Night o'er the city hangs a starless pall,
Folly and Sin are there and drear Despair.
Upon the great cathedral, high in air,
A cross keeps holy vigil o'er all.

And then the dawn, the dawn of Easter Day!
Its jewelled glories solemnly unfold,
While still the city lies 'neath shadows gray,
The cross is turned to living gold.

The cross of gold in Easter's Dawn aglow,
As to the pious king of long ago,
This message speaks again in words divine,
"Go thou and conquer in this sign!"

Oh, falt'ring soul take heart anew,
"Go thou and conquer in this sign!"
Oh, falt'ring soul take heart anew,
"Go thou and conquer in this sign!"