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Hymns

St Ambrose of Milan, tr. Copeland, 1848

Chapter 7

Hymn for Sext.

Now twice three hours the sun hath told,
And now the height of Heaven doth hold,
When twice three more his course hath run,
The night will fall, the day be done.

O let us then, true brethren we,
Of Psalmist’s precept mindful be,
Our lips unlock in strains of joy,
In prayer and chant our hours employ.

These seven full times in every day
With holy Psalter let us pray,
To God in due returns of praise
Our cheerful hymns and anthems raise.

’Tis thus that Christ doth sinners heal,
Thus doth His grace their pardon seal;
Who breathe confession’s constant breath,
They shall not know a sinner’s death.

Yet, who to God would pray aright,
And live, His servants in His sight,
The Apostle’s vow and saying deep
Must ever in remembrance keep.

High his reward who thus could pray,
Who thus to God in truth could say,
“I’ll pray the Lord with spirit true,
“I’ll pray with th’ understanding too.”

Not voice alone to God must sing,
While flits the soul with fluttering wing,
All wandering far, all wavering wide,
The sport of every wayward tide.

Then will our God our vows receive,
To prayer and chant His blessing give,
When the pure spirit’s inmost string
Re-echoes what the tongue doth sing.