Spiritual thoughts
Thomas E. Brown, Old John and Other Poems (London & New York: MacMillan, 1893)
Three kings from out the Orient
for Judah’s land were fairly bent
to find the Lord of grace;
And as they journeyed pleasantlie,
A star kept shining in the sky,
To guide them to the place.
(Refrain) O Star, they cried”, by all confest,
withouten dreed the loveliest!
The first was Melchior to see,
the emperor hight of Arabye,
An agèd man, I trow;
he set upon a rouncy bold,
had taken of the red, red gold.
The Babe for to endow.
(Refrain)
The next was Gaspar, young and gay,
That held the realm of far Cathay —
Our Jesus drew him thence—
Yclad in silks from head to heel.
He rode upon a high cameel,
and bar the frankincense.
(Refrain)
The last was dusky Balthasar
That rode upon a dromedar—
His coat was of the fur;
Dark- browed he came from Samarkand.
The Christ to seek, and in his hand,
Upheld the bleeding myrrh.
(Refrain)