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Poetry: A Christmas Hymn

Poetry: A Christmas Hymn image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
January
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
Poem
OCR Text

It was the cahn and silent nighl! Saven hundred years and iifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was queeu of land and sea! No sound waa heard of clashing var& - Peacè brooded o'er the hushed domain; Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars, Held undisturbed tlieir ancient reign, In the solumn midnight, Coniuries ago! 'Twss in the calm and silent night! The Senator of haughty Rome Impatient urged his chariot's flight, From lordly revel rolhng home! Triumphal arche, gleaming, swell His breast with thoughts of boundless sway: What recked the Roman what befel A paltry province far away, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago! Within that province far away, Went plodding home a weary boor, A streak of light before him lay, Fallen througb a half-shut stable-door Across his path. He paused, for nought Told what was going on within; How kcou the stat s! his only thought: The air, how cahn, aod cold , and ihin, In the golemn midnight, Centuries ago! Oh! Btrange indifference! low and high Drowsed over common joys and cares; The earth was still, bu!. knew not wliy; The world was hstening - un.iwares! How calm a moment may precede One that shai! thrill the world forever! To tliatstill mo;nent none would heed Muu's doom wii8 linked, no more to bever, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago! It is the calm and solemn night! A thousand bells ring out, and throw Their joyous peals abroad, and smite The darknes6 - charmed and lioly now! The night .hat erst no 6haine had worn, To it a happy nnme is givin; For in that table hty, new bom, Tho peaceful Prince of earth and heaven In the soiemn midnight, Centuries ago!