CANON FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

This is perhaps the finest, on the whole, of the Canons of Cosmas; and may fairly be preferred to the rival composition of S. John Damascene.

ODE I.

Χριστὸς γεννᾶται· δοξάσατε.

CHRIST is born!

Tell forth His fame!

CHRIST from Heaven! His love proclaim !
CHRIST on earth! Exalt His Name!

Sing to the LORD, O world, with exultation!
Break forth in glad thanksgiving, every nation!
For He hath triumphed gloriously!

Man, in God's own Image made,
Man, by Satan's wiles betrayed,
Man, on whom corruption preyed,

Shut out from hope of life and of salvation,
To-day CHRIST maketh him a new creation,
For He hath triumphed gloriously!

For the Maker, when His foe,

Wrought the creature death and woe,

Bowed the Heav'ns, and came below,*

And in the Virgin's womb His dwelling making,
Became true man, man's very nature taking;
For He hath triumphed gloriously!

He, the Wisdom, WORD, and Might,
GOD, and SON, and Light of light,
Undiscovered by the sight

* The reference is, of course, to Psalm xviii. 9;—" He bowed the Heavens also, and came down."

Of earthly monarch, or infernal spirit,
Incarnate was, that we might Heav'n inherit;

For He hath triumphed gloriously!

[In Mr. Young's book. The melody by Dr. Schroeder.]

ODE III.

τῷ πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων.

Him, of the FATHER'S

very Essence,

Begotten, ere the world began, And, in the latter time, of Mary, Without a human sire, made Man : Unto Him, this glorious morn, Be the strain outpoured! Thou That liftest up our horn, Holy art Thou, LORD!

The earthly Adam, erewhile quickened By the blest breath of GOD on high, Now made the victim of corruption, By woman's guile betray'd to die,

He, deceived by woman's part,
Supplication pour'd;

Thou Who in my nature art,
Holy art Thou, LORD!

Thou, JESUS CHRIST, wast consubstantial
With this our perishable clay,
And, by assuming earthly nature,
Exaltedst it to heavenly day.

Thou, That wast as mortal born,

Being GoD ador'd,

Thou That liftest up our horn,

Holy art Thou, LORD!

Rejoice, O Bethlehem, the city

Whence Judah's monarchs had their birth; Where He that sitteth on the Cherubs,

The King of Israel, came on earth :