A very beautiful poem taken from today's Lauds:
With terror doth the tyrant hear
The King of kings hath come to dwell
Where David’s court shall widely rear
A sceptered reign o’er Israel.
Then cries out, raging at the word:
“He comes to stand where we have stood:
Hence, soldier, and with ruthless sword
Deluge the cradles deep with blood!”
What profiteth a crime so dread?
What hope shall Herod’s bosom sway?
Alone amidst the thronging dead,
The Christ is safely born away!
All hail! ye infant Martyr flowers
Cut off in life’s first dawning hours:
As rosebuds snapt in tempest strife,
When Herod sought your Savior’s life.
You, tender flock of lambs, we sing,
First victims slain for Christ your King:
Beside the very altar, gay
With palms and crowns, ye seem to play.
All honor, laud, and glory be,
O Jesus, Virgin-born to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
