The Stable of Bethlehem.
There is no ante-chamber in this royal palace,
There are no waiting-rooms of haughty state:
No chamberlain austere, no courtiers puff’d with malice,
To shut us out from where the King doth wait—
The new-born King, unscepter’d and uncrown’d,
In swaddling-bands of lowly linen bound.
Open and wide to all, are these old palace-portals—
The very beasts have found their way therein.
Amid the thronging Angels, would ye seek for mortals?
Behold the Virgin without stain of sin,
And Joseph, her chaste spouse!—Thrice blesséd pair!
They kneel before the Babe in wordless prayer!
The sweetest, fairest Babe e’er seen! Thro’ ruined rafters,
The happy stars shine in upon His stall;
The keen wind, blowing from the fields and mountain-pastures,
Deepens the rose-tint of His visage small,
And bids His hands, on Mary’s bosom, glow
Like soft, pink blossoms on a drift of snow.
Kneel and adore Him! Bring your hearts, as stainless lilies,
To cast before His darling, dimpled feet!
Soon shall the shepherds from the dusky hills and valleys,
In simple faith, around His manger meet;
And stately Kings, on wondrous quest intent,
Shall bring their gifts from out the Orient.
O Love, so free, so royal, yet so condescending—
So unpretentious in Thy majesty!
As Thy beginning, even so shall be Thine ending
Upon the open heights of Calvary!
A fountain, free to all beneath God’s heaven,
Wherein all sinners may be cleansed and shriven!
Here is the well-spring of those sparkling, saving waters—
Here, in the heart of Mary’s Blessed Boy!
From out the Saviour’s fountains, O earth’s sons and daughters,
Ye shall draw graces with exceeding joy;
And, with the Christmas Angels, rapturous, sing:
Glory and homage to the new-born King!
