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Hymns

St Ambrose of Milan, tr. Copeland, 1848

Chapter 29

Saturday before the First Sunday, and through Advent. At Vespers.

Creator of the starry height,
Of hearts believing endless Light,
Jesu, Redeemer, bow Thine ear,
Thy suppliants’ vows in pity hear;

Who, lest the Earth, through evil eye
Of treacherous fiend should waste and die,
With mighty love instinct, wert made
Th’ expiring world’s all-healing Aid:

Who to the Cross, that world to win
From common stain of common sin,
From Virgin shrine, a Virgin Birth,
A spotless Victim issuest forth;

At vision of Whose glory bright,
At mention of Whose Name of might,
Angels on high and fiends below
In reverence or in trembling bow:

Almighty Judge, to Thee we pray,
Great Umpire of the last dread Day,
Protect us through th’ unearthly fight
With armour of celestial light.

To God, the Father, and the Son,
And Holy Ghost all praise be done:
All honour, might, and glory be
Through all the long eternity.