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sung by the shepherds - virgil thomson lyrics

welcome all wonders in one sight!
eternity shut in a span!
summer in winter! day in night!

heaven in earth! and god in man!
great little one, whose all*embracing birth
lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth!

welcome, tho’ nor to gold, nor silk
to more than cæsar’s birthright is:
twin sister seas of virgin’s milk
with many a rarely*temper’d kiss
that breathes at once both maid and mother
warms in the one, cools in the other

she sings thy tears asleep, and dips
her kisses in thy weeping eye:
she spreads the red leaves of thy lips
that in their buds yet blushing lie
she ‘gainst those mother diamonds tries
the points of her young eagle’s eyes.*

welcome—tho’ not to those g*y flies
gilded i’ th’ beams of earthly kings
slippery souls in smiling eyes—
but to poor shepherds, homespun things
whose wealth’s their flocks, whose wit’s to be
well read in their simplicity
yet, when april’s husband show’rs
shall bless the fruitful maia’s bed
we’ll bring the first*born of her flowers
to kiss thy feet, and crown thy head
to thee, dread lamb ! whose love must keep
the shepherds while they feed their sheep

to thee, meek majesty, soft king
of simple graces and sweet loves!
each of us his lamb will bring
each his pair of silver doves!
at last, in fire of thy fair eyes
ourselves become our own best sacrifice!

- virgil thomson lyrics

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