Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.

Syria: Bethlehem

The Angels’ Song

By William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585–1649)

RUN, shepherds, run where Bethlem blest appears,

We bring the best of news, be not dismayed,

A Saviour there is born, more old than years,

Amidst Heaven’s rolling heights this earth who stayed;

In a poor cottage inned, a virgin maid,—

There is he poorly swaddled, in manger laid,—

A weakling did him bear, who all upbears,

To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:

Run, shepherds, run, and solemnize his birth,

This is that night, no,—day grown great with bliss,

In which the power of Satan broken is;

In Heaven be glory, peace unto the earth.

Thus singing through the air the angels swam,

And cope of stars re-echoéd the same.