Ralph Vaughan Williams
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 Thine arm and wear
That pledge of love for ever there
Stronger than death Thy lovе is known
Which floods of wrath could never drown
And hell and еarth 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 has 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."