He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:6
Words & Music: George P. Grantham (1833–1885) (🔊 pdf nwc). Appeared in Carols Old and Carols New, edited by Charles L. Hutchins (Boston, Massachusetts: The Parish Choir, 1916), number 122.
If you know where to get a good photo of Grantham (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Moonbeams are streaming,
When at dawn of Easter Day,
Angel forms gleaming
To holy women say,
Christ is uprisen
From death’s dark prison;
Come, view the holy place
Where Jesus lay!
Magdalen weeping
Sees two angels of the sky
Watch softly keeping,
As Jesus draweth nigh.
Rise, Mary, speed thee!
Lone hearts now need thee;
Go, tell My brethren I
Ascend on high!
To Peter wailing
Who his Lord hath thrice denied,
Comes Love unfailing—
Comes Christ, the Crucified.
Dark scruples clearing
With accents cheering,
All Peter’s penitential
Tears He dried!
Two sad ones walking,
Sorrowing for Christ’s dear sake,
He joineth, talking,
And with them bread doth break.
Faith their sight aideth,
As His form fadeth:
Burned not their hearts within
Them while He spake?
Ten saints despairing
Meet for mutual solace kind;
Comes Jesus, bearing
Fair hope and joy entwined.
Sweet peace bequeathing,
Then on them breathing,
Preach ye, baptize ye all,
Absolve and bind!
Golden the story
Of the seraphs, as they sing
Redemption’s story,
The triumph of their king.
With joys abounding,
Bright notes resounding,
Hark, how the silver bells
Of Heaven ring!