 | Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses |  |
9
SEQUENCES.
11
Sequence for Passion-tide.
Night is on the unransomed nations:
night without a single ray:
Night of anguish, night of terror:
night, and not a hope of day.
night without a single ray:
Night of anguish, night of terror:
night, and not a hope of day.
And the captives weep in fetters:
and their spirits in them melt,
At the fullness of the darkness:
darkness such as may be felt.
and their spirits in them melt,
At the fullness of the darkness:
darkness such as may be felt.
But in other sort, that midnight
round their watch-fires' blaze they feast,
Gebal, Ammon, Moab, Edom,
all the children of the East.
round their watch-fires' blaze they feast,
Gebal, Ammon, Moab, Edom,
all the children of the East.
12
There in fiercest wise they revel:
there they pitch, secure from dread:
Ah! they little know the Puissance
of the Cake of Barley Bread!
there they pitch, secure from dread:
Ah! they little know the Puissance
of the Cake of Barley Bread!
Ah! they little guess the wonder,
far beyond an angel's ken,
Wine that blossoms into virgins,—
Corn that feeds the mighty men!
far beyond an angel's ken,
Wine that blossoms into virgins,—
Corn that feeds the mighty men!
Lo, He comes, the promised Gideon,—
comes to turn the world's new page,
Angel of the Mighty Counsel,
Father of the Future Age:
comes to turn the world's new page,
Angel of the Mighty Counsel,
Father of the Future Age:
Comes to gather round His standard
those three hundred, faint and few:
‘Set the lamps within the pitchers:
what I do, shall ye do too.’
those three hundred, faint and few:
‘Set the lamps within the pitchers:
what I do, shall ye do too.’
13
Come to storm the foeman's trenches,
in our weakness, not His might;
Shattered is that Mortal Pitcher:
freed is that Eternal Light.
in our weakness, not His might;
Shattered is that Mortal Pitcher:
freed is that Eternal Light.
Till His warfare be accomplished,
till He drain the bitter cup,
Let my Lord, the King of Israel,
stay Him in His chariot up;
till He drain the bitter cup,
Let my Lord, the King of Israel,
stay Him in His chariot up;
Stay Him till He deal the death-blow—
stay Him till He bow the Head—
Stay Him till He smite the smiter
with the “It is finished.”
stay Him till He bow the Head—
Stay Him till He smite the smiter
with the “It is finished.”
Then, as Satan and his legions
on their headlong ruin shoot,
Let their way be dark and slippery,—
let the Angel persecute;
on their headlong ruin shoot,
Let their way be dark and slippery,—
let the Angel persecute;
14
Let the Light that from the Victor
now streams forth on ransomed eyes,
(Like the Beatific Vision
on the hills of Paradise,)
now streams forth on ransomed eyes,
(Like the Beatific Vision
on the hills of Paradise,)
Be for them, the abiding terror:
be for them, the anguish sore;
Be the fullness of the blackness
of the darkness evermore!
be for them, the anguish sore;
Be the fullness of the blackness
of the darkness evermore!
We have heard, O Son of David,
Thou from Whom all comfort springs,
That the kings of Israel's sceptre
still are mercifullest kings:
Thou from Whom all comfort springs,
That the kings of Israel's sceptre
still are mercifullest kings:
Though Thine own Arm wrought salvation
when hell's squadrons were o'erthrown;
Though alone Thy followers left Thee,
Master, leave not us alone;
when hell's squadrons were o'erthrown;
Though alone Thy followers left Thee,
Master, leave not us alone;
15
For in vain we gird our armour,
those Thy foes and ours to check,
For in vain descend the valley,
There to fight with Amalek,
those Thy foes and ours to check,
For in vain descend the valley,
There to fight with Amalek,
Unless Thou, upon the mountain,
Fellow-feeler with distress,
Lift for us Thy hands in pleading,
lift them also us to bless.
Fellow-feeler with distress,
Lift for us Thy hands in pleading,
lift them also us to bless.
Grant us patience, grant us courage,
grant us this one true intent,
If we take hard blows, to deal them:
both to spend and to be spent.
grant us this one true intent,
If we take hard blows, to deal them:
both to spend and to be spent.
Joyful if the mortal pitcher
In thy cause be dashed away,
So the light may do Thee service,
Which Thy glory shall repay:
In thy cause be dashed away,
So the light may do Thee service,
Which Thy glory shall repay:
16
Victors if, with victor brethren,
by the Sea of Glass we stand,
See the King in all His beauty,
and the very Far-off Land.
by the Sea of Glass we stand,
See the King in all His beauty,
and the very Far-off Land.
17
Sequence for Low Sunday.
Though the Octave-rainbow sometimes
of our Easter has been dimmed,
While earth's thoughts, like passing vapours,
o'er the heavenly Vision skimmed:
of our Easter has been dimmed,
While earth's thoughts, like passing vapours,
o'er the heavenly Vision skimmed:
Now its pure and perfect circle
in full beauty we behold;
And unstained by earthly contact
we have touched the Shrine of Gold.
in full beauty we behold;
And unstained by earthly contact
we have touched the Shrine of Gold.
18
Thou, whose doubt was our conviction,
thou, whose “I will not believe,”
Turned to faith, has made ten thousand
wavering mourners cease to grieve:
thou, whose “I will not believe,”
Turned to faith, has made ten thousand
wavering mourners cease to grieve:
Though, poor trembling doves, we cannot
yet in that dear Cavern hide;
Though our hands as yet may wash not
in the Well-spring of that Side:
yet in that dear Cavern hide;
Though our hands as yet may wash not
in the Well-spring of that Side:
Still the word remains unshaken,
still shall be as it hath been;
“Thou hast seen, and thence believèd;
blessèd they that have not seen.”
still shall be as it hath been;
“Thou hast seen, and thence believèd;
blessèd they that have not seen.”
Sunday, towering o'er all others,
save when gauged by Easter's height,
Bright as are thy brightest compeers,
but for that surpassing light;
save when gauged by Easter's height,
Bright as are thy brightest compeers,
but for that surpassing light;
19
Teach to worship that we see not;
teach to see, but not by eye;
Handling, touching, holding, tasting,
Certainty in Mystery.
teach to see, but not by eye;
Handling, touching, holding, tasting,
Certainty in Mystery.
Teach us, O Thou Day of Wonders,
how to cleave to that He said,
To His Primal Benediction,
First born Victor o'er the dead.
how to cleave to that He said,
To His Primal Benediction,
First born Victor o'er the dead.
So let Pharaoh's hosts and princes
join His Blessing to deny,
So let all the fiends of falsehood
band in giving God the lie:
join His Blessing to deny,
So let all the fiends of falsehood
band in giving God the lie:
We more clearly, we more dearly,
we with more assured intent,
Onward press to see Him, only
then without a Sacrament.
we with more assured intent,
Onward press to see Him, only
then without a Sacrament.
Allusion is made to the Sussex proverb: “Go to the other end of the rainbow, and you will find a crock of gold.”
20
Follow Thou Me.
A SEQUENCE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF S. PETER OR S. JOHN.
[_]
[It need hardly be said that the main thought of the following sequence is taken from the sublime conclusion of S. Augustine's Commentary on S. John's Gospel. The English reader may need to be informed that the Vulgate translation of our Lord's saying, omits the If; and simply runs thus: “I will that he tarry till I come . . . . . follow thou Me.”]
Art thou fainting in the tempest,
While thy bark the huge waves toss?
Art thou faintly, feebly, dreaming
Of the gain without the loss;
Longing, O degenerate Christian,
For the Crown before the Cross?
While thy bark the huge waves toss?
Art thou faintly, feebly, dreaming
Of the gain without the loss;
Longing, O degenerate Christian,
For the Crown before the Cross?
21
It had come, that glorious Morning:
Jesus stood upon the Shore:
Scourging, Mocking, Coronation,
Crucifixion—all were o'er:
With His own the Prince of princes
Tarried yet a while once more.
Jesus stood upon the Shore:
Scourging, Mocking, Coronation,
Crucifixion—all were o'er:
With His own the Prince of princes
Tarried yet a while once more.
Stood His chief Apostle by Him;
All in love, but half in doubt:
Answering, till the thrice Confession
Blot the thrice Denial out;
Listening, how his own departure
Christ's dear Cross shall bring about.
All in love, but half in doubt:
Answering, till the thrice Confession
Blot the thrice Denial out;
Listening, how his own departure
Christ's dear Cross shall bring about.
“Follow Me,” saith He. And straightway
Went that Mighty following on:
But the loved one came behind him
In the way which He had gone:
Cephas turned; and there unbidden,
But still loving, seeth John.
Went that Mighty following on:
But the loved one came behind him
In the way which He had gone:
Cephas turned; and there unbidden,
But still loving, seeth John.
22
“Lord, and how shall this man serve Thee?
Peter, let the question be:
Hear:—“I will that he shall tarry
Till I come:—thou follow Me:”
—O sweet words of golden comfort
That shall last eternally!
Peter, let the question be:
Hear:—“I will that he shall tarry
Till I come:—thou follow Me:”
—O sweet words of golden comfort
That shall last eternally!
These Two Lives; one, the fleeting;
One, that cannot pass away:
One in exile; one in Mansions
That can never more decay:
This in faith, and that in vision
Of the Beatific Ray.
One, that cannot pass away:
One in exile; one in Mansions
That can never more decay:
This in faith, and that in vision
Of the Beatific Ray.
This gives battle to the foeman;
That no foeman hath to fight:
This is bathed in tears for failings;
That, in torrents of delight:
This is misery, this is weakness;
That perpetual joy and might.
That no foeman hath to fight:
This is bathed in tears for failings;
That, in torrents of delight:
This is misery, this is weakness;
That perpetual joy and might.
23
This forgives and is forgiven;
Pardon that nor gives nor needs;
This rolls on in ceaseless action;
That in contemplation speeds:
That with joy shall reap the harvests;
This in tears had sown the seeds.
Pardon that nor gives nor needs;
This rolls on in ceaseless action;
That in contemplation speeds:
That with joy shall reap the harvests;
This in tears had sown the seeds.
Hear it then, your Captain's watch-word,
Christians militant on earth:
Ye who sometimes think the glory
Of the labour scantly worth;
How He tells you, that hereafter
Is the banquet, here the dearth.
Christians militant on earth:
Ye who sometimes think the glory
Of the labour scantly worth;
How He tells you, that hereafter
Is the banquet, here the dearth.
“Ye,” saith He, “at once would quit you
of the struggle and the pain:
Ye at once change pain and sorrow
For the Life that shall remain:
But—My Will is that shall tarry,
Tarry till I come again.
of the struggle and the pain:
Ye at once change pain and sorrow
For the Life that shall remain:
But—My Will is that shall tarry,
Tarry till I come again.
24
“Follow Me mean while.”—And answer:
(Spite of battle and distress)
“Whatsoever snares beset us,
Whatsoever toils opprest,
When Thou puttest forth Thine own sheep,
If Thou go before them—Yes.
(Spite of battle and distress)
“Whatsoever snares beset us,
Whatsoever toils opprest,
When Thou puttest forth Thine own sheep,
If Thou go before them—Yes.
25
Sequence
FOR THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY AND THE FOLLOWING SUNDAYS TILL ADVENT.
If Death's ministration be so glorious,
If so much of beauty rest on earth—
Autumn's loveliness be so victorious
O'er the sin which gave to Autumn birth,
If so much of beauty rest on earth—
Autumn's loveliness be so victorious
O'er the sin which gave to Autumn birth,
What must that be, Life's true ministration
Fancy cannot paint, nor eye can see,
Theirs, — each kindred, people, tongue, and nation,—
Living Waters and the Living Tree?
Fancy cannot paint, nor eye can see,
Theirs, — each kindred, people, tongue, and nation,—
Living Waters and the Living Tree?
26
Shall the crimson glory of the Forest
Teach us of the Victor-Martyr's gore.
Nor, if telling of his need when sorest,
Also tell his joy for evermore?
Teach us of the Victor-Martyr's gore.
Nor, if telling of his need when sorest,
Also tell his joy for evermore?
When these leaves the autumn winds shall wildly
Hunt through dark wood avenues and glades,
Till the snow, so lovingly and mildly,
In its purity their relics shades;
Hunt through dark wood avenues and glades,
Till the snow, so lovingly and mildly,
In its purity their relics shades;
So, we think, the body of the Martyr,
From the arena dragged in foul disgrace,
Did but go the shame and scars to barter
For the gladness of a better place.
From the arena dragged in foul disgrace,
Did but go the shame and scars to barter
For the gladness of a better place.
Who may not believe the old, old story,
How this saplessness shall flush to green?
Can we not then trust Life's touch of glory,
How it ministers the things unseen?
How this saplessness shall flush to green?
Can we not then trust Life's touch of glory,
How it ministers the things unseen?
27
Sequence for All Saints.
Rear the column, high and stately,—
set it up to crown the steep;
That from Europe's southern headland
it may tell the Atlantic deep;
set it up to crown the steep;
That from Europe's southern headland
it may tell the Atlantic deep;
“Crushed is now the Arch-deceiver;
Christ is but a word of shame;
And the ‘execrable madness’
is a history and a name.
Christ is but a word of shame;
And the ‘execrable madness’
is a history and a name.
For the Cæsars, on whose footsteps
Rome's eternal guardians wait,
Pious, Victors, Ay-Augusti,
stamped its doom and sealed its fate.”
Rome's eternal guardians wait,
Pious, Victors, Ay-Augusti,
stamped its doom and sealed its fate.”
28
Ranks of Martyrs, nobly falling
in your several fields of fight,
Ranks of Martyrs, brightly glittering
in your various rings of light;
in your several fields of fight,
Ranks of Martyrs, brightly glittering
in your various rings of light;
As from earth's tumultuous voices
swelled the fierce impulsive strain,
“Let us break their bonds asunder,
let us cast away their chain.”
swelled the fierce impulsive strain,
“Let us break their bonds asunder,
let us cast away their chain.”
Joined ye not that voice of triumph
to the throne of glory sent:
“He shall reign, shall reign for ever,
King and Lord Omnipotent?”
to the throne of glory sent:
“He shall reign, shall reign for ever,
King and Lord Omnipotent?”
Bishops, whose illustrious Mitre
was a heavy Crown of Thorns,
Priests, with whose brave words and actions
Holy Church her page adorns;
was a heavy Crown of Thorns,
Priests, with whose brave words and actions
Holy Church her page adorns;
29
Virgins who, in spotless pureness,
held your lilies to the close,
Joined with such as, highlier favoured,
blent those lilies with the rose;
held your lilies to the close,
Joined with such as, highlier favoured,
blent those lilies with the rose;
Teach us all to learn the lesson
that ye learnt so long ago;
Teach us of the self-same battle,
teach us of the self-same foe;
that ye learnt so long ago;
Teach us of the self-same battle,
teach us of the self-same foe;
Yea, and teach us, teach us rather,
how to see Him, eye to eye,
Who shed forth your Martyr-graces
from the Hill of Calvary.
how to see Him, eye to eye,
Who shed forth your Martyr-graces
from the Hill of Calvary.
30
All Saints.
CHILDREN'S SEQUENCE.
Christian children, hear me,
Children, gather near me:
Of the children's Lord I sing;
Of the Child so glorious,
Of the Child victorious,
Of the Child, the children's King.
Children, gather near me:
Of the children's Lord I sing;
Of the Child so glorious,
Of the Child victorious,
Of the Child, the children's King.
31
He, on earth a stranger,
Lying in a manger,
Pillowed on His Mother's breast;
While that Virgin-Mother,
Blest above all other,
Gave Him food and gave Him rest:
Lying in a manger,
Pillowed on His Mother's breast;
While that Virgin-Mother,
Blest above all other,
Gave Him food and gave Him rest:
He had many a fervent
Happy baby servant,
Full of courage, full of love;
Many a baby martyr
Who rejoiced to barter
Life on earth for Life above.
Happy baby servant,
Full of courage, full of love;
Many a baby martyr
Who rejoiced to barter
Life on earth for Life above.
Agnes leads the story,
Agnes in her glory,
Whom they cast amidst the flame;
But the flame, defeated,
From her steps retreated
At the Infant Monarch's Name.
Agnes in her glory,
Whom they cast amidst the flame;
But the flame, defeated,
From her steps retreated
At the Infant Monarch's Name.
32
From the heavenly regions,
Girt with heavenly legions,
Eight days past, her home she sought;
And a lamb, the whitest,
Loveliest, purest, brightest,
In her loving arms she brought.
Girt with heavenly legions,
Eight days past, her home she sought;
And a lamb, the whitest,
Loveliest, purest, brightest,
In her loving arms she brought.
“These thou seest, my mother,
These, and many another,
Are my blest companions now;
Once so far above me,
Dwell with me and love me,
Palm in hand and Crown on brow.”
These, and many another,
Are my blest companions now;
Once so far above me,
Dwell with me and love me,
Palm in hand and Crown on brow.”
Lauded day by day be
Cyriac, victor-baby,
Cyriac and his mother blest;
How Julitta, tending
Till his torments ending,
Saw him enter into rest.
Cyriac, victor-baby,
Cyriac and his mother blest;
How Julitta, tending
Till his torments ending,
Saw him enter into rest.
33
Happy lambs and glorious,
Lambs o'er wolves victorious,
Doves that put the hawks to flight;
Strength made firm in weakness,
Victory won by meekness;
Faith that now is lost in sight.
Lambs o'er wolves victorious,
Doves that put the hawks to flight;
Strength made firm in weakness,
Victory won by meekness;
Faith that now is lost in sight.
Some day, some day, we too
Your bright Home will flee to,
In your song will bear our part;
Meanwhile, you above us
Very dearly love us,
As we you with all our heart.
Your bright Home will flee to,
In your song will bear our part;
Meanwhile, you above us
Very dearly love us,
As we you with all our heart.
34
Sequence for All Souls.
O the vastness! O the terror!
O the launching on the sea!
Sailing dangerous, tempest threatening—
is there no help? must it be?
O the launching on the sea!
Sailing dangerous, tempest threatening—
is there no help? must it be?
“Even so: the Admiral's flag-ship
this same way hath sailed before,
Leading to that waveless harbour,
leading to that stormless shore.”
this same way hath sailed before,
Leading to that waveless harbour,
leading to that stormless shore.”
When the South-West wind blew softly,
we supposed our purpose gained;
Full of hope, without a drawback,
shrouds were set and sails were strained;
we supposed our purpose gained;
Full of hope, without a drawback,
shrouds were set and sails were strained;
35
For we deemed the pleasant breeze that
from our native regions bore,
Very, very soon would land us
on the ever peaceful shore.
from our native regions bore,
Very, very soon would land us
on the ever peaceful shore.
And we spake of that dear Country,
And its Fourfold Streams that part,
Carrying healing to the nations,
joy to the distress'd in heart:
And its Fourfold Streams that part,
Carrying healing to the nations,
joy to the distress'd in heart:
In the valleys where they delve it,
how the gold is good indeed:
In the pastures by Life's water,
how the flocks lie down and feed:
how the gold is good indeed:
In the pastures by Life's water,
how the flocks lie down and feed:
How the Lord of that same Kingdom,
once the Admiral of this sea,
Brought His vessel to the harbour
where He wills that we should be;
once the Admiral of this sea,
Brought His vessel to the harbour
where He wills that we should be;
36
Brought her through the sorest tempest,
anchored her in quiet tides;
Where in everlasting triumph
with her victor flag she rides.
anchored her in quiet tides;
Where in everlasting triumph
with her victor flag she rides.
While we thought and spake on this wise,
clouds drew in and night drew on;
Dashed upon our labouring bulwarks
that fierce wind Euroclydon;
clouds drew in and night drew on;
Dashed upon our labouring bulwarks
that fierce wind Euroclydon;
And our Lord's own dear assistance
scarcely kept our grace alive,
When we saw the vessel caught up
in the wind and let her drive.
scarcely kept our grace alive,
When we saw the vessel caught up
in the wind and let her drive.
Yet He did not leave us wholly,
strengthening us for what remained,
As, well getting under Clauda,
by hard work our boat we gained:
strengthening us for what remained,
As, well getting under Clauda,
by hard work our boat we gained:
37
And though tempests of temptations
made our vessel lurch and dip,
By far mightier Words of Promise
now we undergird the ship.
made our vessel lurch and dip,
By far mightier Words of Promise
now we undergird the ship.
But far out the fearful Whirlpool
stretched ahead before us lay;
Hour by hour our keel was driving
for its ravenous jaws a prey.
stretched ahead before us lay;
Hour by hour our keel was driving
for its ravenous jaws a prey.
And no blessed sun gave comfort,
and no moon her gentler light,
And the stars in all their courses
sang no songs to cheer our night.
and no moon her gentler light,
And the stars in all their courses
sang no songs to cheer our night.
38
Now when prayer and toil had failed, and
no small tempest on us lay,
All the hope of our salvation—
once so bright—was ta'en away.
no small tempest on us lay,
All the hope of our salvation—
once so bright—was ta'en away.
Then stood forth God's Priest amidst us,
he whose faith could never swerve:
“Hear,” he said, “His holy message,
Whose I am, and Whom I serve.”
he whose faith could never swerve:
“Hear,” he said, “His holy message,
Whose I am, and Whom I serve.”
And he gave us Absolution,
and he taught us that the strife,
Though it cost the vessel's being,
Should not cost a single life.
and he taught us that the strife,
Though it cost the vessel's being,
Should not cost a single life.
Midnight passed,—the shipmen, deeming
that we drifted to some shore,
Cast four anchors from the sternward
longing that the night were o'er.
that we drifted to some shore,
Cast four anchors from the sternward
longing that the night were o'er.
39
Four great anchors—tried sheet-anchors—
each one in itself an host,
Those infrangible Evangels,
welded by the Holy Ghost.
each one in itself an host,
Those infrangible Evangels,
welded by the Holy Ghost.
Bound by these, we there swung safely
till the pitch-black passed away,
And an Unknown Land they made out
through the mirkiness and spray.
till the pitch-black passed away,
And an Unknown Land they made out
through the mirkiness and spray.
Ah! unknown, unknown to mortals!
Is it thus, with longing eyes,
First we see thee, first we hail thee,
First we have thee, Paradise?
Is it thus, with longing eyes,
First we see thee, first we hail thee,
First we have thee, Paradise?
Is it thus, in form so differing
from our fancied flowers and vales,
In these rock-crests swept and shattered
by the equinoctial gales?
from our fancied flowers and vales,
In these rock-crests swept and shattered
by the equinoctial gales?
40
As the lingering day was breaking,
stood our Captain forth and said,—
(All Eternity before us,—)
“I beseech you, take some Bread.”
stood our Captain forth and said,—
(All Eternity before us,—)
“I beseech you, take some Bread.”
O that Bread! that Bread of Angels!
O that Corn of Mighty men!
Never, never, had we tasted
of its mightiness as then!
O that Corn of Mighty men!
Never, never, had we tasted
of its mightiness as then!
And at length the Master called us;
(for the time was come at last
When the perils of the voyage
should for evermore be past;)
(for the time was come at last
When the perils of the voyage
should for evermore be past;)
Called us to the latest effort;
bade us all, without delay,
Plunge into that self-same sea-surge,
Where our Admiral led the way.
bade us all, without delay,
Plunge into that self-same sea-surge,
Where our Admiral led the way.
41
Planks or spars or boards or splinters,
each and all shall save from loss;
Anything Life's Tree hath hallowed;
any fragment of the Cross.
each and all shall save from loss;
Anything Life's Tree hath hallowed;
any fragment of the Cross.
—Blest the Wood whereby salvation
cometh to the shipwrecked race!
—Paradise! made sure by angels,
be henceforth our resting-place!
cometh to the shipwrecked race!
—Paradise! made sure by angels,
be henceforth our resting-place!
There beside the Living Waters
now they see Him Eye to eye,
Where shall go no oarèd galley,
no brave ship shall pass thereby;
now they see Him Eye to eye,
Where shall go no oarèd galley,
no brave ship shall pass thereby;
Living Waters, where at noon-day
feed the flocks of that far land;
Glassy and triumphant ocean,
where the guerdon'd Conquerors stand.
feed the flocks of that far land;
Glassy and triumphant ocean,
where the guerdon'd Conquerors stand.
| Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses | |