The Winged Herald Of The Day

From Epiphany To Lent

Words: Ales diei nuntius from Cathemerinon ("The Hymns of Prudentius"), Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-405)
Translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale in the Hymnal Noted, enlarged edition, 1854

Music: "Office Hymn"
Also "Wareham," William Knapp, 1738
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML

Source: The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), #53, p. 83.

1. The wingèd herald of the day
Proclaims the morn’s approaching ray:
And Christ the Lord our souls excites,
And so to endless life invites.

2. Take up thy bed, to each He cries,
Who sick or wrapped in slumber lies;
And chaste and just and sober stand
And watch: My coming is at at hand.

3. With earnest cry, with tearful care,
Call we the Lord to hear our prayer;
While supplication, pure and deep,
Forbids each chastened heart to sleep.

4. Do Thou, O Christ, our slumber wake:
Do Thou the chains of darkness break;
Purge Thou our former sins away,
And in our souls new light display.

5. All laud to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the holy Paraclete.

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