EASTER PRAYER

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise Without delays. Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise. With him mayst rise:

That, as his death calcined thee to dust, His life may make thee gold, and much more, just. Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part. With all thy art. The crosse taught all wood to resound his name,

Who bore the same. His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key is best to celebrate this most high day. Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song.

Pleasant and long: Or, since all musick is but three parts vied and multiplied,

O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part, and make up our defects with his sweet art.

from Easter by George Herbert