EARTH was waiting spent and restless, | |
| With a mingled hope and fear; | |
| And the faithful few were sighing, | |
| ‘Surely, Lord, the day is near; | |
| The Desire of all the nations, | 5 |
| It is time He should appear?’ | |
| |
| Still the gods were in the temples, | |
| But the ancient faith had fled; | |
| And the priests stood by their altars, | |
| Only for a piece of bread; | 10 |
| And the oracles were silent, | |
| And the prophets all were dead. | |
| |
| In the sacred courts of Zion, | |
| Where the Lord had His abode, | |
| There the money-changers trafficked | 15 |
| And the sheep and oxen trod; | |
| And the world, because of wisdom, | |
| Knew not either Lord or God. | |
| |
| Then the spirit of the Highest | |
| On a Virgin meek came down, | 20 |
| And He burdened her with blessing, | |
| And He pained her with renown; | |
| For she bare the Lord’s Anointed | |
| For His cross and for His crown. | |
| |
| Earth for Him had groaned and travailed | 25 |
| Since the ages first began; | |
| For in Him was hid the secret | |
| That through all the ages ran— | |
| Son of Mary, Son of David, | |
| Son of God, and Son of Man. | 30 |
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