602a. Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle

1 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle,
sing the last the dream affray;
o'er the Cross, the victor's trophy,
sound the high triumphal lay;
how, the pains of death enduring,
earth's Redeemer won the day.

2 When at length th'appointed fullness
of the sacred time was come,
he was sent, the world's creator,
from the Father's heav'nly home,
and was found in human fashion,
offspring of the Virgin's womb.

3 Now the thirty years are ended
which on earth he willed to see,
willingly he meets his Passion,
born to set his people free;
on the cross the Lamb is lifted,
there the sacrifice to be.

4 There the nails and spear he suffers,
vinegar and gall and reed;
from his sacred body piercèd
blood and water both proceed:
precious flood, which all creation
from the stain of sin hath freed.

5 Faithful Cross, above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee!

6 Bend, O lofty tree, thy branches,
thy too rigid sinews bend;
and awhile the stubborn hardness,
which thy birth bestowed, suspend;
and the limbs of heav'n's high monarch
gently on thine arms extend.

7 Thou alone wast counted worthy
this world's ransom to sustain,
that by thee a wrecked creation
might its ark and haven gain,
with the sacred blood anointed
of the Lamb that hath been slain.

8 Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One,
One in sight and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Text Information
First Line: Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
Title: Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
Author: Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530-609
Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
Meter: 87 87 87
Language: English
Publication Date: 2000
Scripture: ; ;
Topic: Advent; Joy, Praise and Thanksgiving; Passiontide (5 more...)
Tune Information
Name: PANGE LINGUA
Composer: Andrew Moore
Meter: 87 87 87
Key: c minor or modal
Source: Plainsong mode iii
Copyright: Arr. © 1996 Kevin Mayhew Ltd.



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