Thyrsis
Winter chid aloud, and sent
The angry North to wage his wars:
The North forgot his fierce intent,
And left perfumes instead of scars.
By those sweet eyes’ persuasive powers,
Where he meant frosts he scattered flowers.
Chorus. By those sweet eyes’ persuasive powers,
Where he meant frosts he scattered flowers.
We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest,
Young dawn of our eternal day;
We saw Thine eyes break from the East,
And chase the trembling shades away:
We saw Thee, and we blest the sight,
We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light.
Tityrus
Poor world, said I, what wilt thou do
To entertain this starry stranger?
Is this the best thou canst bestow—
A cold and not too cleanly manger?
Contend the powers of heaven and earth,
To fit a bed for this huge birth.
Chorus. Contend the powers of heaven and earth,
To fit a bed for this huge birth.
Thyrsis
Proud world, said I, cease your contest,
And let the mighty babe alone,
The phœnix builds the phœnix’ nest,
Love’s architecture is his own.
The babe, whose birth embraves this morn,
Made His own bed ere He was born.
Chorus. The babe, whose birth embraves this morn,
Made His own bed ere He was born.
Tityrus
I saw the curled drops, soft and slow,
Come hovering o’er the place’s head,
Off’ring their whitest sheets of snow,
To furnish the fair infant’s bed.
Forbear, said I, be not too bold,
Your fleece is white, but ’tis too cold.