DIES IRÆ.

When the trumpet's blast appalling,
Midst earth's charneled millions falling,
All before the throne is calling!

Death's stern heart what fear surprises,
As from dust creation rises
To the last and great assizes!

Opened are the awful pages,
Where the record of all ages

Man's eternal doom presages.

When the Judge shall take his station,
Full shall be the revelation,

Naught escape his stern probation.

What shall I, poor wretch, be pleading?

Ask what patron's interceding,

When the righteous help is needing?

King of majesty tremendous,

Who dost free salvation send us,

Save me, Source of love stupendous !

Think, O Jesus, kind and tender!
Why thou leftst thy throne of splendor,
Nor to death my soul surrender.

Me thou sought'st with travail sorest;
Crown of thorns for me thou worest;
Be not vain the toil thou borest.

Righteous Judge of dread decision,
Freely grant my sin's remission,
Ere the day of inquisition.

Deep my guilty spirit sigheth;
Shame my cheek with crimson dyeth ;
Spare the suppliant when he crieth!

435

Thou who Mary hast acquitted,

And the robber's guilt remitted,

Thou e'en me hast kindly pitied.

Though my prayers can naught avail me,
Yet let not thy goodness fail me,

Lest the endless fire assail me.

Midst thy sheep, O Saviour, hide me;
From the goats afar divide me;

On thy right a place decide me.

When thy wrath the accursed is branding,
And to fiercest flames commanding,
Let me with the blest be standing.

Lowly bowed in deep submission,
Heart like ashes, all contrition,
Care, I pray, for my condition.

Ah! that day so sad and tearful!
When, from dust arising fearful,
Man in judgment stands before thee,
Spare the culprit, Lord of glory!

A. C. KENDRICK.

DAY

Dies Ira.

AY of wrath, that day of burning,
Seer and sibyl speak concerning,

All the world to ashes turning!

Oh, what fear shall it engender,
When the Judge shall come in splendor,
Strict to mark and just to render !

DIES IRE.

Trumpet, scattering sounds of wonder,
Rending sepulchers asunder,

Shall resistless summons thunder.

All aghast then Death shall shiver,
And great Nature's frame shall quiver,
When the graves their dead deliver.

Book, where actions are recorded,
All the ages have afforded,

Shall be brought and dooms awarded.

When shall sit the Judge unerring,
He'll unfold all here occurring,
No just vengeance then deferring.

What shall I say, that time pending?
Ask what advocate's befriending,
When the just man needs defending?

Dreadful King, all power possessing,
Saving freely those confessing,
Save thou me, O Fount of Blessing!

Think, O Jesus, for what reason

Thou didst bear earth's spite and treason,
Nor me lose in that dread season!

Seeking me thy worn feet hasted;
On the cross thy soul death tasted,-
Let such travail not be wasted!

Righteous Judge of retribution?
Make me gift of absolution
Ere that day of execution!

Culprit-like, I plead, heart-broken,
On my cheek shame's crimson token:
Let the pardoning word be spoken!

437

Thou, who Mary gav'st remission,
Heard'st the dying thief's petition,
Cheer'st with hope my lost condition.

Though my prayers be void of merit,
What is needful, thou confer it,
Lest I endless fire inherit!

Be the Lord, my place decided
With thy sheep, from goats divided,
Kindly to thy right hand guided!

When the accursed away are driven,
To eternal burnings given,

Call me with the blessed to heaven!

I beseech thee, prostrate lying,
Heart as ashes, contrite, sighing,
Care for me when I am dying!

Day of tears and late repentance!
Man shall rise to hear his sentence:
Him, the child of guilt and error,
Spare, Lord, in that hour of terror !

ABRAHAM COLES.

O

God

From the Russian.

THOU eternal One! whose presence bright All space doth occupy, all motion guide; Unchanged through time's all-devastating flight; Thou only God! There is no God beside! Being above all beings! Mighty One!

Whom none can comprehend and none explore; Who fill'st existence with thyself alone; Embracing all,-supporting,-ruling o'er,Being whom we call God,—and know no more!

GOD.

In its sublime research, philosophy

May measure out the ocean-deep-may count The sands or the sun's rays-but God! for thee

439

There is no weight nor measure:-none can mount
Up to thy mysteries; Reason's brightest spark,
Though kindled by thy light, in vain would try
To trace thy counsels, infinite and dark:

And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high,
Even like past moments in eternity.

Thou from primeval nothingness didst call
First chaos, then existence;-Lord, in thee

Eternity had its foundation ;-all

Sprung forth from thee:-of light, joy, harmony Sole Origin :-all life, all beauty thine.

Thy word created all, and doth create;

Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine;

Thou art, and wert, and shalt be! Glorious! Great! Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate!

Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround:
Upheld by thee, by thee inspired with breath!
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled life and death !
As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze,

So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from thee; And as the spangles in the sunny rays

Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry
Of heaven's bright army glitters in thy praise,

A million torches lighted by thy hand
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss:
They own thy power, accomplish thy command,
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss