1. In Numbers, and but these few, I sing Thy Birth, Oh JESU! Thou prettie Babie, borne here, With sup'rabundant scorn here: Who for Thy Princely Port here, Hadst for Thy place Of Birth, a base Out-stable for thy Court here. 2. Instead of neat Inclosures Of inter-woven Osiers; Instead of fragrant Posies Of Daffadills, and Roses; Thy cradle, Kingly Stranger, As Gospell tells, Was nothing els, But, here, a homely manger. 3. But we with Silks, (not Cruells) With sundry precious Jewells, And Lilly-work will dresse Thee; And as we dispossesse thee Of clouts, wee'l make a chamber, Sweet Babe, for Thee, Of Ivorie, And plaister'd round with Amber. 4. The Jewes they did disdaine Thee, But we will entertaine Thee With Glories to await here Upon Thy Princely State here, And more for love, then pittie. From yeere to yeere Wee'l make Thee, here, A Free-born of our Citie. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENT BARD, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE SONGS FOR MY MOTHER: 2. HER HANDS by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE DARK-EYED GENTLEMAN by THOMAS HARDY FULFILLMENT by ROBERT MALISE BOWYER NICHOLS FIFTY FAGGOTS by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS |