And Mary answering: 'Wist ye not that He
Would rise again? O Sisters, verily,
Goeth He on before to Galilee.
Praise we the God of Jacob. Lo, 'tis He
Who Death by Life hath conquered, gloriously.
'Praise we the God of Israel. Oh, see,
Redeemed hath He His people. Verily,
In streams hath God salvation poured, since He,
The Lamb, hath sacrificed to set them free
From out the land of their captivity.
'The Lamb of God, whom prophets did espy,
The earth hath visited. Nor was His cry
Heard, in the ears of those who ruthlessly
Shed His dear Life-Blood. For the iniquity
Of Jacob was He smitten, utterly.'
The Angel of the Highest passed by
And saw the Blood-stained lintel. Lo, the cry
Is heard of adoration, which on high
For ever shall be uttered gloriously
In benediction for His victory.
The Lord hath gone before: His Cloud was nigh
And in the Cloud the brightness. Lo, we see
The Cloud hath fallen. But the Sun on high
Shines over all the earth. As Victor He,
The Lord, returns in triumph, gloriously.
Now in the shadows resting peacefully,
Behold the Sons of ancient prophecy
With Patriarchs and Fathers. There they be,
All generations of the Blest: for see,
On them hath shone the Orient from on high.
Blest be the God of Israel. Lo, we be
But His poor hand-maids: yet on us hath He
Mercy poured out in His benignity:
And from the dust of our great poverty
Raised Him a Branch to flourish, endlessly.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote