That sinners might for ever live, The great Creator dies, And by His death to new estate Our souls enraptured rise. There, Satan groaned in baffled hate, Where Christ our triumph won— For what to Him was deathly loss, To man was life begun. III He grasps the envied prize, but fails, And while he wounds, he dies; But calmly, and with mighty power, The King secures the prize; And, leaving earth, His triumph won, He seeks His native skies. IV And now triumphant o’er the grave, The Lord to earth returns; To new create our fallen race, His soul with ardour burns; Down to the dwellings of the lost, To dwell with man He came; And hearts in grievous bondage held, Receive Him with acclaim. ALLELUIA, DULCE CARMEN Found in three MSS. of the eleventh century in the British Museum Library, and published by the Surtees Society in the “Latin Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church,” from a MS. of the eleventh century, in Durham Library. I Alleluia, hymn of sweetness, Joyful voice of ceaseless praise; Alleluia, pleasant anthem, Choirs celestial sweetly raise: This the song of those abiding In the house of God always. II Alleluia, Mother Salem, All Thy people joy in song; Alleluia, walls and bulwarks Evermore the notes prolong: Ah! beside the streams of Babel, Exiled, weep we o’er our wrong. III Alleluia, ’tis befitting That our song should falter here; Alleluia, can we sing it When the clouds of wrath appear? To bemoan our sin with weeping, Now the time is drawing near. IV Trinity, for ever blessed! May we sing the gladsome lay, When from sin our souls are severed, And the clouds have passed away, And we share the Easter glory, In the realms of endless day? _Ascension_ ÆTERNE REX ALTISSIME A hymn of complex authorship and of frequently altered text. I Eternal King, enthroned on high, Redeemer, strong Thy folk to save; Thee, powerful death, by death o’ercome, A royal crown of triumph gave. II Ascending to the throne of God, Beyond the glittering host of heaven, More power than human hand could give To Thee, victorious King, is given. III Three kingdoms bow before Thee now— The heavens above, the earth below, Hell’s dark abode—and to their Lord, On bended knee, submission show. IV All awe inspired, the angel host Behold man’s changed estate, amazed; Our sinful flesh, by flesh renewed, And man, true God, to Godhead raised.