(FROM THE FRENCH OF FRED. CHAVANNES.)
"Tu m'as aimé, seigneur, avant que la lumiere."
O Lord, thou lovèdst me, ere shone the light
Upon the worlds thy voice had called to be;
Ere yet the sun, rejoicing in his might,
Shed life in floods athwart their orbits bright;
My God, thou lovèdst me.
Thou lovèdst me, when hung the lifeless frame
Of Jesus Christ upon th' accursèd tree;
When to redeem me from th' eternal flame
Thy holy Son endured my sin and blame;
My God, thou lovèdst me.
Thou lovèdst me, when fires of love divine,
Lit in my heart by Thy good Spirit free;
Opened new heavens upon my soul to shine;
When peaceful fruits of righteousness were mine;
My God, thou lovèdst me.
And thou wilt love me, — whom thy love hath crowned
Nor sin, nor earth, nor hell shall pluck from thee;
Where sin abounded, grace doth more abound;
Only my love to thine be answering found,
O thou, who lovèdst me!
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