First let the birds, with painted plumage gay,

Exalt their great Creator's praise, and say

Alleluia !

Then let the beasts of earth, with varying strain,
Join in creation's hymn, and cry again

Alleluia !

The Son and Spirit we adore.

Praise be done to the Three in One!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia !

Translation by J. M. NEALE, 1854, from the Latin of NOTKER, d. 912.

82.

(1. CORINTHIANS XIII.)

GRACIOUS Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Taught by Thee we covet most,
Of Thy gifts at Pentecost,
Holy, heavenly Love.

Faith, that mountains could remove,
Tongues of earth or heaven above,
Knowledge, all things, empty prove
Without heavenly Love.

Though I as a martyr bleed,
Give my goods the poor to feed,
All is vain, if Love I need;
Therefore give me Love.

Love is kind and suffers long,
Love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
Love than death itself more strong;
Therefore give us Love.

Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day;
Love will ever with us stay;
Therefore give us Love.

Faith will vanish into sight;
Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright;
Therefore give us Love.

Faith and Hope and Love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;
But the greatest of the three

And the best is Love.

BISHOP CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, 1862.

83.

(JOEL II. 12-17).

THE solemn season calls us now
A holy fast to keep;

Let all pour forth the contrite vow,
Let priest and people weep.

Yet come not thou with tears alone,
Or outward form of prayer;

But let it in thine heart be known
That penitence is there.

Thy breast to beat, or garment rend,
God asketh not of thee;

Thy stubborn soul He bids thee bend
In true humility.

O righteous Judge, if Thou wilt deign
To grant us all we need,

We pray for time to turn again,
And grace to turn indeed.

Blest Three in One, with grief sincere
To Thee we humbly pray,
Let fruits of penitence appear
To bless this fasting-day.

Translation by JOHN CHANDLER, 1837, from the Latin of the Paris Breviary, 1736.

84.

(PSALM XLII.)

AS pants the hart for cooling streams
When heated in the chase,

So longs my soul, O God, for Thee,
And Thy refreshing grace.

For Thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
O when shall I behold Thy face,
Thou Majesty divine?

Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still, and thou shalt sing
The praise of Him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom we adore,

Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

TATE and BRADY, 1696.

85.

(PSALM LI.)

HAVE mercy, Lord, on me,

As Thou wert ever kind;

Let me, oppressed with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.

Wash off my foul offence,

And cleanse me from my sin; For I confess my crime, and see How great my guilt hath been.

Against thee, Lord, alone,

And only in Thy sight,

Have I transgressed, and, though condemned, Must own Thy judgments right.

Withdraw not Thou Thy help,

Nor cast me from Thy sight,

Nor let Thy Holy Spirit take
Its everlasting flight.

The joy Thy favour gives

Let me again obtain,

And Thy free Spirit's firm support

My fainting soul sustain.

TATE and BRADY, 1696.