The habit and hood of camel's hair, Which with the sacred scissars there On the altar were display'd, Are taken thence, and in their stead Behold, in garments gay with gold, The Maiden from her Father's house And now before the Holy Door In the Ante-nave they stand; The Bride and Bridegroom side by side, The Paranymphs in festal pride Arranged on either hand. Then from the Sanctuary the Priests, With incense burning sweet, Advance, and at the Holy Door The Bride and Bridegroom meet. There to the Bride and Bridegroom they The marriage tapers gave; And to the altar as they go, With cross-way movement to and fro, For fruitfulness, and perfect love, They call'd upon the Lord to bless And sanctify the marriage rite A pause at every prayer they made, The Choristers took up their part, And sung in tones that thrill'd the heart, Have mercy on us, Lord! Then with the marriage rings the priest Pronouncing them before high Heaven This did he in the presence Then to that gracious Lord, the Priest Who, as our sacred Scriptures tell, He call'd upon that gracious Lord And with his mercy and his word With a Christian benediction, The Priest dismist them then, And the Choristers, with louder voice, Intoned the last Amen! The days of Espousals are over; Before them, by the Paranymphs, Composed of all sweet flowers of spring With lighted tapers in array They enter the Holy Door, And the Priest with the waving thuribule Perfumes the way before. He raised his voice, and call'd aloud Creating Woman thus for Man For youth and age, for good and ill, Flesh of his flesh; appointing them And on our Lord he call'd, by whom Then in the ever-blessed Name, From the man's Paranymph he took And crowning him therewith, in that "Eleëmon, the Servant of God, is crown'd For Cyra, the Lord's Handmaid !" Next, with like action and like words, Her coronal, intwined wherein The rose and lily met; Her he for Eleëmon crown'd, “Crown them with honour, Lord!” he said, "With blessings crown the righteous head! To them let peace be given, A holy life, a hopeful end, Still as he made each separate prayer For blessings that they in life might share, And for their eternal bliss, The echoing Choristers replied, How differently meantime, before While they the sacred rites partake |