Page:The Cambridge Carol Book.djvu/24

 Around the dry land Thou pouredst the sea, And set'st his bounds with sure decree; But, bending heaven, so to crown Mankind with bliss, Thou camest down: Babe Jesu, my God, all glory to Thee!

'Now stand we in the village, Where Jesse's bairns were born; Amid the fields of tillage, Whence Boaz reap'd his corn. Here welleth David's Fountain; There Rachel's body lies: Soon o'er yon Eastern mountain Shall Jacob's Star arise.

'The seventy weeks, appointed Of God, are now fulfill'd; Ere long the Lord's Anointed Shall born be, as He will'd; Whereat the prophet wond'red When Gabriel told him so In Babylon, four hundred And thirty years ago.

'Which Gabriel late did meet thee, And, with divining rod, Right reverently greet thee As Mother to his God. Let Ahaz read his dial, And (e'en as Esay bade) Confess, without denial, The Son of Mary Maid.

'Now, Lady, 'mid the number Of pilgrim folk, our kin, Go seek we place of slumber And shelter 'neath yond inn.'