(.—Blessed be he who became beyond measure low, that he might make us beyond measure great)
1. Of the Birth of the Firstborn, let us tell on His Feast-day.—He gives on His
day, secret comforts.—If the unclean King at his feast, in
memory of his day,—gave the gift of wrath, the head in a
charger,—how much more shall the Blessed, give blessings to
him—who sings praise at His Feast!
2. Let us not count our vigil like vigils of every
day.—His feast, its reward, exceeds an hundredfold.—For
this feast makes war, on sleep by its vigil;—speaking it makes
war, on silence by its voice;—clad with all blessings, it is
chief of feasts,—and of every joy.
3. To-day the angels, and the
archangels,—descended to sing—a new song on earth.—In
this mystery they descend, and rejoice with the vigil-keepers.—At
the time when they gave praise, blasphemy abounded.—Blessed be
the Birth by which, lo! the world resounds—with anthems of
praise.
4. For this is the night that joined, the Watchers
on high with the vigil-keepers.—The Watcher came to make watchers
in the midst of creation.—Lo! the vigil-keepers are made comrades
with the Watchers:—the singers of praise are made, companions of
the Seraphs.—Blessed be he who becomes, the harp of Thy
praise!—and Thy grace becomes his reward.
5. The Birth then of the Firstborn, I will
sing and tell how—the Godhead in the womb wove itself a
vesture.—He put it on and came forth in birth, in death again put
it off;—once he put it off, twice He put it on.—On the left
He wore it, then took it off thence,—and laid it at the
right.
6. He dwelt in a narrow bosom, the Might that
rules all.—While He was dwelling there, He held the reins of the
whole:—to His Father He made offering, that He might fulfil His
Will:—Heaven was filled by Him, and every creature.—The Sun
entered the womb, and in the height and the depth—his splendour
abode.
7. He dwelt in the wide bosoms, of all the
creatures;—too narrow to hold, the greatness of the
Firstborn.—How then sufficed for it, that bosom of
Mary?—Marvellous if it sufficed, bewilderment if it sufficed
not.—Of all bosoms that held Him, one bosom sufficed for
Him,—His, the Supreme Who begat Him.
8. The bosom that held Him, if it held Him
Wholly,—equals the wondrous bosom, of the Supreme Who begat
Him.—But who dare say the bosom, that is narrow weak and
lowly,—is equal to His, Who is the Supreme Being?—He dwelt
there of His mercy, though so great is His Nature:—it is without
bound.
9. Reconciling Peace, sent to the
nations!—gladdening Brightness, that camest to the
sad!—Mighty Leaven in silence, overcoming all!—Patient One
that hast taken, man after man in Thy net!—Happy he who has
welcomed, thy joy in his heart,—and forgot his groans in
Thee!
10. They
sounded forth peace, the Watchers to the vigil-keepers.—Among the
vigil-keepers the good tidings, were announced by the
Watchers.—Who would sleep on that night, which has waked all
creatures?—For they bear good tidings of peace, where warfare had
been.—Blessed is he who has pleased, the Divine Majesty by
his silence,—when speaking moved His wrath!
11. Watchers mixed with watchers, they rejoiced
that the world came to life.—The Evil One was shamed who was
king, and had woven a crown of lies;—and set up his throne, as
God in the world.—The Babe laid in the manger, cast him from his
dominion.—The Sun rendered worship, doing Him homage by his
Magi;—in his worshippers he worshipped Him.
12. God saw that mankind, worship things
created:—He put on a created body, that in our custom He might
capture us.—Lo! in this our form, He that formed us healed
us;—and in this created shape, our Creator gave us life.—He
drew us not by force: blessed be He Who came in ours,—and
joined us in His!
13. Who would not marvel, at Mary, David’s
daughter,—bearing an infant, and her virginity kept!—She
lays Him on her breast, and lulls Him with song and He
rejoices.—The Angels raise hymns, the Seraphs cry
“Holy,”—the Magi offer, acceptable gifts,—to
the Son Who is born.