Duteous Day Now Closeth, The

The duteous day now closeth,

Each flower and tree reposeth,

Shade creeps o'er wild and wood:

Let us, as night is falling,

On God our Maker calling,

Give thanks to Him, the Giver good.

Now all the heav'nly splendor

Breaks forth in starlight tender

From myriad worlds unknown;

And man, the marvel seeing,

Forgets his selfish being,

For joy of beauty not his own.

His care he drowneth yonder,

Lost in the abyss of wonder;

To Heav'n his soul doth steal:

This life he disesteemeth,

The day it is that dreameth,

That doth from truth his vision seal.

Awhile his mortal blindness

May miss God's lovingkindness,

And grope in faithless strife:

But when life's day is over

Shall death's fair night discover

The fields of everlasting life.