Thou virgin soul! O thou

The crown of woman's story,

Thy Joseph's bliss and glory,

Thy kinswoman thou seekest now,

There thy faith to cheer and stir

Through what God hath wrought for her.

My faith, alas! is weak,

And where it sees not plainly

It strives to grasp but vainly,

And scarcely cares new strength to seek;

Seeing now what God can do,

May my faith grow stronger too!

Thou Pearl of women, here

Hast to His will resign'd thee,

Thou wilt not look behind thee;

Thy tender heart, towards one so dear

To thy friends, doth warmly glow,

Loving service fain would show.

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God! I lament to Thee,

My will towards good is idle,

And yet I scarce can bridle

Its sinful impulses in me;

May my course hereafter prove

Rich in good works and in love!

At last thou goest forth,

Most loving soul and fairest,

With thee thy Lord thou bearest;

The Father's Word come down to earth.

Happy thou! that He will be

Thus companion unto thee.

The world is such a place,

Where we are pilgrims only,

And we must fear, if lonely

We meet the end that comes apace.

Jesus! let me then by faith

Walk with Thee through life and death!