Sequence 29. St. Stephen

December 26th.
YESTERDAY the world, elated,
Joyed, and, joying, celebrated
Christ the Saviour's natal day :
Yesterday, heaven's King surrounding,
Angel-choirs, his welcome sounding,
Sang to him with joyful lay.

Protomartyr and a deacon,
Faith's clear light and life's bright beacon,
For his wonder-works well known,
Stephen on this day all-glorious
Won the victory, and, victorious,
Trod the unbelievers down.

Thus, since those 'gainst light engaging.
Conquered, fail, behold them raging
Like wild beasts in their despair:
Lying Avitnesses they bring.

And with bitter words they sting,
Seed of vipers that they are !

Champion ! yield to none, but ever
Persevere in thine endeavour,
Stephen ! sure of sure reward :
Their false witnesses withstand,
And confute all Satan's band
By thine eloquence outpoured.

In the heavens thy Witness dwelleth ;
Truly, faithfully. He telleth
How thou hast no evil done :
Since "a crown" for name thou bearest,
Suffering first thou fitly sharest,
Till thy glory-crown be won.

For that crown's unfading dower
Choose to bear brief torture's power ;
There awaits thee victory !

Death new birth for thee portendeth,
And its pain, which quickly endeth,
Is the dawn of life to thee.

Full of the blest Spirit's grace,
Stephen into heaven's space
Penetrates with lightened eyes ;
Gazing on God's glory, he
Waxes strong for victory,
Longing for its deathless prize.

i8o S. STEP 11 AN US.
His, a quibus lapidatur,
Jesus, in thy cause contending,
Stephen ! lift thine eyes and see !

Cry that heaven now open lieth ;
And that Christ thine eye descrieth
Cry aloud in accents free !

To his Lord his soul commending,
Sweet he deems it at life's ending
'Neath these stones for him to fall.

Saul stands by and keeps the clothes
Of each stoner as he throws,
Stoning Stephen through them all
That the Lord would not be laying
To his murderers' charge this slaying,
Stephen kneeleth down, and, praying,
Mourns their mad and reckless deed :
So asleep in Christ fell Stephen,
Who had Christ to serve so striven,
And now lives with Christ in heaven,
First-fruits of the martyrs' seed !

That in Africa from death
He six men to life revived.

Is a fact Augustine saith,
And one commonly believed.

When, by God's grace, his remains
From their grave to hght were brought,
Then were given heavy rains
On the earth in time of drought.

He by perfume rare alone
Makes disease and demons flee,
And due praise and fame hath won
With a deathless memory.

Martyr ! whose sweet name doth live
In the Church so pleasantly,
An enfeebled world revive
With thy heavenly fragrancy ! Amen.