The Treasury Of Sacred Song

By Francis Turner Palgrave

CXL AN ECSTASY

Lord, when the sense of Thy sweet grace

Sends up my soul to seek Thy face,

Thy blesséd eyes breed such desire,

I die in Love's delicious fire.

O Love, I am thy sacrifice;

Be still triumphant, blesséd eyes;

Still shine on me, fair suns! that I

Still may behold, though still I die.

Though still I die, I live again,

Still longing so to be still slain;

So gainful is such loss of breath,

I die e'en in desire of death.

Still live in me this longing strife

Of living death and dying life;

For while Thou sweetly slayest me,

Dead to myself, I live in Thee.