Night hath no wings to him that cannot sleep, And time seems then not for to fly, but creep; Slowly her chariot drives, as if that she Had broke her wheel[, or crack'd her axletree]1. [Just so it is with me, who, list'ning, pray]2 The winds to blow the tedious night away, [That I might see the cheerful, peeping day.]1 Sick is my heart! O Saviour! do Thou please To make my bed soft in my sicknesses: Lighten my candle, so that I beneath Sleep not for ever in the vaults of death; Let me Thy voice betimes i' th' morning hear: Call, and I'll come; say Thou the when, and where. [Draw me but first, and after Thee I'll run And make no one stop till my race be done.]1
Night hath no wings
Set by George Dyson (1883 - 1964), "Night hath no wings", 1945-9, from Quo Vadis: a Cycle of Poems, no. 4  [sung text checked 1 time]
Note: this setting is made up of several separate texts.
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "To his sweet saviour"
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View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Dyson.
2 Dyson: "So 'tis with me, who listening pray"
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
In the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When the house doth sigh and weep, And the world is drown'd in sleep, Yet mine eyes the watch do keep, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! [ ... ] When, God knows, I'm tost about Either with despair, or doubt; Yet, before the glass be out, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! [ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "His litany, to the Holy Spirit"
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Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson[As the lightning cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be].1 Unto the East we turn, with watchful eyes, Where opens the white haze of silvery lawn, And the still trees stand in the streak of dawn, Until the Sun of Righteousness shall rise, And far behind shall open all the skies, And golden clouds of Angels be withdrawn Around His presence. Then there shall be gone, Fleeing before His face in dread surprise, The Heaven and Earth and the affrighted Sea, [And the tribunal shall be set on high, And we the fiery trial must abide]1. Like nightly travellers to the kindling sky, Awake or sleeping to yon eastern side We turn, and know not when the time shall be.
Authorship:
- by Isaac Williams (1802 - 1865), "The Coming of Christ", appears in The cathedral, or, The catholic and apostolic church in England, first published 1843
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View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Dyson.
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson