26
MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.
The Company of Angels
Are praising Thee on high:
And mortal men, and all things
Created, make reply.
Are praising Thee on high:
And mortal men, and all things
Created, make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With Palms before Thee went;
Our praise, and prayer, and anthems
Before Thee we present.
With Palms before Thee went;
Our praise, and prayer, and anthems
Before Thee we present.
In hastening to Thy Passion,
They rais'd their hymns of praise:
In reigning 'midst Thy glory,
Our melody we raise.
They rais'd their hymns of praise:
In reigning 'midst Thy glory,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King!
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King!
This last is adopted in the Sarum Hymnal, but with alterations; (among which such as in ver. 2, "Our Blessed King we own," and in ver. 3, "On earth do make reply.") And in Hymns Ancient and Modern, with one change only, and that an improvement; (1. 1,) "All glory, laud, and honour."
Another verse was usually sung, till the 17th century; at the pious quaintness of which we can scarcely avoid a smile:
Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider,
And we the little ass;
That to God's Holy City
Together we may pass.
