Summary

The speaker regretfully explains that this divine redemption through music is not yet possible. First, Christ, now only a defenseless infant, must redeem mankind through his sacrifice on the Cross. This will cause not a beautiful celestial song, but a "trump of doom" (156). It will be like the blasting fire from Mt. Sinai as the final judgment takes place, but afterwards mankind will know "full and perfect" bliss (168). That joyous occasion begins with Christ's birth, though, which has already resulted in the capture of dangers of an older mythological world: dragons, prophecies, nymphs, and all sorts of pagan gods and symbols flee because Christ has been born. Bethlehem, the city where he was born, now burns so brightly that none of these false gods can persist. Demons and other spirits are sent to their graves by Christ's presence, as the holy Virgin lays her...