"
Then spake the king who had fared alone
From the far-off kingdom, the white-hung throne:
"O brothers, brothers, so very far
Ye have followed the light of the radiant star,
"And because for a while ye see it not
Shall its faithful shining be all forgot?
"On the spirit's pathway the light still lies
Though the star be hid from our longing eyes.
"To-morrow our star will be bright once more
The little pin-hole in heaven's floor--
"The Angels pricked it to let it bring
Our feet to the throne of the new-born King!"
And the first king heard and the second heard
And their hearts grew humble before the third.
And they laid them down beside bale and beast
and their sleeping eyes saw light in the East.
For the Angels fanned them with starry wings
And the waft of visions of unseen things.
And the next gold day waned trembling and white
And the star was born of the waxing night.
And the three kings came where the Great King lay,
A little baby among the hay,
The ox and the ass were standing near
And Mary Mother beside her Dear.
Then low in the litter the kings bowed down,
They gave Him gold for a kingly crown,
And frankincense for a great God's breath
and Myrrh to sweeten the day of death.
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