Ye who
clad in shining raiment
Watch within the empty tomb
Where the dear Lord’s sacred body
Lay in death through yester’s gloom
Tell us
guests from realms of glory
All the resurrection’s story!
How the tide of life returning
Flushed the piercèd hands and feet;
How the heart so lately broken
Once again began to beat;
How the head by thorns so wounded
Victory’s aureole surrounded!
glorious one whose garment
Gleameth whiter than the snow
And whose countenance as lightning
Laid the watch
like dead men
low;
Mightiest one
from Heav’n descended
Tell us how the tomb was rended!
How the seal secure was broken
Ere the dawning of the day;
How the solid earth was shaken
When the stone was rolled away;
While the world unconscious slumbered
And the hours of death were numbered.
Tell—but oh
no tongue can utter
What transcendeth speech and thought!
Passeth angels’ comprehension
How the miracle was wrought.
He was dead; and lo! He liveth;
Yea
and life eternal giveth!
Forth He came! the human body
He for man the fallen wore
And the human soul united
Glorified forevermore;
That in wondrous re-creation
Man might share His exaltation.
While He fasted in the desert
Tempted long and sorely tried
Prayed in anguish in the garden
On the cross in anguish died;
Watching with her Lord and weeping
Solemn fast the Church was keeping.
Feast of feasts the fast succeedeth!
Once again the strain is poured:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory to the risen Lord!
Song of songs
in endless gladness
Drowning pain and doubt and sadness.
Alleluia! He is risen!
Ris’n indeed! the shouts resound
Holy greeting answers greeting;
Joy at last on earth is found.
Shore to shore the salutations
Bind as one redeemèd nations.
Alleluia! Choirs of angels
To the choirs of earth respond;
Rolleth seas and skies beyond.
Heav’n and earth at last shall sever
But the song shall peal forever!
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