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Translated by Erastus C. Benedict
WEEPING stood his mother sighing | |
| By the cross where Jesus, dying, | |
| Hung aloft on Calvary: | |
| Through her soul, in sorrow moaning, | |
| Bowed in grief, in spirit groaning, | 5 |
| Pierced the sword in misery. | |
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| Filled with grief beyond all others, | |
| Mother—blessed among mothers— | |
| Of the God-begotten One! | |
| How she sorroweth and grieveth, | 10 |
| Trembling as she thus perceiveth | |
| Dying, her unspotted One! | |
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| Who could there refrain from weeping, | |
| Seeing Christ’s dear mother keeping, | |
| In her grief so bitterly? | 15 |
| Who could fail to share her anguish, | |
| Seeing thus the mother languish, | |
| Lost in woe so utterly? | |
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| For the trespass of his nation | |
| She beheld his laceration. | 20 |
| By their scourges suffering, | |
| She beheld her dearest taken, | |
| Crucified and God-forsaken, | |
| Dying by their torturing. | |
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| Mother, fountain of affection, | 25 |
| Let me share thy deep dejection, | |
| Let me share thy tenderness; | |
| Let my heart, thy sorrow feeling, | |
| Love of Christ, the Lord revealing, | |
| Be like thine in holiness! | 30 |
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| All his stripes, oh, let me feel them! | |
| On my heart forever seal them, | |
| Printed there enduringly. | |
| All his woes beyond comparing, | |
| For my sake in anguish bearing, | 35 |
| Let me share them willingly. | |
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| By thy side let me be weeping, | |
| True condolence with him keeping, | |
| Weeping all my life with thee. | |
| Near the cross with thee abiding, | 40 |
| Freely all thy woes dividing, | |
| In thy sorrow joined with thee. | |
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| Virgin of all virgins fairest, | |
| Let me feel the love thou bearest, | |
| Sharing all thy suffering: | 45 |
| Let me feel the death they gave him, | |
| Crucified in shame to save them, | |
| Dying without murmuring. | |
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| Let me feel their blows so crushing, | |
| Let me drink the current gushing | 50 |
| From his wounds when crucified. | |
| By a heavenly zeal excited, | |
| When the judgment fires are lighted, | |
| Then may I be justified. | |
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| On the cross of Christ relying, | 55 |
| Through his death redeemed from dying, | |
| By his favour fortified; | |
| When my mortal frame is perished, | |
| Let my spirit then be cherished, | |
| And in heaven be glorified. | 60 |
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