The Word went forth,
   Yet from his Father never went away.
   Came to his work on earth,
   And laboured till the twilight of his day.

   Men envied him: He went to death,
   By his own man betrayed,
   Yet first to his own men himself had given
   In wine and broken bread.

   In birth he gave himself a friend to men,
   At meat, their holy bread:
   Dying, he gave himself their ransoming:
   Reigning, their high reward.

   O Victim slain for us and our salvation,
   Opening the doors of light,
   The warring hosts are set on our damnation,
   Give us the strength to fight.