THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
St. John Damascus, c. 750.
Tr. J. M. Neale.
Αϊσωμεν, πάντεζ λαοί.
COME, ye faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought his Israel
Into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob's sons and daughters;
Led them with unmoistened foot
Through the Red Sea waters.
2 'Tis the Spring of souls to-day;
Christ hath burst his prison,
And from three days' sleep in death
As a Sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins,
Long and dark, is flying
From his Light, to whom we give
Laud and plaice undying.
3 Now the Queen of seasons, bright
With the Day of splendour,
With the royal Feast of feasts
Comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem,
Who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strain
Jesu’s Resurrection.
4. Neither might the gates of death,
Nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal,
Hold thee as a mortal;
But to-day amidst the twelve
Thou didst stand, bestowing
That thy peace which evermore
Passeth human knowing.
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