* * * * *
She with left hand cradling
Rocked and hushed her boy,
And with holy lullabies
Quieted her toy....
Little angels all around
Danced, and carols flung;
Making verselets sweet and true,
Still of love they sung.”
(Translation by John Addington Symonds in “The Renaissance in Italy. Italian Literature” [1898 Edn.], Part I., 468.)
[ [15] “In the worthy stable of the sweet baby the angels are singing round the little one; they sing and cry out, the beloved angels, quite reverent, timid and shy round the little baby Prince of the Elect who lies naked among the prickly hay.... The Divine Verb, which is highest knowledge, this day seems as if He knew nothing of anything. Look at Him on the hay, crying and kicking as if He were not at all a divine man.”
(Translation by Vernon Lee in “Renaissance Fancies and Studies,” 34.)
“Sweep hearth and floor;
Be all your vessel's store
Shining and clean.
Then bring the little guest
And give Him of your best
Of meat and drink. Yet more
Ye owe than meat.
One gift at your King's feet
Lay now. I mean
A heart full to the brim
Of love, and all for Him,
And from all envy clean.”
(Translation by Miss Anne Macdonell, in “Sons of Francis,” 372.)
“Full of beauty stood the Mother,
By the Manger, blest o'er other,
Where her little One she lays.
For her inmost soul's elation,
In its fervid jubilation,
Thrills with ecstasy of praise.”