Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Edmund Spenser. 1552159984. Easter
MOST glorious Lord of Lyfe! that, on this day, | |
Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin; | |
And, having harrowd hell, didst bring away | |
Captivity thence captive, us to win: | |
This joyous day, deare Lord, with joy begin; | 5 |
And grant that we, for whom thou diddest dye, | |
Being with Thy deare blood clene washt from sin, | |
May live for ever in felicity! | |
And that Thy love we weighing worthily, | |
May likewise love Thee for the same againe; | 10 |
And for Thy sake, that all lyke deare didst buy, | |
With love may one another entertayne! | |
So let us love, deare Love, lyke as we ought, | |
—Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught. |