the home book of verse-1-第34章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid！
Star of the East； the horizon adorning；
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid！
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining；
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall；
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining；
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all！
Say； shall we yield Him； in costly devotion；
Odors of Edom and offerings divine？
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean；
Myrrh from the forest； or gold from the mine？
Vainly we offer each ample oblation；
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure：
Richer by far is the heart's adoration；
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor。
Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning！
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid！
Star of the East； the horizon adorning；
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid！
Reginald Heber ＇1783…1826＇
CHRISTMAS BELLS
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old； familiar carols play；
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And thought how； as the day had come；
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Till； ringing； singing on its way；
The world revolved from night to day；
A voice； a chime；
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Then from each black； accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South；
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth…stones of a continent；
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And in despair I bowed my head；
〃There is no peace on earth；〃 I said；
〃For hate is strong；
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep：
〃God is not dead； nor doth He sleep！
The Wrong shall fail；
The Right prevail；
With peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ＇1807…1882＇
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
The Christ…child lay on Mary's lap；
His hair was like a light。
（O weary； weary were the world；
But here is all aright。）
The Christ…child lay on Mary's breast；
His hair was like a star。
（O stern and cunning are the kings；
But here the true hearts are。）
The Christ…child lay on Mary's heart；
His hair was like a fire。
（O weary； weary is the world；
But here the world's desire。）
The Christ…child stood at Mary's knee；
His hair was like a crown；
And all the flowers looked up at Him；
And all the stars looked down。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS
There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam；
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home。
The crazy stable close at hand；
With shaking timber and shifting sand；
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome。
For men are homesick in their homes；
And strangers under the sun；
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done。
Here we have battle and blazing eyes；
And chance and honor and high surprise；
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun。
A Child in a foul stable；
Where the beasts feed and foam；
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home；
We have hands that fashion and heads that know；
But our hearts we lost … how long ago！
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome。
This world is wild as an old wives' tale；
And strange the plain things are；
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war；
But our rest is as far as the fire…drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star。
To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come；
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome。
To the end of the way of the wandering star；
To the things that cannot be and that are；
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
THE FEAST OF THE SNOW
There is heard a hymn when the panes are dim；
And never before or again；
When the nights are strong with a darkness long；
And the dark is alive with rain。
Never we know but in sleet and snow
The place where the great fires are；
That the midst of earth is a raging mirth；
And the heart of the earth a star。
And at night we win to the ancient inn；
Where the Child in the frost is furled；
We follow the feet where all souls meet；
At the inn at the end of the world。
The gods lie dead where the leaves lie red；
For the flame of the sun is flown；
The gods lie cold where the leaves are gold；
And a Child comes forth alone。
Gilbert Keith Chesterton ＇1874…1936＇
MARY'S BABY
Joseph； mild and noble； bent above the straw：
A pale girl； a frail girl； suffering he saw；
〃O my Love； my Mary； my bride； I pity thee！〃
〃Nay； Dear；〃 said Mary； 〃all is well with me！〃
〃Baby； my baby； O my babe；〃 she sang。
Suddenly the golden night all with music rang。
Angels leading shepherds； shepherds leading sheep：
The silence of worship broke the mother's sleep。
All the meek and lowly of all the world were there；
Smiling； she showed them that her Child was fair；
〃Baby； my baby；〃 kissing Him she said。
Suddenly a flaming star through the heavens sped。
Three old men and weary knelt them side by side；
The world's wealth forswearing； majesty and pride；
Worldly might and wisdom before the Babe bent low：
Weeping； maid Mary said； 〃I love Him so！〃
〃Baby； my baby；〃 and the Baby slept。
Suddenly on Calvary all the olives wept。
Shaemas OSheel ＇1886…
GATES AND DOORS
A Ballad of Christmas Eve
There was a gentle hostler
（And blessed be his name！）
He opened up the stable
The night Our Lady came。
Our Lady and St。 Joseph；
He gave them food and bed；
And Jesus Christ has given him
A glory round his head。
So let the gate swing open
However poor the yard；
Lest weary People visit you
And find their Passage barred。
Unlatch the door at midnight
And let your lantern's glow
Shine out to guide the traveler's feet
To you across the snow。
There was a courteous hostler
（He is in Heaven to…night）
He held Our Lady's bridle
And helped her to alight。
He spread clean straw before her
Whereon she might lie down；
And Jesus Christ has given him
An everlasting crown。
Unlock the door this evening
And let your gate swing wide；
Let all who ask for shelter
Come speedily inside。
What if your yard be narrow？
What if your house be small？
There is a Guest is coming
Will glorify it all。
There was a joyous hostler
Who knelt on Christmas morn
Beside the radiant manger
Wherein his Lord was born。
His heart was full of laughter；
His soul was full of bliss
When Jesus； on His Mother's lap；
Gave him His hand to kiss。
Unbar your heart this evening
And keep no stranger out；
Take from your soul's great portal
The barrier of doubt。
To humble folk and weary
Give hearty welcoming；
Your breast shall be to…morrow
The cradle of a King。
Joyce Kilmer ＇1886…1918＇
THE THREE KINGS
Three Kings came riding from far away；
Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar；
Three Wise Men out of the East were they；
And they travelled by night and they slept by day；
For their guide was a beautiful； wonderful star。
The star was so beautiful； large and clear；
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere；
And by this they knew that the coming was near
Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy。
Three caskets they bore on their saddle…bows；
Three caskets of gold with golden keys；
Their robes were of crimson silk； with rows
Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows；
Their turbans like blossoming almond…trees。
And so the Three Kings rode into the West；
Through the dusk of night； over hill and dell；
And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast；
And sometimes talked； as they paused to rest；
With the people they met at some wayside well。
〃Of the child that is born；〃 said Baltasar；
〃Good people； I pray you； tell us the news；
For we in the East have seen his star；
And have ridden fast； and have ridden far；
To find and worship the King of the Jews。〃
And the people answered； 〃You ask in vain；
We know of no king but Herod the Great！〃
They thought the Wise Men were men insane；
As they spurred their horses across the plain
Like riders in haste； and who cannot wait。
And when they came to Jerusalem；
Herod the Great； who had heard this thing；
Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them；
And said； 〃Go down unto Bethlehem；
And bring me tidings of this new king。〃
So they rode away； and the star stood still；
The only one in the gray of morn；
Yes； it stopped； … it stood still of its own free will；
Right over Bethlehem on the hill；
The city of David； where Christ was born。
And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard；
Through the silent street； till their horses turned
And neighed as they entered the great inn…yard；
But the windows were closed； and the doors were barred；
And only a light in the stable burned。
And cradled there in the scented hay；
In the air made sweet by the breath of kine；
The little child in the manger lay；
The Child that would be King one day
Of a kingdom not human； but divine。
His mother； Mary of Nazareth；
Sat watching beside his place of rest；
Watching the even flow of his breath；
For the joy of life and the terror of death
Were mingled together in her breast。
They laid their offerings at his feet：
The gold was their tribute to a King；
The frankincense； with its odor sweet；
Was for the Priest； the Paraclete；
The myrrh for the body's burying。
And the mother wondered and bowed her head；
And sat as still as a statue of stone；
Her heart was troubled yet comforted；
Remembering what the Angel had said
Of an endless reign and of David's throne。
Then the Kings rode out of the city gate；
With a clatter of hoofs in proud array；
But they went not back to Herod the Great；
For they knew his malice and feared his hate；
And returned to their homes by another way。
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ＇1807…1882＇
LULLABY IN BETHLEHEM
There hath come an host to see Thee；
Baby dear；
Bearded men with eyes of flame
And lips of fear；
For the heavens； they say； have broken
Into blinding gulfs of glory；
And the Lord； they say； hath spoken
In a little wondrous story；
Baby dear。
There have come three kings to greet Thee；
Baby dear；
Crowned with gold； and clad in purple；
They draw near。
They have br
