4 Hymns: II. Who Is This Fair One?

Who is this fair one in distress,

That travels from the wilderness,

And press’d with sorrows and with sins

On her beloved Lord she leans?

This is the spouse of Christ our God,

Bought with the treasures of His blood,

And her request and her complaint

Is but the voice of ev’ry saint:

‘O let my name engraven stand

Both on Thy heart and on Thy hand;

Seal me upon mine arm and wear

That pledge of love for ever there.

‘Stronger than death Thy love is known

Which floods of wrath could never drown,

And hell and earth in vain combine

To quench a fire so much divine.

‘But I am jealous of my heart

Lest it should once from Thee depart;

Then let my name be well impress’d

As a fair signet on Thy breast.

‘Till Thou hast brought me to Thy home,

Where fears and doubts can never come,

Thy countenance let me often see,

And often shalt Thou hear from me:

‘Come, my beloved, haste away,

Cut short the hours of Thy delay,

Fly like a youthful hart or roe,

Over the hills where spices blow.