S. STEPHEN'S DAY. STICHERA AT VESPERS. τῷ Βασιλεῖ καὶ Δεσπότῃ. No pearls of orient splendour, But with his own true heart's blood Come, ye that love the Martyrs, For this our suppliant throng: Thou first of all Confessors, Of all the Deacons crown, The glory and renown: Before CHRIST's Royal Throne, [With the above Stanzas, the reader may not be displeased to compare the celebrated sequence of Adam of S. Victor, Heri mundus exultavit; which has never yet, I believe, appeared in English.] Heri mundus exultavit. Yesterday, with exultation Join'd the world in celebration Of her promis'd Saviour's birth: Yesterday the Angel nation O'er the Monarch born on earth. But to-day, o'er death victorious, Forward, champion, in thy quarrel! Holy Stephen, persevere ! Lo! in Heav'n thy Witness liveth; For a crown that fadeth never, Death shall be thy birth's beginning, Whom the HOLY GHOST endueth, See, as Jewish foes invade thee, As the dying Martyr kneeleth, STICHERA FOR CHRISTMAS-TIDE. μέγα καὶ παράδοξον θαῦμα. A great and mighty wonder! The Word is made Incarnate, And we with them triumphant And peace on earth to men!" While thus they sing your Monarch, |