7. Alternate Supplications.
“O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.”
—Prayer Book.
Singer of Zion! on whose harp there hung
Tones which inspired some dying martyr-tongue,
Now would our sorrowing Mother's prayer of sighs,
Wing'd on thy words, exclaim, “Help, Lord, arise!”
Pallid, and pensive, Mary-like in woe,
That Cross beneath, whence consolations flow,
Meekly to God she lifts her asking gaze,
Which seems to brighten with celestial rays.
Lord of the Church! as Thine uplifted Arm
Scatter'd of old the wounded Dragon's
harm,
Awake! awake! put on Thy strength, and prove
The deathless valour of redeeming Love.
Egypt, and Canaan, sun, moon, and sea,
Subdued by miracle, or, awed by Thee,
Yielded their vassal-powers, and changed their laws
To aid Thy people, and promote their Cause.
And, art Thou not Eternal, and the Same?
And bear we not Thy sacramental Name,—
Baptised
for ever into Thee, and Thine,
Bone of Thy bone,
by mystery divine?
Nor bonds, nor banishment, nor rack, nor ire,
The sworded despot, or the seven-fold fire,
Fraud, force, or falsehood, have prevail'd, O Lord,
To cloud her glory, or conceal Thy word.
The blood of Martyrs proved the Church's seed,
And show'd her noblest, in the hour of need;
While pangs enrich'd the radiance of her crown,
And life was grandest, when she laid it down.
Hence, to her homeless exile, Truth can bring
Chants learnt from Christ, Whose life was suffering,
And Litanies so deep, that Angels own
Earth teaches heaven
by some mysterious tone.
And, when those sorrows, cloister'd in the heart
In which the rude cold stranger hath no part,
Sighless and speechless, are unveil'd to Thee,
Incarnate Lord of man's eternity,—
High o'er yon heavens ascends the soaring prayer,
Wafted beyond adoring Seraphs there,
And in Thine Attributes divinely-lost
Trembles round Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
