st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

;
Like
150 ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS.
For earthly labours, earthly pleasures,
And carnal joys, he cares no more :
Where are his kinsfolk and acquaintance ?
They stand upon another shore.
Let us say, around him pressed,
Grant him, Lord, eternal rest !"
There are eight Idiomela composed by Damas
cene in the Funeral Service, one for each tone. 1 In
Lequien s edition only four of these are given, but
the remainder will be found in the Euchologium. 2
As I am not aware that they have ever appeared in
an English version, I will venture to give the follow
ing :
FUNERAL HYMN.
i.
What pride of life abides untouch d by sorrow ?
What earthly glory fades not on the morrow ?
fleeting shadows, or like dreams deceiving,
One moment ours, then Death s the all-receiving.
Then let
Thy face upon our lost one shine ;
Cheer him, sweet Saviour, with Thy love divine,
And give repose to this elect of Thine !
Ah me !
the agony of life departing :
How grieves the soul, on her long journey starting
!
n.
1
The eight tones, or modes, referred to, answer to the Gre
gorian in the Western Church ; four, called authentic, corres
ponding to the first, third, fifth, and seventh Gregorian ;
and
the other four, called plagal, corresponding to the even num
bers. A ninth is sometimes reckoned. See Neale s "Eastern
Church," p. 1046.
2 Ed. Venice (1862), p. 414.