For the Maker, when His foe

Wrought the creature death and woe, Bowed the Heav'ns, and came below, (1) And, in the Virgin's womb His dwelling making,

Became True Man, man's very nature taking;

For He hath triumphed gloriously!

He, the Wisdom, WORD, and Might,
GOD, and SON, and Light of light,
Undiscovered by the sight

Of earthly monarch, or infernal spirit,
Incarnate was, that we might Heav'n inherit:

For He hath triumphed gloriously!

(1.) The reference is, of course, to Psalm xviii., 9; -"He bowed the Heavens also, and came down."

ODE III.

τῷ πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων.

Him, of the FATHER's very Essence, Begotten, ere the world began,

And, in the latter time, of Mary, Without a human sire, made Man: Unto Him, this glorious morn, Be the strain outpoured; Thou That liftest up our horn, Holy art Thou, LORD!

The earthly Adam, erewhile quickened
By the blest breath of Gon on high,
Now made the victim of corruption,
By woman's guile betray'd to die,
He, deceiv'd by woman's part,
Supplication pour'd;

Thou Who in my nature art,
Holy art Thou, LORD!

Thou, JESUS CHRIST, wast consubstantial
With this our perishable clay,

And, by assuming earthly nature,
Exalted'st it to heavenly day.

Thou, That wast as mortal born,
Being GOD ador'd,

Thou, That liftest up our horn,

Holy art Thou, LORD!

Rejoice, O Bethlehem, the city

Whence Judah's monarchs had their birth;

Where He that sitteth on the Cherubs,

The King of Israel, came on earth:
Manifested this blest morn,

As of old time never,

He hath lifted up our horn,

He shall reign for ever!

ODE IV.

Ράβδος ἐκ τῆς ρίζης.

Rod of the Root of Jesse,

Thou, Flower of Mary born,
From that thick shady mountain (1)
Cam'st glorious forth this morn :
Of her, the Ever Virgin,

Incarnate wast Thou made,

The immaterial Essence,

The GOD by all obeyed!

Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day!

The Gentiles' expectation,

Whom Jacob's words foretell, Who Syria's pride shalt vanquish,

Samaria's power shalt quell;

Thou from the Root of Judah

Like some fair plant dost spring, To turn old Gentile error

To Thee, its GOD and King!

Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day!

In Balaam's ancient vision

The Eastern seers were skilled; They marked the constellations,

And joy their spirits filled : For Thou, bright Star of Jacob, Arising in Thy might,

Didst call these Gentile first-fruits

To worship in Thy light.

They, in holy reverence bent,

Gifts acceptable present.

As on a fleece descending
The gentle dews distil,

As drops the earth that water,
The Virgin didst Thou fill.

For Media, leagued with Sheba,
Falls down and worships Thee:
Tarsish and Ethiopia,

The Isles and Araby.

Glory, LORD, Thy servants pay
To Thy wondrous might to-day!

(1) The reference is to the Song of Habakkuk ; [iii. 3], where the lxx. give-"GOD shall come from Teman, ad The Holy from the thick and shady mountain of Paran."