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Home  »  The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century  »  Christina G. Rossetti (1830–1894)

Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

By Time Flies. I. “Lord Babe, if Thou art He”

Christina G. Rossetti (1830–1894)

January 6
(Feast of the Epiphany)

“LORD Babe, if Thou art He

We sought for patiently,

Where is Thy court?

Hither may prophecy and star resort;

Men heed not their report.”—

“Bow down and worship, righteous man:

This Infant of a span

Is He man sought for since the world began.”—

“Then, Lord, accept my gold, too base a thing

For Thee, of all kings King.”

“Lord Babe, despite Thy youth

I hold Thee of a truth

Both Good and Great:

But wherefore dost Thou keep so mean a state,

Low lying desolate?”—

“Bow down and worship, righteous seer:

The Lord our God is here

Approachable, Who bids us all draw near.”—

“Wherefore to Thee I offer frankincense,

Thou Sole Omnipotence.”

“But I have only brought

Myrrh; no wise afterthought

Instructed me

To gather pearls or gems, or choice to see

Coral or ivory.”—

“Not least thine offering proves thee wise:

For myrrh means sacrifice,

And He that lives, this same is He that dies.”—

“Then here is myrrh: alas! yea, woe is me

That myrrh befitteth Thee.”

Myrrh, frankincense and gold:

And lo! from wintry fold

Good will doth bring

A Lamb, the innocent likeness of this King

Whom stars and seraphs sing:

And lo! the bird of love, a Dove

Flutters and cooes above:

And Dove and Lamb and Babe agree in love:—

Come, all mankind, come, all creation, hither,

Come, worship Christ together.