i

"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word." -- Luke 2:29.

[25]Unbekanntes.

transl., Jane Borthwick or Sarah Findlater

"Lord, the waves are breaking o'er me and around;

Oft of coming tempests I hear the moaning sound:

Here there is no safety, rocks on either hand;

'Tis a foreign roadstead, a strange and hostile land.

Wherefore should I linger? others, gone before,

Long since safe are landed on a calm and friendly shore:

Now the sailing orders in mercy, Lord, bestow --

Loose the cable, let me go!

"Lord, the night is closing round my feeble bark;

How shall I encounter its watches long and dark?

Sorely worn and shattered by many a billow past,

Can I stand another rude and stormy blast?

Ah! the promised haven I never may attain,

Sinking and forgotten amid the lonely main;

Enemies around me, gloomy depths below.

Loose the cable, let me go!

"Lord, I would be near Thee, with Thee where Thou art --

Thine own word hath said it, 'tis 'better to depart,'

There to serve Thee better, there to love Thee more,

With thy ransomed people, to worship and adore.

Ever to Thy presence Thou dost call Thine own --

Why am I remaining, helpless and alone?

Oh! to see Thy glory, Thy wondrous love to know!

Loose the cable, let me go!

Lord, the lights are gleaming from the distant shore,

Where no billows threaten, where no tempests roar.

Long beloved voices calling me I hear --

Oh! how sweet their summons falls upon my ear!

Here are foes and strangers, faithless hearts and cold,

There is fond affection, fondly proved of old!

Let me haste to join them: may it not be so?

Loose the cable, let me go!"

Hark, the solemn answer! hark, the promise sure!

"Blessed are the servants who to the end endure!

Yet a little longer hope and tarry on --

Yet a little longer, weak and weary one!

More to perfect patience, to grow in faith and love,

More my strength and wisdom, and faithfulness to prove:

Then the sailing orders the Captain shall bestow --

Loose the cable, let thee go!"