CHRISTMAS II
George Herbert

(1593-1633)

      THE shepherds sing ;  and shall I silent be?
                      My God, no hymne for thee?
      My soul ’s a shepherd too :  a flock it feeds
                      Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
      The pasture is thy word ;  the streams, thy grace
                      Enriching all the place.
      Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers
                      Out-sing the day-light houres.
      Then we will chide the sunne for letting night
                      Take up his place and right :

      We sing one common Lord ;  wherefore he should
                      Himself the candle hold.

      I will go searching, till I finde a sunne
                      Shall stay, till we have done ;
      A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly,
                      As frost-nipt sunnes look sadly.
      Then we will sing, and shine all our own day,
                      And one another pay :
      His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine,
      Till ev’n his beams sing, and my musick shine.