56
PRAYERS AT MASS
THE SEQUENCE FOR THE DEAD.
| The day of wrath, that dreadful day, | Dies irae, dies illa, |
| Shall the whole world in ashes lay, | Solvet saeculum in favilla, |
| As David and the Sibyl say. | Teste David cum Sibylla. |
| What horror must invade the mind, | Quantus tremor est futurus, |
| When the approaching Judge shall find | Quando Judex est venturus, |
| Few venial faults in all mankind! | Cuncta stricte discussurus! |
| The last loud trumpet's wond'rous sound | Tuba mirum spargens sonum |
| Shall through the rending tombs rebound, | Per sepulchra regionum, |
| And wake the nations under ground. | Coget omnes ante thronum. |
| Nature and death shall with surprise | Mors stupebit, et natura, |
| Behold the trembling sinner rise, | Cum resurget creatura, |
| To view his Judge with conscious eyes. | Judicanti responsura. |
| Then shall, with universal fear, | Liber scriptus proferetur, |
| The seven-sealed judgment book appear, | In quo totum continetur, |
| To scan the whole of life's career. | Unde mundus judicetur. |
| The Judge ascends his awful throne, | Judex ergo cum sedebit, |
