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THE NATIVITY
The golden glory bids us kneel
And praise God in the night.

See, rows on rows of shining ones,
All chanting, in their silver tones,
Matins and Lauds and orisons,
In one long golden flight!

The Angels (singing).

Gloria in Excelsis Deo,
Et in terra pax hominibus
Bonae voluntatis!

First Shepherd.

Lo, they are hushed! but flutes begin
A silver music, soft and thin.
In one long trail the stars move in
And lean above the town.

'Tis the stars singing that we hear.
Like silver trumpets ringing clear.
How purely floats each silver sphere!
We too will travel down.

All.
Come up, come up, black fleece and white.
Wether and ewe, and lamb so light,
And you, the wean was born to-night,
Come, follow the Star's track!

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