Christmas Carol

Ring out, ye bells!     All Nature swells     With gladness at the wondrous story,--     The world was lorn,     But Christ is born     To change our sadness into glory.     Sing, earthlings, sing!     To-night a King     Hath come from heaven's high throne to bless us.     The outstretched hand     O'er all the land     Is raised in pity to caress us.     Come at his call;     Be joyful all;     Away with mourning and with sadness!     The heavenly choir     With holy fire     Their voices raise in songs of gladness.     The darkness breaks     And Dawn awakes,     Her cheeks suffused with youthful blushes.     The rocks and stones     In holy tones     Are singing sweeter than the thrushes.     Then why should we     In silence be,     When Nature lends her voice to praises;     When heaven and earth     Proclaim the truth     Of Him for whom that lone star blazes?     No, be not still,     But with a will     Strike all your harps and set them ringing;     On hill and heath     Let every breath     Throw all its power into singing!