按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care；
In hopes that St。 Nicholas soon would be there；
The children were nestled all snug in their beds；
While visions of sugar…plums danced in their heads；
And mamma in her 'kerchief； and I in my cap；
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap；
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter；
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter。
Away to the window I flew like a flash；
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash。
The moon on the breast of the new…fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid…day to objects below；
When； what to my wondering eyes should appear；
But a miniature sleigh； and eight tiny reindeer；
With a little old driver； so lively and quick；
I knew in a moment it must be St。 Nick。
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came；
And he whistled； and shouted； and called them by name；
〃Now； Dasher！ now； Dancer！ now； Prancer and Vixen！
On； Comet！ on Cupid！ on； Donder and Blitzen！
To the top of the porch！ to the top of the wall！
Now dash away！ dash away！ dash away all！〃
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly；
When they meet with an obstacle； mount to the sky；
So up to the house…top the coursers they flew；
With the sleigh full of toys； and St。 Nicholas too。
And then； in a twinkling； I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof。
As I drew in my head； and was turning around；
Down the chimney St。 Nicholas came with a bound。
He was dressed all in fur； from his head to his foot；
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot；
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back；
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack。
His eyes … how they twinkled！ his dimples how merry！
His cheeks were like roses； his nose like a cherry！
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow；
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow；
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth；
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath；
He had a broad face and a little round belly；
That shook； when he laughed； like a bowlful of jelly。
He was chubby and plump； a right jolly old elf；
And I laughed when I saw him； in spite of myself；
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head；
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread；
He spoke not a word； but went straight to his work；
And filled all the stockings； then turned with a jerk；
And laying his finger aside of his nose；
And giving a nod； up the chimney he rose；
He sprang to his sleigh； to his team gave a whistle；
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle。
But I heard him exclaim； ere he drove out of sight；
〃Happy Christmas to all； and to all a good…night。〃
Clement Clarke Moore ＇1779…1863＇
CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS
Come； bring with a noise；
My merry； merry boys；
The Christmas log to the firing；
While my good dame； she
Bids ye all be free；
And drink to your hearts' desiring。
With the last year's brand
Light the new block； and
For good success in his spending；
On your psaltries play；
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a…tending。
Drink now the strong beer；
Cut the white loaf here；
The while the meat is a…shredding；
For the rare mince…pie
And the plums stand by
To fill the paste that's a…kneading。
Robert Herrick ＇1591…1674＇
ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY
This is the month； and this the happy morn
Wherein the Son of Heaven's Eternal King；
Of wedded maid and virgin mother born；
Our great redemption from above did bring；
For so the holy sages once did sing
That he our deadly forfeit should release；
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace。
That glorious Form； that Light unsufferable；
And that far…beaming blaze of Majesty
Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council…ta
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity；
He laid aside； and； here with us to be；
Forsook the courts of everlasting day；
And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay。
Say； Heavenly Muse； shall not thy sacred vein
Afford a present to the Infant God？
Hast thou no verse； no hymn； or solemn strain
To welcome him to this his new abode；
Now while the heaven； by the sun's team untrod；
Hath took no print of the approaching light；
And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright？
See how from far； upon the eastern road；
The star…led wizards haste with odors sweet！
O run； prevent them with thy humble ode
And lay it lowly at his blessed feet；
Have thou the honor first thy Lord to greet；
And join thy voice unto the angel choir
From out his secret altar touched with hallowed fire。
THE HYMN
It was the winter wild
While the heaven…born Child
All meanly wrapped in the rude manger lies；
Nature in awe to Him
Had doffed her gaudy trim；
With her great Master so to sympathize：
It was no season then for her
To wanton with the sun； her lusty paramour。
Only with speeches fair
She woos the gentle air
To hide her guilty front with innocent snow；
And on her naked shame；
Pollute with sinful blame；
The saintly veil of maiden white to throw；
Confounded； that her Maker's eyes
Should look so near upon her foul deformities。
But he； her fears to cease；
Sent down the meek…eyed Peace；
She； crowned with olive green； came softly sliding
Down through the turning sphere；
His ready harbinger；
With turtle wing and amorous clouds dividing；
And waving wide her myrtle wand；
She strikes a universal peace through sea and land。
No war； or battle's sound
Was heard the world around：
The idle spear and shield were high uphung；
The hooked chariot stood
Unstained with hostile blood；
The trumpet spake not to the armed throng；
And kings sat still with awful eye；
As if they surely knew their sovereign Lord was by。
But peaceful was the night
Wherein the Prince of Light
His reign of peace upon the earth began：
The winds； with wonder whist；
Smoothly the waters kissed；
Whispering new joys to the mild ocean …
Who now hath quite forgot to rave；
While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave。
The stars； with deep amaze；
Stand fixed in steadfast gaze；
Bending one way their precious influence；
And will not take their flight
For all the morning light；
Or Lucifer that often warned them thence；
But in their glimmering orbs did glow
Until their Lord himself bespake； and bid them go。
And though the shady gloom
Had given day her room；
The sun himself withheld his wonted speed；
And hid his head for shame；
As his inferior flame
The new…enlightened world no more should need；
He saw a greater Sun appear
Than his bright throne； or burning axletree； could bear。
The shepherds on the lawn
Or ere the point of dawn
Sat simply chatting in a rustic row；
Full little thought they then
That the mighty Pan
Was kindly come to live with them below；
Perhaps their loves； or else their sheep；
Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy kee