717. This Little Babe So Few Days Old

1 This little Babe so few days old
Is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.

2 With tears he fights and wins the field
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrows looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need,
And feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.

3 His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes;
Of shepherds he his muster makes;
And thus, as sure his foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.

4 My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to His tents that he hath pight.*
Within his crib is surest ward;
This little Babe will be thy Guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

* pight=pitched, set up

Text Information
First Line: This little Babe so few days old
Title: This Little Babe So Few Days Old
Author: Robert Southwell, 1561-95
Meter: 8. 8. 8. 8. 8. 8
Publication Date: 1969
Topic: The Christian Year: Christmastide
Tune Information
Name: DAS NEUGEBORNE KINDELEIN
Composer: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570-1615
Meter: 8. 8. 8. 8. 8. 8
Key: C Major



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