It Was the Calm and Silent Night

It was the calm and silent night!
Seven hundred years and fifty-three
Had Rome been growing up to might,
And now was queen of land and sea.
No sound was heard of clashing wars;
Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain;
Apollo, Pallas, Jove, and Mars
Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.

O strange indifference! Low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares:
The earth was still - but knew not why;
The world was listening - unawares;
How calm a moment may precede
One that shall thrill the world for ever!
To that still moment none would heed
Man's doom was linked, no more to sever.
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.

It is the calm and silent night!
A thousand bells ring out, and throw
Their joyous peals abroad, and smite
The darkness, charmed and holy now.
The night that erst no name had worn,
To it a happy name is given;
For in that stable lay new-born
The peaceful Prince of Earth and Heaven,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.