When cares press heavy on the heart,
And all is gloom around,
Where shall we fix the heavy eye
In all this mortal bound?
What emblem hath the mourner here?
What love to warm, what light to cheer?

Thine, true E LECTA , thine which tells,
Of His distress and thine!
The Cross upon whose rugged limbs
Ye both did bleed and pine!
The Cross by heavenly wisdom given
To raise our thoughts from earth to Heaven.

Dying, as J ESUS died, upon the tree,—
Was ever worthier sacrifice than hers?
Sacred the Cross, the nail, the thorn; for He
Who suffered has redeemed them from the curse;
Just as she passed to blest eternity
She plead forgiveness to her murderers.