MUSIC.Whenthe heart is overflowing,Now with sorrow, now with joy,And its fulness mocks our showing,Like a spell that words destroy:When the soul is all devotion,Till its rapture grows a painAnd to free the pent emotionEven prayer’s wings spread in vain:Then but one relief is given:Not a voice of mortal birth,But a language born in heaven,And in mercy lent to earth:Lent to consecrate our sighing,Shed a glory on our tears,And uplift us without dyingTo the Vision-circled spheres.
MUSIC.Whenthe heart is overflowing,Now with sorrow, now with joy,And its fulness mocks our showing,Like a spell that words destroy:When the soul is all devotion,Till its rapture grows a painAnd to free the pent emotionEven prayer’s wings spread in vain:Then but one relief is given:Not a voice of mortal birth,But a language born in heaven,And in mercy lent to earth:Lent to consecrate our sighing,Shed a glory on our tears,And uplift us without dyingTo the Vision-circled spheres.
Whenthe heart is overflowing,Now with sorrow, now with joy,And its fulness mocks our showing,Like a spell that words destroy:When the soul is all devotion,Till its rapture grows a painAnd to free the pent emotionEven prayer’s wings spread in vain:Then but one relief is given:Not a voice of mortal birth,But a language born in heaven,And in mercy lent to earth:Lent to consecrate our sighing,Shed a glory on our tears,And uplift us without dyingTo the Vision-circled spheres.
Whenthe heart is overflowing,Now with sorrow, now with joy,
And its fulness mocks our showing,Like a spell that words destroy:
When the soul is all devotion,Till its rapture grows a pain
And to free the pent emotionEven prayer’s wings spread in vain:
Then but one relief is given:Not a voice of mortal birth,
But a language born in heaven,And in mercy lent to earth:
Lent to consecrate our sighing,Shed a glory on our tears,
And uplift us without dyingTo the Vision-circled spheres.