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From the Latin by Abraham Coles
STOOD the afflicted mother weeping, | |
| Near the cross her station keeping | |
| Whereon hung her Son and Lord; | |
| Through whose spirit sympathizing, | |
| Sorrowing and agonizing, | 5 |
| Also passed the cruel sword. | |
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| Oh! how mournful and distressèd | |
| Was that favored and most blessèd | |
| Mother of the only Son, | |
| Trembling, grieving, bosom heaving, | 10 |
| While perceiving, scarce believing, | |
| Pains of that Illustrious One! | |
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| Who the man, who, called a brother, | |
| Would not weep, saw he Christ’s mother | |
| In such deep distress and wild? | 15 |
| Who could not sad tribute render | |
| Witnessing that mother tender | |
| Agonizing with her child? | |
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| For his people’s sins atoning, | |
| Him she saw in torments groaning, | 20 |
| Given to the scourger’s rod; | |
| Saw her darling offspring dying, | |
| Desolate, forsaken, crying, | |
| Yield his spirit up to God. | |
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| Make me feel thy sorrow’s power, | 25 |
| That with thee I tears may shower, | |
| Tender mother, fount of love! | |
| Make my heart with love unceasing | |
| Burn toward Christ the Lord, that pleasing | |
| I may be to him above. | 30 |
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| Holy mother, this be granted, | |
| That the slain one’s wounds be planted | |
| Firmly in my heart to bide. | |
| Of him wounded, all astounded— | |
| Depths unbounded for me sounded— | 35 |
| All the pangs with me divide. | |
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| Make me weep with thee in union; | |
| With the Crucified, communion | |
| In his grief and suffering give; | |
| Near the cross, with tears unfailing, | 40 |
| I would join thee in thy wailing | |
| Here as long as I shall live. | |
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| Maid of maidens, all excelling! | |
| Be not bitter, me repelling; | |
| Make thou me a mourner too; | 45 |
| Make me bear about Christ’s dying, | |
| Share his passion, shame defying; | |
| All his wounds in me renew. | |
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| Wound for wound be there created; | |
| With the cross intoxicated | 50 |
| For thy Son’s dear sake, I pray— | |
| May I, fired with pure affection, | |
| Virgin, have through thee protection | |
| In the solemn Judgment Day. | |
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| Let me by the cross be warded, | 55 |
| By the death of Christ be guarded, | |
| Nourished by divine supplies. | |
| When the body death hath riven, | |
| Grant that to the soul be given | |
| Glories bright of Paradise. | 60 |
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