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224
DIES IRÆ.
Day of wrath! that awful day,
Earth in ashes sinks away!
David and the Sibyl say.
Earth in ashes sinks away!
David and the Sibyl say.
Oh! what terror will arise,
When the Judge shall leave the skies,
All to mark with searching eyes!
When the Judge shall leave the skies,
All to mark with searching eyes!
And the trumpet's wondrous sound
Through the nations under-ground
Gathers all the throne around.
Through the nations under-ground
Gathers all the throne around.
Death shall shudder—Nature then
Tremble, as she wakes agen,
Answering to the Judge of men.
Tremble, as she wakes agen,
Answering to the Judge of men.
Forth is brought the volume penned,
Wherein all things are contained,
Whence the world shall be arraigned.
Wherein all things are contained,
Whence the world shall be arraigned.
Therefore, when the Judge shall reign,
All that's hidden shall be plain,
Nought shall unavenged remain.
All that's hidden shall be plain,
Nought shall unavenged remain.
225
What then, wretched, shall I say,
Or what intercessor pray,
When the just may scarce find stay.
Or what intercessor pray,
When the just may scarce find stay.
King of awful majesty!
Who thy chosen savest free,
Save me, Fount of Piety!
Who thy chosen savest free,
Save me, Fount of Piety!
Jesus, thou hast not forgot
Me, the cause of thy sad lot;
In that day, oh, lose me not!
Me, the cause of thy sad lot;
In that day, oh, lose me not!
Seeking me, thou satst in pain,
On the cross for me hast lain:
May such anguish not be vain!
On the cross for me hast lain:
May such anguish not be vain!
Judge of vengeance! righteous King!
Gift of thy remission bring,
Ere the day of reckoning.
Gift of thy remission bring,
Ere the day of reckoning.
Like a wretch condemned I groan,
Red with guilt my face is shown;
Spare me kneeling at thy throne!
Red with guilt my face is shown;
Spare me kneeling at thy throne!
Thou, who pitiedst Mary's grief,
And didst hear the dying thief,
Me hast also given relief.
And didst hear the dying thief,
Me hast also given relief.
All unworthy is my prayer,
But thou, good, in mercy spare
Flames eternal from my share.
But thou, good, in mercy spare
Flames eternal from my share.
226
'Mid thy flock then let me stand,
Parted from the goats' foul band,
Placing me on thy right hand.
Parted from the goats' foul band,
Placing me on thy right hand.
When th' accurséd, put to shame,
Are consigned to fiercest flame,
With thy Blessed call my name.
Are consigned to fiercest flame,
With thy Blessed call my name.
Bowed and suppliant I bend,
Crushed like dust my heart I rend;
Take thou care, Lord! of mine end.
Crushed like dust my heart I rend;
Take thou care, Lord! of mine end.
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