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Home  »  The Poets’ Bible  »  Waiting for Departure

W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.

Waiting for Departure

From the Parisian Breviary

Translated by Isaac Williams

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”—2 TIM. IV. 6.

ENOUGH, O Paul, enough; and now

A crown in Heaven awaits thy brow,

Thy earthly toils are nearly done,

Thy heavenly prize is all but won;

Long toss’d by ills, on land and sea,

The shore is all but gain’d by thee.

Long time, ’mid stonings, rods, and chains,

Watchings, and cares, and dying pains,

Thee Christ upon His Cross doth hold,

In daily dyings now grown old;

He bids thee now, no more remain,

And unto thee, to die is gain.

Love’s tender bowels yearning strong,

They for whom thou didst toil so long

In travailings of second birth,—

Thy children, hold thee still to earth;

The time for thy release is come,

And ready is thy heavenly home.

When, ’mid the twelve thy throne is set,

And we shall be for judgment met;

May we, whom from the dead of night

God calls in thee to see His light,

For ever with the Angelic host,

Sing Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.