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DIES IRE

IES iræ, dies illa!

Solvet sæclum in favilla,
Teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando Judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus.

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulcra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit, et natura,
Quum resurget creatura,
Judicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
In quo totum continetur,
Unde mundus judicetur.

Judex ergo cum sedebit,
Quidquid latet, apparebit:
Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum, miser! tunc dicturus,
Quem patronum rogaturus,
Quum vix justus sit securus?

Rex tremendæ majestatis,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis,
Salva me, fons pietatis!

Recordare, Jesu pie,

Quod sum causa tuæ viæ;
Ne me perdas illa die!

Quærens me, sedisti lassus,
Redemisti, crucem passus:
Tantus labor non sit cassus.

Juste Judex ultionis,
Donum fac remissionis,
Ante diem rationis.

Ingemisco tanquam reus,
Culpa rubet vultus meus;
Supplicanti parce, Deus!

Qui Miriam absolvisti,
Et latronem exaudisti,
Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces meæ non sunt dignæ,
Sed Tu bonus fac benigne
Ne perenni cremer igne!

Inter oves locum præsta,
Et ab hædis me sequestra,
Statuens in parte dextra.

Confutatis maledictis,
Flammis accribus addictis,
Voca me cum benedictis!

Oro supplex et acclinis,
Cor contritum quasi cinis,
Gere curam mei finis.

Lacrymosa dies illa!
Qua resurget ex favilla
Judicandus homo reus:
Huic ergo parce, Deus!

THOMAS DI CELANO.

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DIES IRE

AY of wrath! of days that Day!
Earth in flames shall pass away,
Heathen seers with prophets say.

What swift terrors then shall fall,
When descends the Judge of all,
Every action to recall.

Hark! the trump, with wondrous tone,
Wakes the graves of nations gone,
Forcing all before the Throne.

Death shall die fair nature too,

When the creature, risen anew,
Answers to his God's review.

He the fatal scroll shall spread,
Writ with all things done or said,
Thence to judge th' awakened dead.

Lo! he takes his seat of light:
All that's dark shall leap to sight,
Guilt, the sword of vengeance smite.

What shall I, then, wretched plead?
Who will mediate in my need,
When the just shall scarce succeed?

King majestic! Sovereign dread!
Saving all for whom He bled,
Save thou me, Salvation's head!

Holy Jesus! priceless stay!
Think! for me thy bleeding way!
Lose me not, upon that day.

Faint and weary, thou hast sought
By the cross, my crown hast bought:
Can such anguish be for naught?

Oh! avenging Judge severe,
Grant remission, full and clear,
Ere th' accounting day appear.

Like a guilty thing I moan; Flushed my cheek, my sins I own: Hear, O God, thy suppliant's groan.

Magdalen found grace with thee,
So the thief upon the tree;
Hope too thou hast breathed in me.

Worthless are my vows, I know,
Yet, dear Lord, thy mercy show,
Lest I sink in endless woe.

From the goats my lot divide;
With thy lambs a place provide,
On thy right and near thy side.

When th' accursed sink in shame,
Given to tormenting flame,
With thy blessed write my name.

Bowed to earth, I strive in prayer;
Heart like cinders, see, I bear,-
Its last throbbing be thy care!

THE RETURN

HEY come from the ends of the earth,
White with its aged snows;

THEY

From the bounding breast of the tropic tide,

Where the day-beam ever glows:

From the east where first they dwelt,

From the north and the south and the west— Where the sun puts on his robe of light,

And lays down his crown to rest.

Out of every land they come:

Where the palm triumphant grows,

Where the vine overshadows the roofs and the hills, And the gold-orbed orange glows;

Where the olive and fig-tree thrive,

And the rich pomegranates red;

Where the citron blooms, and the apple of ill

Bows down its fragrant head;

From the lands where the gems are born

Opal and emerald bright;

From shores where the ruddy corals grow,
And pearls with their mellow light;
Where silver and gold are dug,

And the diamond rivers roll,

And the marble white as the still moonlight
Is quarried, and jetty coal.

They come with a gladdening shout,
They come with a tear of joy—
Father and daughter, youth and maid,
Mother and blooming boy.

A thousand dwellings they leave

Dwellings but not a home:

To them there is none but the sacred soil,

And the land whereto they come.

And the Temple again shall be built,

And filled as it was of yore;

And the burden be lift from the heart of the world,

And the nations all adore:

Prayers to the throne of heaven

Morning and eve shall rise, And unto and not of the Lamb

Shall be the sacrifice.

PHILIP JAMEs Bailey.