(Song of the Angels – William Bouguereau, 1881)

All This Night Bright Angels Sing

All this night bright angels sing,
Never was such caroling,
Hark! a voice which loudly cries,
Mortals, mortals, wake and rise.
Lo! to gladness turns your sadness:
From the earth is ris’n a Son,
Shines all night tho’ day be done.

Wake, O earth, wake every thing,
Wake and hear the joy I bring:
Wake and joy; for all this night,
Heav’n and every twinkling light,
All amazing, still stand gazing,
Angels, pow’rs and all that be,
Wake, and joy this Son to see.

Hail! O Son, O blessèd Light,
Sent into this world by night;
Let Thy rays and heav’nly pow’rs,
Shine in these dark souls of ours.
For most duly, Thou art truly
God and Man, we do confess:
Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!

Words: William Austin, (?- 1633.)