Hymns on the Nativity · Part 11

R., Blessed be He Who became a youth and to all gave youth!

6. When man's hope had broken down, hope was increased by Thy Birth.--Good tidings of hope they bore, the Heavenly Ones to men.--Satan who cut off our hope, his own hope by his own hands had cut off.--when he saw that hope was increased: Thy Birth became to the hopeless,--a fountain teaming with hope.

R., Blessed be He Who bore the tidings of hope!

7. The day of Thy Birth is like Thee, for it is desired and loved as Thou.--We who saw not Thy Birth, and its flame as in its own time,--in this Thy day we see Thee, even as Thou wast a babe;--beloved by all men, lo! in Thee the Churches rejoice;--Thy day adorns and is adorned.

R., Blessed be Thy day which was ordained for us!

8. Thy day has given us a gift, to which the Father has none other like;--It was not Seraphim He sent us, nor yet did Cherubim come down among us;--there came not Watchers or Ministers, but the Firstborn to Whom they minister.--Who can suffice to give thanks, that the Majesty which is beyond measure--is laid in the lowly manger!

R., Blessed be He Who gave us what He had won!

9. That generation Thy Birth made glad, and our generation Thy day makes glad: twofold was the happiness of that generation, for they saw Thy Birth and also Thy day:--less is the happiness of them that come after, for the day of Thy Birth they see only.--Yet because they that then were, doubted, greater is the happiness of them that come after,--who though they have not seen Thee have believed in Thee.

R., Blessed be Thy happiness that is added to us!

10. The Magi exalted from afar; the Scribes murmured near at hand;--the prophet showed his message, and Herod his wrath;--the scribes showed their doctrine, the Magi showed their offerings. It is a marvel that to Him, the Babe, they of His own house hasted with their swords, and they that were strangers with their offerings.

R., Blessed be Thy Birth which has stirred up all!

11. The bosom of Mary amazes me, that it sufficed for Thee, Lord, and embraced Thee.--All creation were too small, to conceal Thy Majesty;--Heaven and earth too narrow, to be in the likeness of wings, to cover Thy Godhead.--Too small for Thee was the bosom of earth; great enough for Thee was the bosom of Mary.--He dwelt in the bosom and healed in her bosom.

R.,

12. He was wrapped meanly in swaddling clothes, and offerings were offered Him.--He put on garments in youth, and from them there came forth helps: He put on the waters of baptism, and from them there shone forth beams:--He put on linen cloths in death, and in them were shown forth triumphs; with His humiliations, His exaltations.

R., Blessed be He Who joined His Glory to His Passion!

13. All these are the changes of raiment, which Mercy put off and put on,--when He strove to put on Adam, the glory which he had put off.--He was wrapped in swaddling-clothes as Adam with leaves; and clad in garments instead of skins.--He was baptized for Adam's sin, and buried for Adam's death:--He rose and raised Adam into Glory.

R., Blessed be He Who came down and clothed him and went up!

14. Though Thy Birth had sufficed, for Adam's sons as for Adam;--O Mighty One Who didst become a babe, in Thy Birth anew hast Thou begotten me!--O pure One Who wast baptized, let Thy Washing wash away our filth--O Living One who wast buried, may we gain life in Thy death!--I will praise all of Thee in Him that fills all.

R., Glory to all of Thee from all of us!

Hymn XVII.

(Resp., Praise to Thee from every mouth on this Day of Thy Birth!)

1. Infants were slain because of Thy Birth, Thou Giver of life to all--But because He Who was slain was a King, our Lord the Lord of Kingdoms,--the tyrant in subtlety, gave for Him slain hostages,--clad in the mysteries of His slaying: the ranks of heaven received,--the hostages that they of earth offered.

R., Blessed be the King who magnified Him!

2. All the Kings of the house of David, transmitted and hauled on each to each,--the throne and crown of the Son of David, as guardian of a deposit.--In one they reached their bound and limit, when He came, the Lord of all things,--and took away from them all things, and cut off the transmission of all things....

R., Blessed be He Who is clad in that which is His!

3. The doves moaned in Bethlehem, that the serpent destroyed their offspring.--The eagle betook himself to Egypt, to go down and receive the promises.--Egypt rejoiced in Him that there came, abundance for payment of debts,--which had failed the sons of Joseph. Among the sons of Joseph He laboured and paid--the debts of the sons of Joseph.

R., Blessed is He Who called Him out of Egypt!

4. The Scribes read daily, that the Star arises out of Jacob.--For the People were the Voice and the reading, for the nations the rising of the Star and the interpretation:--for them were the Books and for us the facts; for them boughs and for us fruits.--The Scribes read in things written; the Magi saw in things done, the outshining of that which was read.

R., Blessed be He Who added to us their books!

5. Who is able to tell, of the withdrawal and the appearings,--of the shining star that went, before the bearers of the offerings?--It appeared and proclaimed the crown; it was hid and concealed His Body.--It was for the Son in twofold wise, herald and guardian;--it guarded His Body, it proclaimed His Crown.

R., Blessed is He Who has given wisdom to them that proclaim Him!

6. The tyrant gazed on the Magi, as they asked "Where is the son of the King?"--While his heart was gloomy, he sought for himself a cheerful countenance.--With the sheep he sent wolves, that should kill the Lamb of God.--The Lamb went down to Egypt, that thence He might judge them,--whence He had saved them.

R., Blessed be He Who yet again subdued them.

7. The Magi declared to the tyrant, "When thy servants joined us,--the bright star withdrew itself, yea the paths hid themselves."--The blessed ones knew not, that the king had sent bitter foes,--murderers as if worshippers, to destroy the sweet fruit,--whereof the bitter eat and are made sweet.

R., To Thee be glory, Medicine of life!

8. When there the Magi received, commandment to go and seek Him.--it is written of them that they saw, that bright star and rejoiced.--Thus it is known that it had been withdrawn; therefore rejoiced they at its aspect.--It was hid and hindered the murderers, it arose and called the worshippers;--it overthrew a part and it called a part.

R., Blessed be He Who has triumphed in both parts!

9. The abhorred one who slew the children, how did he overlook the Child?--Justice hindered him that he thought, the Magi would return to him.--While he stayed waiting to seize, the Worshipped and His worshippers,--everything escaped his hands, the offerings and the worshippers took flight,--from the tyrant to the Son of the King.

R., Glory to Him who knows all counsels!

10. The blameless Magi as they slept, meditated on their beds:--sleep became a mirror, and a dream rose on it as light.--The murderer they saw and trembled, as his guile and his sword flashed forth.--He taught the men guile, he sharpened the sword to sharpness:--the Watcher taught the sleepers.