MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.
97
And the Blest Spirit's Advent. Here we raise
The Vessels to the Potter, prayer and praise:
That casting off the old, that Adam now
We may put on, in Death Who deigned to bow
As at this very hour: and Heavenly Flame
May purge from sin, and fire with love, our frame.
At Sexts man fell: and Christ his sentence bore,
And the noon fiend is raging evermore.
Whoe'er thou art, for whom Christ deigned to bleed
Fall on thy knees, and thank Him for the deed:
Pray that the dragon, who in this same hour
Adam destroyed, o'er thee may have no power:
That God, at noon for man a Sacrifice,
May shield thee from the flesh, and fiend's surprise.
At Nones by Adam Paradise was lost:
Christ on the Cross at Nones gave up the ghost,
And visited the faithful, to reveal
His marvellous light in shade. Thou therefore kneel,
And pray to join their band, and see their Lord
In the bright realms now lost, and now restored.
At Vesper tide the moon and stars, displayed
In their bright course, the Firmament arrayed.
For these fair signs we yield their author praise,
For the cheered darkness and the lovely rays.
At Vespers, wretched now, and doomed to ills,
Adam first saw the sunset touch the hills,
And prayed, as darkness gathered in apace,
With horror struck, for God's defending grace.
So thou who at the Font hast seen new light,
Pray that thy Sun may never sink in night.
No certain hour hath Compline: yet to God
Render we thanks for that day's journey trod:
The Vessels to the Potter, prayer and praise:
That casting off the old, that Adam now
We may put on, in Death Who deigned to bow
As at this very hour: and Heavenly Flame
May purge from sin, and fire with love, our frame.
At Sexts man fell: and Christ his sentence bore,
And the noon fiend is raging evermore.
Whoe'er thou art, for whom Christ deigned to bleed
Fall on thy knees, and thank Him for the deed:
Pray that the dragon, who in this same hour
Adam destroyed, o'er thee may have no power:
That God, at noon for man a Sacrifice,
May shield thee from the flesh, and fiend's surprise.
At Nones by Adam Paradise was lost:
Christ on the Cross at Nones gave up the ghost,
And visited the faithful, to reveal
His marvellous light in shade. Thou therefore kneel,
And pray to join their band, and see their Lord
In the bright realms now lost, and now restored.
At Vesper tide the moon and stars, displayed
In their bright course, the Firmament arrayed.
For these fair signs we yield their author praise,
For the cheered darkness and the lovely rays.
At Vespers, wretched now, and doomed to ills,
Adam first saw the sunset touch the hills,
And prayed, as darkness gathered in apace,
With horror struck, for God's defending grace.
So thou who at the Font hast seen new light,
Pray that thy Sun may never sink in night.
No certain hour hath Compline: yet to God
Render we thanks for that day's journey trod:
