In The Holy Nativity Of Our Lord Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBCC DEFEGH IBIBJKA ALALAAA AAA MAMAAAA AAN OLPLBBA QRSRTTA TTA OUOUVVA VVA SWSWXXA XXA ASASYYA YYA ZWZWAAA AAN OLPLBBA BBA BA2BA2TT B2AB2ARR AAAAC2C2 AWAWD2D2 EAEAAA

CHORUSA
Come we shepherds whose blest sightB
Hath met love's noon in nature's nightB
Come lift we up our loftier songC
And wake the sun that lies too longC
-
To all our world of well stol'n joyD
He slept and dreamt of no such thingE
While we found out heav'n's fairer eyeF
And kiss'd the cradle of our KingE
Tell him he rises now too lateG
To show us aught worth looking atH
-
Tell him we now can show him moreI
Than he e'er show'd to mortal sightB
Than he himself e'er saw beforeI
Which to be seen needs not his lightB
Tell him Tityrus where th' hast beenJ
Tell him Thyrsis what th' hast seenK
TITYRUSA
-
Gloomy night embrac'd the placeA
Where the Noble Infant layL
The Babe look'd up and show'd his faceA
In spite of darkness it was dayL
It was thy day Sweet and did riseA
Not from the east but from thine eyesA
CHORUSA
-
It was thy day Sweet and did riseA
Not from the east but from thine eyesA
THYRSISA
-
Winter chid aloud and sentM
The angry North to wage his warsA
The North forgot his fierce intentM
And left perfumes instead of scarsA
By those sweet eyes' persuasive pow'rsA
Where he meant frost he scatter'd flow'rsA
CHORUSA
-
By those sweet eyes' persuasive pow'rsA
Where he meant frost he scatter'd flow'rsA
BOTHN
-
We saw thee in thy balmy nestO
Young dawn of our eternal dayL
We saw thine eyes break from their eastP
And chase the trembling shades awayL
We saw thee and we bless'd the sightB
We saw thee by thine own sweet lightB
TITYRUSA
-
Poor World said I what wilt thou doQ
To entertain this starry strangerR
Is this the best thou canst bestowS
A cold and not too cleanly mangerR
Contend ye powers of heav'n and earthT
To fit a bed for this huge birthT
CHORUSA
-
Contend ye powers of heav'n and earthT
To fit a bed for this huge birthT
THYRSISA
-
Proud World said I cease your contestO
And let the Mighty Babe aloneU
The ph oe nix builds the ph oe nix' nestO
Love's architecture is his ownU
The Babe whose birth embraves this mornV
Made his own bed ere he was bornV
CHORUSA
-
The Babe whose birth embraves this mornV
Made his own bed ere he was bornV
TITYRUSA
-
I saw the curl'd drops soft and slowS
Come hovering o'er the place's headW
Off'ring their whitest sheets of snowS
To furnish the fair Infant's bedW
Forbear said I be not too boldX
Your fleece is white but 'tis too coldX
CHORUSA
-
Forbear said I be not too boldX
Your fleece is white but 'tis too coldX
THYRSISA
-
I saw the obsequious SeraphimsA
Their rosy fleece of fire bestowS
For well they now can spare their wingsA
Since Heav'n itself lies here belowS
Well done said I but are you sureY
Your down so warm will pass for pureY
CHORUSA
-
Well done said I but are you sureY
Your down so warm will pass for pureY
TITYRUSA
-
No no your King's not yet to seekZ
Where to repose his royal headW
See see how soon his new bloom'd cheekZ
'Twixt's mother's breasts is gone to bedW
Sweet choice said we no way but soA
Not to lie cold yet sleep in snowA
CHORUSA
-
Sweet choice said we no way but soA
Not to lie cold yet sleep in snowA
BOTHN
-
We saw thee in thy balmy nestO
Bright dawn of our eternal dayL
We saw thine eyes break from their eastP
And chase the trembling shades awayL
We saw thee and we bless'd the sightB
We saw thee by thine own sweet lightB
CHORUSA
-
We saw thee and we bless'd the sightB
We saw thee by thine own sweet lightB
FULL CHORUSA
-
Welcome all wonders in one sightB
Eternity shut in a spanA2
Summer in winter day in nightB
Heaven in earth and God in manA2
Great little one whose all embracing birthT
Lifts earth to heaven stoops heav'n to earthT
-
Welcome though nor to gold nor silkB2
To more than C ae sar's birthright isA
Two sister seas of virgin milkB2
With many a rarely temper'd kissA
That breathes at once both maid and motherR
Warms in the one cools in the otherR
-
Welcome though not to those gay fliesA
Gilded i' th' beams of earthly kingsA
Slippery souls in smiling eyesA
But to poor shepherds homespun thingsA
Whose wealth's their flock whose wit to beC2
Well read in their simplicityC2
-
Yet when young April's husband show'rsA
Shall bless the fruitful Maia's bedW
We'll bring the first born of her flow'rsA
To kiss thy feet and crown thy headW
To thee dread Lamb whose love must keepD2
The shepherds more than they the sheepD2
-
To thee meek Majesty soft KingE
Of simple graces and sweet lovesA
Each of us his lamb will bringE
Each his pair of silver dovesA
Till burnt at last in fire of thy fair eyesA
Ourselves become our own best sacrificeA

Richard Crashaw



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