THE GREAT

(From the Early Irish)

Four Sages stood to chant a stave
Above the proud Earth Conqueror's grave;
And all their words were words of candour
Above the urn of Alexander.

The first began: "But yesterday,
When all in state the Great King lay,
Myriads around him made their moan,
To-day he lieth all alone!"

"But yesterday," the second sang,
"O'er Earth his charger's hoof outrang;
To-day its outraged soil instead
Is riding heavy o'er his head!"

"But yesterday," the third went on,
"All Earth was swayed by Philip's son:
To-day, to shroud his calcined bones,
Seven feet thereof is all he owns!"

"But yesterday, so liberal he,
Silver and gold he scattered free;
To-day," the last outsighed his thought,
"His wealth abounds but he is naught!"

Thus sentence gave these Sages four,
Above the buried Emperor;
It was no foolish women's prate
That held them thus in high debate.

THE KINGS WHO CAME TO CHRIST

(From the Early Irish)

Three Kings came to the Babe's abode,
With faces that like bright moons glowed,
From out the learned Eastern world,
Where o'er wide plains slow streams are curled.

The three sought out the lovely Child,
On whom, white-blossomed Bethel smiled,
Three, o'er all knowledge granted sway,
Three Seers of the Vision they.

The Promise of the Great All-wise
Was present to their prescient eyes,
A Vision beckoning from afar,
The Christ Child cradled on a star;

A lofty star of lucent ray,
It swam before them through the day,
And when earth's hues were lost in night,
It still led on with loving light.

And still the lucky Royal Three
Went following it full readily;
And still across the firmament
An arch of blessed might it went.

So rushing radiant, round and soft,
Past every star that paced aloft,
Right joyously it stayed for them
At last o'er blessed Bethlehem.

O, then each Monarch of the Three
With worship fell upon his knee,
And gave, while God he loud extolled,
His frankincense and myrrh and gold.

They recognised the Babe's bright face
And Mary in her Virgin grace.
'Twas thus the Star's Epiphany
Showed Christ their King to the Kings three.

QUATRAINS

HOSPITALITY

Whether my house is dark or bright,
I close it not on any wight,
Lest Thou, hereafter, King of Stars,
Against me clos