Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Richard Hurrell Froude (1803–1836)Weakness of Nature
“Be strong and He shall comfort thine heart.” “LORD, I have fasted, I have prayed | |
| And sackcloth has my girdle been, | |
| To purge my soul I have essayed | |
| With hunger blank and vigil keen; | |
| O God of Mercy! why am I | 5 |
| Still haunted by the self I fly?” | |
| Sackcloth is a girdle good, | |
| O bind it round thee still: | |
| Fasting, it is Angel’s food | |
| And Jesus loved the night-air chill; | 10 |
| Yet think not prayer and fast were given | |
| To make one step ’twixt earth and Heaven. 1 |
| Note 1. Ephesians ii. 8. [back] |