242IDIOMELA IN THE WEEK OF THE FIRST OBLIQUE TONE.
These Stanzas, which strike me as very sweet, are not in all the editions of the Octoechus.2323[1st ed. adds: I copy from a dateless Constantinopolitan book.]
8,5,8,3
Stephen the Sabaite (725-794)
κοπον τε και καματον.
| Art thou weary, art thou languid, Art thou sore distrest? “Come to me”—saith One—“and coming, Be at rest!” | | Hath He marks to lead me to Him, If He be my Guide? “In His Feet and Hands are Wound-prints, And His Side.” | | 243 Is there Diadem, as Monarch, That His Brow adorns? “Yea, a Crown, in very surety, But of Thorns!” | | If I find Him, if I follow, What His guerdon here? “Many a sorrow, many a labour, Many a tear.” | | If I still hold closely to Him, What hath He at last? “Sorrow vanquished, labour ended, Jordan past!” | | If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay? “Not till earth, and not till Heaven Pass away!” | | 244 Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless? “Angels, Martyrs, Prophets, Virgins, Answer, Yes!” | |
[No. 4. in Mr. Sedding’s book: also No. 4. in H. E. C. Both very sweet melodies;—but that in H. E. C., which gives a different version of the 4th line throughout, is, to my mind, singularly touching.]