belong. The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades, 3 1 First published in the "Spectator," May 14, 1712. 2 A contraction of Hierosolyma (Jerusalem). 3 "Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna; "Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new progeny is sent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain shall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall From Jesse's root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies: ΙΟ The ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves shall move, 15 From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail; Returning Justice lift aloft her scale; Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, And white-robed Innocence from heaven de scend. 20 Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn! Oh spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! See Nature hastes 5 her earliest wreaths to bring, govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his father." Isa. vii. 14. —“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Ch. ix. 6, 7.-" Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given-the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to establish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever and ever."—P. 2 Ibid. xlv. 8.-P. 4 Ibid. ix. 7.—P. 1 Isa. xi. 1.-P. 3 Ibid. xxv. 4.-P. 5 "At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscula cultu, Errantes hederas passim cum baccare tellus, Mixtaque ridenti colocasia fundet acantho.Ipsa tibi blandos fundent cunabula flores." Virg. Ecl. iv. 18. For thee, O child, shall the earth, without being tilled, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed 1 25 With all the incense of the breathing spring: 30 with Baccar, and Colocasia, with smiling Acanthus. Thy cradle shall pour forth pleasing flowers about thee." Isa. xxxv. 1.—“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. Ch. lx. 13.-"The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pinetree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary."-P. 1 Isa. xxxv. 2.—P. 2 Virg. Ecl. iv. 48: "Aggredere, o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores, Cara deum soboles, magnum Jovis incrementum—” Ecl. v. 62: "Ipsi lætitia voces ad sidera jactant Intonsi montes, ipsæ jam carmina rupes, Ipsa sonant arbusta, Deus, deus ille, Menalca !"-P. "Oh come and receive the mighty honours; the time draws nigh, O beloved offspring of the gods, O great increase of Jove: The uncultivated mountains send shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks sing in verse, the very shrubs cry out, A god, a god!" Isa. xl. 3, 4.—"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord! make straight in the desert a high way for our God! Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.' Ch. xliv. 23."Break forth into singing, ye mountains! O forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Israel."-P. Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies! 5 46 50 No more shall nation against nation rise, 1 Isa. xlii. 18; xxxv. 5, 6.-P. 2 Ibid. xxv. 8.-P. 4 Ibid. ix, 6.-P. e Ibid. lxv. 21, 22.-P. 3 Ibid. xl. 11.-P. 5 Ibid. ii. 4.-P. And the same hand that sowed, shall reap field. 1 the 2 70 The swain in barren deserts with surprise 3 The spiry fir and shapely box adorn; 76 To leafless shrubs the flowering palms succeed, 1 Isa. xxxv. 1, 7.-P. 2 Virg. Ecl. iv. 28: "Molli paulatim flavescet campus arista, Incultisque rubens pendebit sentibus uva, Et duræ quercus sudabunt roscida mella." "The fields shall grow yellow with ripened ears, and the red grape shall hang upon the wild brambles, and the hard oaks shall distil honey like dew." Isa. xxxv. 7.—“The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. In the habitation where dragons lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes." Ch. lv. 13.-" Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree.”—P. 3 Isa. xli. 19, and lv. 13.-P. 4 Virg. Ecl. iv. 21: Ipsæ lacte domum referent distenta capellæ Ubera, nec magnos metuent armenta leonesOccidet et serpens, et fallax herba veneni Occidet." "The goats shall bear to the fold their udders distended with milk: nor shall the herds be afraid of the greatest lions. The serpent shall die, and the herb that conceals poison shall die." Isa. xi. 6, 7, 8.-"The wolf shall dwell with the |