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26
MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.

    The Company of Angels

    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.

    In hastening to Thy Passion,

    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!

    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.