The Cambridge Carol Book/Now stand we in the village

by George Ratcliffe Woodward

XXI. NOW STAND WE IN THE VILLAGE

1.'Now stand we in the village,
Where Jesse's bairns were born;
Amid the fields of tillage,
Whence Boaz reap'd his corn.
Here welleth David's Fountain;
There Rachel's body lies:
Soon o'er yon Eastern mountain
Shall Jacob's Star arise.

2.'The seventy weeks, appointed
Of God, are now fulfill'd;
Ere long the Lord's Anointed
Shall born be, as He will'd;
Whereat the prophet wond'red
When Gabriel told him so
In Babylon, four hundred
And thirty years ago.

3.'Which Gabriel late did meet thee,
And, with divining rod,
Right reverently greet thee
As Mother to his God.
Let Ahaz read his dial,
And (e'en as Esay bade)
Confess, without denial,
The Son of Mary Maid.

4.'Now, Lady, 'mid the number
Of pilgrim folk, our kin,
Go seek we place of slumber
And shelter 'neath yond inn.'
'Good Joseph, 'neath that gable,
In chamber, great or small,
The host will not be able
To find us room withal:

5.'So turn we from the tavern,
And, seeing night is nigh,
Seek lodging in this cavern,
Where kine and assen lie.'
Ah! Bethlem, didst thou know it,
Of yonder Maid, e'er morn,
As Micah did foreshow it,
In thee shall God be born.