The record-union., 1891-03-08
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
From Edwin Arnold's New Poem "rhe ii.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
IRON Edwin Arnold's New Poem. .rrhe Light
OF the World.';l
Whst N;nS was it that ye heard? the wind OF
Playing IN cheating tones. with touches light.
1N'hn5t I' une palm-plumes? or, one stop out
! or planetary music so far flown
Earthwards, that To those innocent ears twas
WHICH beat the mighty measure to their
Or, iaply. from breast-shaped Bcth-H -Haccarem.
Inc hill OF Herod, some watt sent TO them
~ ~ storlhin9 drums and trumps, at festival
HE'D In the ldulnu aa's purple hall?
or, 1T may be, some AraInaic song
OF country lovers. after parting longa
Msce.lng sa,. anew, vita much sood-wil'' indeed.
Nay, nay! your abi)as back we did not fling
IT, from each astonished ear, for swains to sing
Iheir Flllasc-verses cleitr; for sounds well
known
Or wandering breeze, or whispering trees, or
tone
OF Herods trunpets. And ye did not gaze
Heaft-started on the stars (albeit the rays
~ that lone orb Shot, sparkling from the East
Unseen before for these, largest and least
were iold-amps, lighted nightly; and ye
Far differing glory in the Nights dark blue
suddenly lit with rose, and pierced with spike
" golden spear-beam. Oh a dream belike!
7oiiiI In nf-ietcheo vision, new to peasants
To sense, and yet so largely leaving freed
mat we do know things are we can not know,
Till each last round leads to some sudden
steep
Where reason swilns. and falters. or must
leap
Headlong, perforce, into the Infinite.
How should we say outside this shines no
OF lovelier scenes unseen, of lives which
spread
a
As our World, opening TO the Babes wide eyes
New from the womb, and full of births sur
prise?
How should this prove the AL the Last, the
First?
Why shall no inner, under splendors burst
Once-twice-the Vail? Why put a marvel by
because too rich with Hope? Why quite deny
The heavenly story, lest our doubtful hearts
" men mark the stars, and take them for
bright parts
OF boundless Being, ships OF life that sail
In Slittering argosies-without a tale
Without tern-or OF that shoreless Sea,
The scattered silver islets drifting free
10 destinies unmeasured-see, too, there
BY help of dead, believing eyes which were
The peoples of the Stars; and listen, meek.
To those vast voices of the Stars, which
If ever they shall speak-in each mans
tongue?
And And truly, if Joys music once hath rung
From lips OF bands invisible, if any
fBe they OF the Dead or Of the dcathless
Many
Love and serve Man. angelical Befrienders,
Glad OF his veal, and from his woe Defend
Il such, in Heaven, have pity on our tears.
Forever falling with the unnendirg years,
To lift the curtain of Hopes hidden light
To break decree of silence with Lovcscry,
FofeSeeing how this Babe, born lowly,
'Should-past dispute, since now achieved Is
Bring earth great gifts of blessing and of bliss;
Date, from that crib the Dynasty of Love;
l-nhf fltr,,f .i,fNItc
Bend TO their knee Ro1ne's Ctesars, break the
chain
From the slaves neck; set sick hearts free
Bitterly bound by priests, and scribes and
And heal, with balm ofpardon, sinking souls;
Should Mercy to her vacant throne restore.
Teach Right TO Kings and Patience to the
shouIa th. by His sweet Name all names over
And by His lovely words the quick seeds SOW
OF golden equities and brotherhood,
OF OF Pity, Peace @ and gentle praise Of Good;
For God, and Lord and all things pure and
Loxly 10 Women; for Maid Mary,s sake
Lifting our sister from the dust, 10 take
In homes her equal place, the Households
Queen,
Ofarts adorning Life, of charities
Gracious and wide, because the impartial
Roof one race In; and poor, weak, mean, OPP
pressed,
Are children of one bounteous Mothers
breast,
One Fathers care; emancipating Man,
Should, from that bearing-cave, outside the
Khan.
Amid the kneeling CATTLE rise, and be
Light OF all land, and splendor of each sea.
The sun-burst OF a new morn come to earth,
Not yet. alas! broad Day, but Days white
birth
Which promiseth; and blesseth promising
These from that night! What cause of won-
dering
If that one Silence of all Silences
Break into music? if, for hopes like these
Angels, who love us, sang that song, and
show
OfTime's fair purpose made the 'great light"
glow?