A Christmas Carol, Before the paling of the stars

Before the paling of the stars,
  Before the winter morn,
  Before the earliest cock-crow
  Jesus Christ was born:
     Born in a stable
  Cradled in a manger,
In the world His hands had made
     Born a stranger.

Priest and King lay fast asleep
  In Jerusalem,
Young and old lay fast asleep
  In crowded Bethlehem:
Saint and Angel, ox and ass,
  Kept a watch together,
  Before the Christmas daybreak
  In the winter weather.

Jesus on His Mother's breast
  In the stable cold,
Spotless Lamb of God was He,
  Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary Maid,
  With Joseph bent and hoary,
With Saint and Angel, ox and ass,
  To hail the King of Glory.