Ralph Waldo Emerson, comp. (1803–1882). Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. 1880.
The ShepherdsWilliam Drummond of Hawthornden (15851649)
O
Night to best days, in which a sun doth rise
Of which that Golden eye which clears the skies
Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow light!
And blessèd ye, in silly pastors’ sight,
Wild creatures in whose warm crib now lies
That heaven-sent youngling, holy maid-born wight,
’Midst, end, beginning of our prophecies!
Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter spread!
Though withered,—blessed grass, that hath the grace
To deck and be a carpet to that place!
Thus sang unto the sounds of oaten reed,
Before the Babe, the shepherds bowed on knees;
And springs ran nectar, honey dropped from trees.