THE RETURN HOME. A Cento from the Canon of S. John Climacos. Safe home, safe home in port! The prize, the prize secure! Bare all he could endure, And bare not always well: No more the foe can harm : And need of ready lamp: And yet how nearly he had failed,- The lamb is in the fold In perfect safety penn'd : The lion once had hold, And thought to make an end; But One came by with Wounded Side, And for the sheep the Shepherd died. The exile is at home! -O nights and days of tears, O sins, and doubts, and fears,— What matter now, when (so men say) The King has wip'd those tears away? O happy, happy Bride! Thy widow'd hours are past, LET OUR CHOIR NEW ANTHEMS RAISE. A Cento from the Canon for SS. Timothy and Maura; May 3. τῶν ἱερῶν ἀθλοφόρων. Let our Choir new anthems raise : Never flinch'd they from the flame, From the torture, never; Vain the foeman's sharpest aim, Satan's best endeavour: For by faith they saw the Land Decked in all its glory, Where triumphant now they stand With the victor's story. Faith they had that knew not shame, Momentary anguish. He Who trod the self-same road, Death and Hell defeated; Wherefore these their passions show'd Calvary repeated. Up and follow, Christian men! Press through toil and sorrow! Spurn the night of fear, and then,Oh the glorious morrow! Who will venture on the strife? Blest who first begin it! Who will grasp the Land of Life? "AND WILT THOU PARDON, LORD." The following Stanzas are a Cento from the Canon for the Monday of the First Tone; in the Paracletice. τῶν αμαρτιῶν μου τὴν πληθύν. And wilt Thou pardon, LORD, A sinner such as I? Although Thy book his crimes record So deep are they engrav'd,— The righteous scarcely shall be sav'd, My soul, make all things known That so the LAMB may yet atone |