22. The shadows of the evening hours
C.M.D.
St. Leonard (Giles):
Henry Hiles, 1867
Adelaide A. Procter, 1862
The shadows of the evening hours Fall from the darkening sky; Upon the fragrance of the flowers The dews of evening lie. Before thy throne, O Lord of heaven, We kneel at close of day; Look on thy children from on high, And hear us while we pray. | The sorrows of thy servants, Lord, O do not thou despise, But let the incense of our prayers Before thy mercy rise. The brightness of the coming night Upon the darkness rolls; With hopes of future glory chase The shadows on our souls. | Slowly the rays of daylight fade: So fade within our heart The hopes in earthly love and joy, That one by one depart. Slowly the bright stars, one by one, Within the heavens shine: Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in heaven, And trust in things divine. | Let peace, O Lord, thy peace, O God, Upon our souls descend; From midnight fears and perils, thou Our trembling hearts defend. Give us a respite from our toil; Calm and subdue our woes; Through the long day we labour, Lord, O give us now repose. | |