Who Is This Fair One in Distress?

Who is this fair one in dis­tress

That tra­vels from the wil­der­ness?

And pressed with sor­rows and with sins

On her be­lov­èd Lord she leans.

This is the spouse of Christ our God

Bought with the trea­sure of His blood;

And her re­quest and her com­plaint

Is but the voice of ev­ery saint.

“O let my name en­grav­en stand

Both on Thy heart and on Thy hand;

Seal me up­on Thine arm

and wear

That pledge of love for ev­er there.

“Stronger than death Thy love is known

Which floods of wrath could nev­er drown;

And hell and earth in vain com­bine

To quench a fire so much di­vine.

“But I am jeal­ous of my heart

Lest it should once from Thee de­part;

Then let Thy name be well im­pressed

As a fair sig­net on my breast.

“Till Thou hast brought me to Thy home

Where fears and doubts can nev­er come

Thy coun­te­nance let me oft­en see

And oft­en Thou shalt hear from me.

Come

my be­lov­èd

haste away

Cut short the hours of Thy de­lay;

Fly like a youth­ful hart or roe

Over the hills where spic­es grow.