Unto the Queen bow ye yourselves, and my God’s most pure Mother pray that she may bend her knees with you, and unto mercy him incline; for hearken’d unto she will be, as Mother and as nurturer. _Ode vi. Irmos._ Life’s sea perturbed.... My lips are silent, and my tongue speaks not, but my heart cries, because, contrition’s fire consuming it within, it burns, and, with a voice unutterable, invoketh thee, O Virgin. Regard me from on high, O Mother of God, and mercifully now attend to come and visit me, that, seeing thee, I may rejoice, departing from the body. When broken are the bonds, dissolv’d the laws of natural setting, and those of every bodily substance, to need importable and straight they subject me. _Glory._ Place me, O Queen, in holy Angels’ sacred and revered hands, that cover’d by their wings, I may not see the forms devoid of grace, and foul, and dark of demons. _Both now._ Thou all-revered bridal-room of God, me worthy count to enter in the heavenly spiritual bridal-room, enkindling with thy mercy’s holy oil my quenched and unshining lamp. _Condakion, tone vi._ My soul, my soul, arise, why sleepest thou? The end draws very near, and thou hast need to pray. Then rouse thyself, that Christ God may compassionate thee, he who is present everywhere, and filleth everything. _Icos._ Beholding open Christ’s remedial fount, and Adam drawing healing thence, the devil, suffering, wounded was, wailed as they who ill receive, and cried to those conjoin’d with him, What shall I do to Mary’s Son? He killeth me, the Bethleemite, he who is present everywhere, and filleth everything. _Ode vii. Irmos._ The angel made the furnace to bedew.... Me unprepar’d death’s dark and moonless night o’ertaken hath, and journeying unprepar’d, along that straight and fearful way, O may thy mercy company me, O Queen. Lo, verily, all my days in vanity wasted are, as hath been written, and my years with care, and deadly bitter snares, in truth, prevented have my soul, and these me still constrain. Let not the number of my sins thy great beneficence exceed, O Queen; but let thy mercy come on me, and all mine oversteppings do thou hide. _Glory._ Leading me hence they go, on all sides binding me, and, fill’d with much rebellion, quelled is my soul, and fears; but, O thou Pure, with thine appearance, do thou it appease. _Both now._ In mine affliction have I no one found to mourn with me and comfort me, O Queen; for mine acquaintances and friends have now together quitted me; but, thou who art my trust, do thou forsake me not. _Ode viii. Irmos._ From flame thou didst a dew outpour on reverend ones....