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.