WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR

FLOCKS BY NIGHT

WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
I Had seized their troubled mind;
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

"To you in David's town this day,
Is born of David's line

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign.

"The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands,

And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God, and thus
Addressed their joyful song:

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED

191

"All glory be to God on high,

And to the earth be peace!

Good-will henceforth from heaven to men

Begin, and never cease."

NAHUM TATE.

WOLSEY'S FALL

[From Henry VIII.]

FAREWELL! a long farewell to all my greatness!

This is the state of man: today he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost;
And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a-ripening-nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventur'd,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
This many summers in a sea of glory,

But far beyond my depth; my high blown pride
At length broke under me; and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream, that must forever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye!
I feel my heart new-opened. O! how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,

Never to hope again.

SHAKESPEARE

EIGHTH YEAR