Hymns from the East

In silent beauty, o’er our heads,
The stars shine grand.

II

The orb of day his race hath run,
But see what glory comes to view,
As, full of radiance, one by one,
The stars shine true.

III

Now bright their silver light appears,
And reverent eyes behold the sight;
Hope lights the darkness of our fears —
The stars shine bright.

IV

When on our life the curtain falls,
And fast descends a threatening night,
Then, lest dismay the soul appals,
The stars shine bright.

V

O great the wisdom, great the power, —
God draws the curtains of the night,
And, in the dark and lonesome hour,
The stars shine bright.

VI

The glory and the truth of God,
His lovingkindness and His care, —
Such is the light He sheds abroad,
His stars shine rare.

I

A crown of gold surpassing rare,
The western hills, in beauty, wear;
And earth and sea reflect the light,
That fades before th’ approach of night.

II

O Glorious Sun! whose peerless ray
Illumes the realm of endless day,
Shine on a world where darkness dwells,
And all the joy of day dispels.

III

Soft o’er the land the twilight creeps;
Night falls apace, and nature sleeps;
O let not night my life control,
And plunge in sleep my drowsy soul.

IV

Sleep to the weary pilgrim give,
But let the soul through slumber live;
Wake when the first faint gleam of morn
Tells that another day is born.

V

Light of my life! bid night depart,
Sing to my soul, and cheer my heart;
That morn, and noon, and night may be
One beauteous day of joy to me.

VI

And when the brightest morn shall break,
And bid the eternal day awake,
O Glorious Sun! in radiance shine,
To guard from night the realm divine.

CHRISTMAS

CAROL[1 - This carol has been set to excellent and appropriate music by Mr. Arthur Henry Brown, Brentwood, Essex, and is published by Novello & Co., London. It is noteworthy that Mr. Brown is honourably associated with Eastern Hymnody by his tune, St. Anatolius, which was composed for Dr. Neale’s rendering of the Greek evening hymn, τὴν ἡμέραν διελθών, “The day is past and over”; and also by Orthodoxus and Apostolicus, which were composed for The Ektene and The Litany Of The Deacon respectively; and by St. Stythians, composed for βασιλεῦ οὐράνιε παράκλητε, “O King, enthroned on high” – renderings by the present author, all of which find a place in the new edition of Church Hymns.]

καὶ Ποιμένες εἶδον τὸ θαῦμα,

Ἀγγέλων ἀνυμνούντων, καὶ λεγόντων·

Δόξα

I

The Lord of Life to earth came down, —
Come, gaily sound His praises high;
O ’twas a day of high renown,
While angels praise Him in the sky.

Refrain

The shepherds saw a wondrous sight,