"Jesus, the sweetest name on mortal tongue."
Listen, ye lonely rocks, ye waves rejoice,
"Jesus," by countless hosts of angels sung,
Awake, lone ocean isle, and lend a voice!
Hark! from surrounding cliffs a chorus rises:
"Jesus, to thee be praise and glory given."
Angels repeat it through the vaulted skies
And bear the unfinished anthem on to heaven;
Weary, he lays him down in peace to sleep
And pleasant dreams his stony pillow calm,
Bright guardian angels, vigil o'er him keep
And breathe upon the air a solemn psalm.
Away on other shores for him they mourn
Friends, who are shrouded in funereal gloom
Dark are the robes of sorrow for him worn
As one who sleeps within a watery tomb;
But oh! the bright companions 'round him now
Are dearer than when other friends were there,
Brighter the crowns upon each pearly brow,
More glorified the saintly robes they wear.
Ah! not alone the Christian vigil kept
On the lone isle, and faced his fears unawed;
When guardian angels watched him while he slept
And One was with him like the Son of God.
Listen, ye lonely rocks, ye waves rejoice,
"Jesus," by countless hosts of angels sung,
Awake, lone ocean isle, and lend a voice!
Hark! from surrounding cliffs a chorus rises:
"Jesus, to thee be praise and glory given."
Angels repeat it through the vaulted skies
And bear the unfinished anthem on to heaven;
Weary, he lays him down in peace to sleep
And pleasant dreams his stony pillow calm,
Bright guardian angels, vigil o'er him keep
And breathe upon the air a solemn psalm.
Away on other shores for him they mourn
Friends, who are shrouded in funereal gloom
Dark are the robes of sorrow for him worn
As one who sleeps within a watery tomb;
But oh! the bright companions 'round him now
Are dearer than when other friends were there,
Brighter the crowns upon each pearly brow,
More glorified the saintly robes they wear.
Ah! not alone the Christian vigil kept
On the lone isle, and faced his fears unawed;
When guardian angels watched him while he slept
And One was with him like the Son of God.
[ 107 ]
