The Shepherds of Judea

O favored people! just as brightThe halo round their name to-dayAs when they watched their flocks by nightWhile in the manger Jesus lay;When from the skies an angel-throngLooked down upon the wondrous scene,And in exultant, choral songAwoke the hills of Palestine.

These shepherd-men exemplifiedTrue kindliness in word and look;And called their sheep unto their side,And in their arms the lambkins tookSo gently that beyond a doubtAs loving, tender hearts were theirsAs ever poured their fullness outIn honest, earnest, humble prayers.

No harshness moved the patient lip,No hand e'er dealt a cruel blow,For care and long companionshipOf gentle things had made them so;And yet, if near their precious foldMight danger lurk in cave or den—Rapacious beast, or robber bold—They could be stern like other men.

The fleecy covering of their flocksBecame their own, while flowing hairIn unconfined, uncared-for locksSurrounding foreheads bronzed and bare,And patriarchal beard that fellUpon each weather-beaten breast,The story plainly seemed to tellNo thought of self their minds distressed.

What theme inspired their social talk?For naught could be the world to them,The circuit of whose daily walkBut girt the plains of Bethlehem;In palaces and works of art,And scenes of revelry approvedBy royalty, they bore no part—Nor envyings their spirits moved.

And if perchance they ever heardOf pompous king or glittering court,Or felt the passing interest stirredBy pageantry of armed cohort—Contented, peaceful sons of Earth!—They wondered, when the crests were gone,How life the living could be worthSo diametric to their own.

Perchance on some celestial nightDelicious, clear, though wanting stars,When moonbeams poured their mellow lightThough olive-boughs in silver bars,Recounted one in sympathyHow briers held some bleating lambTill his the hand that set it free,Restored it to its frantic dam.

Or of a hungry lion boldThat overleaped the rugged wallAnd seized the firstling of the fold,The choicest jewel 'mong them all;When to the rescue swiftly cameThose ever-faithful servitorsWhich, though a pedigree might claim,Appeared but gaunt and savage curs.

So, in exterior, were theyScarce comelier than their shepherd-dogs—Yet they revered the Sabbath-dayAnd went up in the synagoguesAnd heard the law, which they believed;And gave to God their offerings,From whom a wisdom they receivedSurpassing far the lore of kings.

O shepherds! on Judean plainsWho sang your simple, pastoral songsAnd kept your vigils, earth containsA remnant yet to whom belongsThat heritage of faith and trust,As nature pure and free from art,The child-like feeling that we must"Love God with all our mind and heart."

For echoes still that matchless strain,The symphony by seraphs sung,And thrills the world with its refrainWherever joy hath found a tongue;From mountain-top and sunny vale,From desert waste and wooded glenUnnumbered throngs the tidings hailOf "Peace on Earth, Good-will to Men."