O DE S.

ON THE

MORNING

OF

CHRIST'S NATIVITY *.

I.

THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, Wherein the Son of Heaven's Eternal King,

This Ode, in which the many learned allufions are highly poetical, was probably composed as a college-exercise at Cam bridge, our author being now only twenty-one years old. In the edition of 1645, in its title it is faid to have been written in 1629. We are informed by himself, that he was employed in writing this piece, in the conclufion of the fixth Elegy to his friend Deodate, which appears to have been fent about the clofe of the month December. Deodate had inquired how he was fpending his time. Milton answers, v. 81.

"Paciferum canimus cœlefti femine regem,
"Fauftaque facratis fæcula pacta libris ;
"Vagitumque Dei, et ftabulantem paupere tecto
"Qui fuprema fuo cum patre regna colit.
"Stelliparumque polum, modulantefque æthere turmas."

*

Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;
For fo the holy fages once did fing,

That he our deadly forfeit fhould release,
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.

5

The concluding pentameter of the paragraph points out the best
part of the Ode.

"Et fubito elifos ad fua fana deos."

See ft. xix, and st. xxvi.

"The Oracles are dumb,

"No voice or hideous hum, &c."

The rest of the Ode chiefly confifts of a string of affected con-
ceits, which his early youth, and the fashion of the times, can
only excufe. But there is a dignity and fimplicity in thefe lines,
worthy the matureft years, and the best times, ft. iv.

"No war, or battle's found,

"Was heard the world around,

"The idle fpear and shield were high up hung; "The hooked chariot ftood

"Unftain'd with human blood;

"The trumpet fpake not to the armed throng; "And kings fat ftill with awful eye,

"As if they furely knew their fovran Lord was nigh."

Nor is the poetry of the stanza immediately following, an expref-
fion or two excepted, unworthy of Milton. But I must avoid
general anticipation, and come to particulars. T. WARTON.

Ver. 3. Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born,] This is
in Crafhaw's manner, who calls the Virgin Mary "maiden
Wife, and maiden Mother too." See his Poems, p. 119. Paris
edit. 1652. Sylvefter calls her "maid and mother," Du Bart.
1621, p. 17. But fee the Chriftus Patiens of Gregory Nazianzen,
at the beginning, S. Greg. Naz. Opp. fol. Par. tom. ii. 1611.
Ως ἐκ σόματος ΜΗΤΡΟΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΥ κόρης. TODD.

Ver. 5.
Teftament. T. WARTON.

fages] The prophets of the Old

*This remark is characteristic

J. Warton's mean and

vulgar spirit, which displays itself most offensively when he precends to criticize that which he was manifestly incapable of appreciating.

II.

That glorious form, that light unfufferable, And that far-beaming blaze of majefty, Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council

table

To fit the midst of Trinal Unity,

He laid afide; and, here with us to be,
Forfook the courts of everlasting day,

10

And chofe with us a darkfome house of mortal clay.

III.

Say, heavenly Mufe, fhall not thy facred vein 15
Afford a prefent to the Infant God?

Haft thou no verfe, no hymn, or folemn ftrain,
To welcome him to this his new abode,
Now while the heaven, by the fun's team untrod,

Ver. 14. - a darksome house of mortal clay.] So, in The Scourge of Villanie, 1598. B. iii. Sat. viii. of the foul leaving the body:

"Leauing his moakie houfe of mortall clay." TODD. Ver. 19. by the fun's team untrod,] Perhaps from Shakspeare's "heavenly-harnefs'd team," Hen. IV. P. A. ii. S. iv. which Randolph imitates, Poems, 2d edit. 1640. P. 74.

"the funne,

"Where he unharness'd, and where's teame begunne." Sylvefter has the fun's "tyer-lefs teem," Du Bart. 1621, p. 84. Again, "The Sun turns back his teem," p. 226. In Kyd's Cornelia, 1595, we find Night's "flow-pac'd team;" and, in Fletcher's Faithful Shepherdefs, Night's "lazy team." TODD.