of God was small and weak,

All purity above.

Most blessed was she

Who had Him for her own;

Who rocked Him on her tender knee,

Whose bosom was His throne.

Right blessed she was

Who fed him at her breast,

And while the nine sweet months did pass,

Made for Him a nest.

THE PRESENTATION IN THE

TEMPLE

For Him was offered up

A pair of doves, whose harmless veins Should brim His sacrificial cup And wash away His stains.

His stains, withouten spot,

All golden pure from head to feet; The doves in binding meshes caught, Of Him were emblems meet.

Yea, for His mother's blame

In bearing Him, the doves were given. O thou who takest away Eve's shame, And openest gates of heaven!

Is't thus thou comest, sweet,

So lowly with thy glories dim? They cannot see from head to feetGod's light wrap thee and Him.