New Prince, New Pomp

by Robert Southwell (1561-95)


Behold, a seely tender babe
      In freezing winter night
In homely manger trembling lies,—
      Alas, a piteous sight!


The inns are full, no man will yield
      This little pilgrim bed,
But forced he is with seely beasts
      In crib to shroud his head.


Despise him not for lying there,
      First, what he is enquire,
An orient pearl is often found
      In depth of dirty mire.


Weigh not his crib, his wooden dish,
      Nor beasts that by him feed;
Weigh not his mother's poor attire
      Nor Joseph's simple weed.


This stable is a prince's court,
      This crib his chair of state,
The beasts are parcel of his pomp,
      The wooden dish his plate.


The persons in that poor attire
      His royal liveries wear;
The prince himself is come from heaven—
      This pomp is prizëd there.


With joy approach, O Christian wight,
      Do homage to thy king;
And highly prize his humble pomp
      Which he from heaven doth bring.