Vaughan Williams: 4 Hymns: No. 2, Who Is This fair One?

Who is this fair one in distress

That travels from the wilderness

And pressed with sorrows and with sins

On her beloved Lord she leans?

This is the spouse of Christ our God

Brought with her treasures of his blood

And her request and her complaint

Is but the voice of every saint

Oh! let my name engraven stand

Both on thy heart and on thy hand

Seal me upon thine arm and wear

That pledge of love forever fair

Stronger than death thy love is known

Which floods of wrath could never drown

And hell and earth in vain combine

To quench a fire so much divine

But I am jealous of my heart

Lest it should once from thee depart

Then let my name be well imprest

As a fair signet on thy breast

Till thou hast brought me to thy home

Where fears and doubts can never come

Thy countenance let me often see

And often shall thou hear from me

Then my beloved haste away

But short the hours of thy delay

Fly like a youthful hart or roe

Over the hills where spices blow