Burning Babe, The. 
By Southwell, Robert. 


As I in hoary winter's night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat, which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye, to view what fire was near,
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear;
Who, scorched with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames, which with his tears were bred:
"Alas!" quoth he, "but newly born, in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts, or feel my fire, but I!
My faultless breast the furnace is; the fuel, wounding thorns;
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke; the ashes, shames and scorns;
The fuel Justice layeth on, and Mercy blows the coals;
The metal in this furnace wrought are men's defiled souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath, to wash them in my blood."
With this he vanished out of sight, and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I called unto mind that it was Christmas Day.