These Stanzas, which strike me as very sweet, are not in all the editions of the Octoechus. [23]

8,5,8,3

Stephen the Sabaite (725-794)

kopon te kai kamaton.

Art thou weary, art thou languid,

Art thou sore distrest?

"Come to me" -- saith One -- "and coming,

Be at rest!"

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,

If He be my Guide?

"In His Feet and Hands are Wound-prints,

And His Side."

Is there Diadem, as Monarch,

That His Brow adorns?

"Yea, a Crown, in very surety,

But of Thorns!"

If I find Him, if I follow,

What His guerdon here?

"Many a sorrow, many a labour,

Many a tear."

If I still hold closely to Him,

What hath He at last?

"Sorrow vanquished, labour ended,

Jordan past!"

If I ask Him to receive me,

Will He say me nay?

"Not till earth, and not till Heaven

Pass away!"

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,

Is He sure to bless?

"Angels, Martyrs, Prophets, Virgins,

Answer, Yes!"

[No.4. in Mr. Sedding's book: also No.4. in H. E. C. Both very sweet melodies; -- but that in H. E. C., which gives a different version of the 4th line throughout, is, to my mind, singularly touching.]

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Footnotes:

[23] [1st ed. adds: I copy from a dateless Constantinopolitan book.]