CHRISTMAS.

 Slow, slow and weak,

As first the tongue began to speak,

The hand to serve, the heart to feel,

Grew up among our mutual¹ deeds,

Great flower out-topping all the weeds,

Sweet fruit that meets all human needs,

Our love—our common weal.

It spread so wide, so high,

We saw it broad against the sky,

Down shining where we trod;

It stormed our new-born consciousness,

Omnipotent² to heal and bless,

Till we conceived—we could no less,

It was the love of God!

Came there a man at length

Whose heart so swelled³ with the great strength

Of love that would have way,

That in his body he fulfilled

The utmost service love had willed;

And the great stream, so held, so spilled,

Pours on until to-day.

Still we look back to this grand dream,

Still stoop to drink at this wide stream,

Wider each year we live;

And on one yearly blessed day,

Seek not to earn and not to pay,

But to let love have its one way,—

To quench⁴ our thirst to give!

Brothers, cease not to bless the name

Of him who loved through death and shame,

We cannot praise amiss;

But not in vain was sown the seed;

Look wide where thousands toil⁵ and bleed,

Where men meet death for common need—

Hath no man loved but this?

Yea, all men love; we love to-day

Wide as the human race has sway,

Ever more deep, more dear;

No stream,—an everlasting⁶ sea,

Beating and throbbing⁷ to be free,

To give it forth⁸ there needs must be

One Christmas all the year!

1 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

2 omnipotent   

adj.全能的，万能的

参考例句：

• When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of science.我们达到万能以后就不需要科学了。
• Money is not omnipotent,but we can't survive without money.金钱不是万能的，但是没有金钱我们却无法生存。

3 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

4 quench   

vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制

参考例句：

• The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
• Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。

5 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

6 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。

7 throbbing   

a. 跳动的,悸动的

参考例句：

• My heart is throbbing and I'm shaking. 我的心在猛烈跳动，身子在不住颤抖。
• There was a throbbing in her temples. 她的太阳穴直跳。

8 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。