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XIV
Alas； alas for Hamelin！
There came into many a burgher's pate
A text which says that heaven's gate
Opes to the rich at as easy rate
As the needle's eye takes a camel in！
The Mayor sent East； West； North and South；
To offer the Piper； by word of mouth；
Wherever it was men's lot to find him；
Silver and gold to his heart's content；
If he'd only return the way he went；
And bring the children behind him。
But when they saw 'twas a lost endeavor；
And piper and dancers were gone forever；
They made a decree that lawyers never
Should think their records dated duly
If； after the day of the month and year；
These words did not as well appear；
〃And so long after what happened here
On the Twenty…second of July；
Thirteen hundred and seventy…six：〃
And the better in memory to fix
The place of the children's last retreat；
They called it； the Pied Piper's Street …
Where any one playing on pipe or tabor
Was sure for the future to lose his labor。
Nor suffered they hostlery or tavern
To shock with mirth a street so solemn；
But opposite the place of the cavern
They wrote the story on a column；
And on the great church…window painted
The same； to make the world acquainted
How their children were stolen away；
And there it stands to this very day。
And I must not omit to say
That in Transylvania there's a tribe
Of alien people who ascribe
The outlandish ways and dress
On which their neighbors lay such stress；
To their fathers and mothers having risen
Out of some subterraneous prison
Into which they were trepanned
Long time ago in a mighty band
Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land；
But how or why； they don't understand。
XV
So； Willy； let me and you be wipers
Of scores out with all men … especially pipers！
And； whether they pipe us free from rats or from mice；
If we've promised them aught； let us keep our promise！
Robert Browning ＇1812…1889＇
THE GLAD EVANGEL
A CAROL
He came all so still
Where His mother was；
As dew in April
That falleth on the grass。
He came all so still
Where His mother lay；
As dew in April
That falleth on the spray。
He came all so still
To His mother's bower；
As dew in April
That falleth on the flower。
Mother and maiden
Was never none but she！
Well might such a lady
God's mother be。
Unknown
〃GOD REST YOU MERRY； GENTLEMEN〃
God rest you merry； gentlemen；
Let nothing you dismay；
For Jesus Christ； our Saviour；
Was born upon this day；
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray。
O tidings of comfort and joy！
For Jesus Christ； our Saviour；
Was born on Christmas Day。
In Bethlehem； in Jewry；
This blessed babe was born；
And laid within a manger；
Upon this blessed morn；
The which His mother； Mary；
Nothing did take in scorn。
From God our Heavenly Father；
A blessed angel came；
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same：
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name。
〃Fear not；〃 then said the angel；
〃Let nothing you affright；
This day is born a Saviour
Of virtue； power； and might；
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite。〃
The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind；
And left their flocks a…feeding
In tempest； storm； and wind；
And went to Bethlehem straightway；
This blessed babe to find。
But when to Bethlehem they came；
Whereat this infant lay；
They found Him in a manger；
Where oxen feed on hay；
His mother Mary kneeling；
Unto the Lord did pray。
Now to the Lord sing praises；
All you within this place；
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace；
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface。
O tidings of comfort and joy！
For Jesus Christ； our Saviour；
Was born in Christmas Day。
Unknown
〃O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM〃
O little town of Bethlehem；
How still we see thee lie！
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by；
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light；
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to…night。
For Christ is born of Mary；
And； gathered all above；
While mortals sleep； the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love。
O morning stars； together
Proclaim the holy birth！
And praises sing to God the King；
And peace to men on earth。
How silently； how silently；
The wondrous gift is given！
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven。
No ear may hear His coming；
But in this world of sin；
Where meek souls will receive Him still；
The dear Christ enters in。
O holy Child of Bethlehem！
Descend to us； we pray；
Cast out our sin； and enter in；
Be born in us to…day。
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell；
Oh come to us； abide with us；
Our Lord Emmanuel！
Phillips Brooks ＇1835…1893＇
A CHRISTMAS HYMN
Old Style： 1837
It was the calm and silent night！
Seven hundred years and fifty…three
Had Rome been growing up to might；
And now was Queen of land and sea。
No sound was heard of clashing wars；
Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain；
Apollo； Pallas； Jove and Mars；
Held undisturbed their ancient reign；
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago。
'Twas in the calm and silent night！
The senator of haughty Rome
Impatient urged his chariot's flight；
From lordly revel rolling home。
Triumphal arches gleaming swell
His breast with thoughts of boundless sway；
What recked the Roman what befell
A paltry province far away；
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago！
Within that province far away
Went plodding home a weary boor：
A streak of light before him lay；
Fall'n through a half…shut stable door
Across his path。 He passed … for naught
Told what was going on within；
How keen the stars！ his only thought；
The air how calm and cold and thin；
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago！
O strange indifference！ … low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares：
The earth was still … but knew not why；
The world was listening … unawares。
How calm a moment may precede
One that shall thrill the world for ever！
To that still moment none would heed；
Man's doom was linked； no more to sever；
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago。
It is the calm and solemn night！
A thousand bells ring out； and throw
Their joyous peals abroad； and smite
The darkness； charmed and holy now。
The night that erst no name had worn；
To it a happy name is given；
For in that stable lay new…born
The peaceful Prince of Earth and Heaven；
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago。
Alfred Domett ＇1811…1887＇
〃WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT〃
While shepherds watched their flocks by night；
All seated on the ground；
The angel of the Lord came down；
And glory shone around。
〃Fea