  A cry arises from the blood-soaked earth, A cry of anguish, dying in despair, And with hell’s horrors is the world engirt, The prince of darkness ruleth in the air. The gods are passing, and the kingdoms fall, And Cosmos trembles like an autumn leaf; What seemed the greatest sinks into the small, And what seemed glory changes into grief. The jewelled crowns and diadems are cast Into the balance of the Only Just, They are like chaff, which scattered by the blast, Is lost, and mingles with the common dust. The Dies Irae has arrived at last, The books are opened by the Lamb of God, The age of tyranny and greed is past, He breaks oppression with His iron-rod. And truth imprisoned, justice quite forgot, Stand ‘for His judgment-seat in spotless white, The earth and heaven new shall be their lot, Upon the morn, now dawning from the night. |
|
