Virtus Rediviva Or a Panegyricke On the late King Charls the I. Second Monarch of Great Britain. By Tho. Forde |
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For Christmass-day.
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 | Virtus Rediviva |  |
1
For Christmass-day.
1 Shepherd.What, have we slept! or doth the hastie Sun
Bring back the day, before the night be done?
2 Shep.
What melodie is this that charms our ears?
Is it the musick of th'harmonious Sphears?
Angels.
Peace shepherds, peace; glad tidings we ye bring,
Your God hath got a Son, and ye a King:
And he hath sent us with this newes to tell,
Who late was Ours, is your Immanuel.
Up, up to Bethlehem, there shall you see
An Human shape enclose the Deitie.
Behold, a cratch imprisons him, whose hands
Have fram'd the earth, and curbs the sea with bands.
He now begins to be, that no beginning knew,
He now begins to live, who being gave to you.
Go see th'Eternal God a child's become,
The ever-speaking Word himself lies dumb,
2
Th'Almighty King of Heaven hath left his seat,
And now keeps Court on earth: haste ye and see
The cratch his throne, beasts his attendance be.
And all to be your Saviour, and to free
Ye men from sin, and Satans slaverie.
Chorus of Angels.
Glory to God on high, and peace on earth,
Good will to men by this our God-mans birth.
Shepherds.
Come, let's go see these wonders which are told,
Let what our ears have heard, our eyes behold.
Soliloquie.
Croud in, my soul, and see amongst the rest,
And by thy sight, oh be for ever-blest!
Hark how the Angels sing, the heavens rebound,
And earth with th'eccho of th'Angelick sound.
Never till now were the well-tuned Sphears
Heard to make melodie to mortal ears.
Now every pretty bird with's warbling throat,
To's new-born Maker elevates a note.
See how the earth, being big with pride to be
Out-gone by heaven, puts on her liverie
Of mirth, and laughs with joy to hear
Her Maker now will please to dwell on her.
The whole world was agreed to entertain
The King of peace, who now began his reign:
Mars shrunk for fear, Bellona hid her head,
When peace was born, all discords lay for dead.
Then why should bloody characters descrie
The blessed day of his Nativitie?
O let the purest white note out that morn
From all the rest, when Innocence was born.
| Virtus Rediviva | |