I. The shepherds went their hasty way, And found the lowly stable-shed Where the Virgin-Mother lay: And now they checked their eager tread, For to the Babe, that at her bosom clung, A Mother's song the Virgin-Mother sung.
II. They told her how a glorious light, Streaming from a heavenly throng. Around them shone, suspending night! While sweeter than a mother's song, Blest Angels heralded the Savior's birth, Glory to God on high! and Peace on Earth.
III. She listened to the tale divine, And closer still the Babe she pressed: And while she cried, the Babe is mine! The milk rushed faster to her breast: Joy rose within her, like a summer's morn; Peace, Peace on Earth! the Prince of Peace is born.
IV. Thou Mother of the Prince of Peace, Poor, simple, and of low estate! That strife should vanish, battle cease, O why should this thy soul elate? Sweet Music's loudest note, the Poet's story, Didst thou ne'er love to hear of fame and glory?
V. And is not War a youthful king, A stately Hero clad in mail? Beneath his footsteps laurels spring; Him Earth's majestic monarchs hail Their friends, their playmate! and his bold bright eye Compels the maiden's love-confessing sigh.
VI. Tell this in some more courtly scene, To maids and youths in robes of state! I am a woman poor and mean, And wherefore is my soul elate. War is a ruffian, all with guilt defiled, That from the aged father's tears his child!
VII. A murderous fiend, by fiends adored, He kills the sire and starves the son; The husband kills, and from her board Steals all his widow's toil had won; Plunders God's world of beauty; rends away All safety from the night, all comfort from the day.
VIII. Then wisely is my soul elate, That strife should vanish, battle cease: I'm poor and of low estate, The Mother of the Prince of Peace. Joy rises in me, like a summer's morn: Peace, Peace on Earth! The Prince of Peace is born!
A Day Dream
My eyes make pictures when they're shut:-- I see a fountain large and fair, A Willow and a ruined Hut, And thee, and me, and Mary there. O Mary! make thy gentle lap our pillow! Bend o'er us, like a bower, my beautiful green Willow!
A wild-rose roofs the ruined shed, And that and summer well agree And lo! where Mary leans her head, Two dear names carved upon the tree! And Mary's tears, they are not tears of sorrow: Our sister and our friend will both be here to-morrow.
'Twas Day! But now few, large, and bright The stars are round the crescent moon! And now it is a dark warm Night, The balmiest of the month of June! A glow-worm fallen, and on the marge remounting Shines, and its shadow shines, fit stars for our sweet fountain.
O ever -- ever be thou blest! For dearly, Asra! love I thee! This brooding warmth across my breast, This depth of tranquil bliss -- ah me! Fount, Tree, and Shed are gone, I know not whither, But in one quiet room we three are still together.
The shadows dance upon the wall, By the still dancing fire-flames made; And now they slumber, moveless all! And now they melt to one deep shade! But not from me shall this mild darkness steal thee: I dream thee with mine eyes, and at my heart I feel thee!
Thine eyelash on my cheek doth play-- 'Tis Mary's hand upon my brow! But let me check this tender lay, Which none may hear but she and thou! Like the still hive at quiet midnight humming, Murmur it to yourselves, ye two beloved women!
A Mathematical Problem
This is now--this was erst, Proposition the first--and Problem the first.
I. On a given finite Line Which must no way incline; To describe an equi-- --lateral Tri-- --A, N, G, L, E. Now let A. B. Be the given line Which must no way incline; The great Mathematician Makes this Requisition, That we describe an Equi-- --lateral Tri-- --angle on it: Aid us, Reason--aid us, Wit!
II. From the centre A. at the distance A. B. Describe the circle B. C. D. At the distance B. A. from B. the centre The round A. C. E. to describe boldly venture. (Third Postulate see.) And from the point C. In which the circles make a pother Cutting and slashing one another, Bid the straight lines a journeying go, C. A., C. B. those lines will show. To the points, which by A. B. are reckon'd, And postulate the second For Authority ye know. A. B. C. Triumphant shall be An Equilateral Triangle, Not Peter Pindar carp, not Zoilus can wrangle.
III. Because the point A. is the centre Of the circular B. C. D. And because the point B. is the centre Of the circular A. C. E. A. C. to A. B. and B. C. to B. A. Harmoniously equal for ever must stay; Then C. A. and B. C. Both extend the kind hand To the basis, A. B. Unambitiously join'd in Equality's Band. But to the same powers, when two powers are equal, My mind forbodes the sequel; My mind does some celestial impulse teach, And equalises each to each. Thus C. A. with B. C. strikes the same sure alliance, That C. A. and B. C. had with A. B. before; And in mutual affiance, None attempting to soar Above another, The unanimous three C. A. and B. C. and A. B. All are equal, each to his brother, Preserving the balance of power so true: Ah! the like would the proud Autocratorix do! At taxes impending not Britain would tremble, Nor Prussia struggle her fear to dissemble; Nor the Mah'met-sprung Wight, The great Mussulman Would stain his Divan With Urine the soft-flowing daughter of Fright.
IV. But rein your stallion in, too daring Nine! Should Empires bloat the scientific line? Or with dishevell'd hair all madly do ye run For transport that your task is done? For done it is--the cause is tried! And Proposition, gentle Maid, Who soothly ask'd stern Demonstration's aid, Has prov'd her right, and A. B. C. Of Angles three Is shown to be of equal side; And now our weary steed to rest in fine, 'Tis rais'd upon A. B. the straight, the given line.
