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The Star-song: a Carol To the King Sung At Whitehall

by Robert Herrick, 1647

The Flourish of Music; then followed the Song.

1. Tell us, thou clear and heavenly tongue,
  Where is the Babe but lately sprung?
  Lies he the lily-banks among?

2. Or say, if this new Birth of ours
  Sleeps, laid within some ark of flowers,
  Spangled with dew-light; thou canst clear
  All doubts, and manifest the where.

3. Declare to us, bright star, if we shall seek
  Him in the morning’s blushing cheek,
  Or search the beds of spices through,
  To find him out.

  Star. No, this ye need not do;
  But only come and see Him rest
  A Princely Babe in’s mother’s breast.

Chor. He’s seen, He’s seen! why then a round,
  Let’s kiss the sweet and holy ground;
  And all rejoice that we have found
  A King before conception crown’d.

4. Come then, come then, and let us bring
  Unto our pretty Twelfth-tide King,
  Each one his several offering;

Chor. And when night comes, we’ll give Him wassailing;
      And that His treble honours may be seen,
      We’ll choose Him King, and make His mother Queen.

Published in Noble Numbers
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