Hark In The Wilderness

An Imitation

For The Weeks After Epiphany

Words: Clamantis ecce vox sonans, by Nicholas le Tourneux, Seventeenth Century.

Translation:  Robert Campbell, of Sherrington

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), p. 50.

	Hark, in the wilderness 
	The Lord's forerunner pleads, 
	While crowds of mourners press 
	To show their wicked deeds ; 
And with the guilty throng draws nigh 
The Lamb of God, so soon to die. 

	But since the brightest star 
	Grows pale before the sun, 
	How shall the Baptist dare 
	To cleanse the Holy One ? 
This God declares to be his will : 
'All righteousness I must fulfil

	O Baptist, 'tis thy part 
	That cleanser to confess, 
	Whose Spirit comes the heart 
	To purify and bless ; 
Then, Saviour, in thy name we boast ; 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost 

Note from Shipley:

55. Clamantis, ecce, vox sonans. Vespers Hymn from the Paris Breviary, by Nicholas le Tourneux, Seventeenth Century. Hark in the wilderness. An imitation. Robert Campbell. 50

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