Oh! run; [prevent them with thy humble ode],

And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; 25

Have thou the honor first thy Lord to greet,

And join thy voice unto the Angel Quire,

From out his secret altar [touched with hallowed fire].

The Hymn.

I.

It was the winter wild,

While the heaven-born child 30

All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies;