2 Motets, Op. 43: No. 1, The Evening Watch

The body Farewell! I go to sleep but, when The day-star springs, I'll wake again. The soul Go, sleep in peace and when thou liest Unnumber'd in thy dust, when all this frame Is but one dram, and what thou now descriest In sev'ral parts shall want a name, Then may his peace be with thee, and each dust Writ in his book, who ne'er betray'd man's trust! The body Amen! But hark, ere we two stray, How many hours dost think till day? The soul Ah! Go th'art weak and sleepy. Heav'n Is a plain watch, and without figures winds All ages up who drew this circle even He fills it days and hours are blinds. Yet, this take with thee the last gasp of time Is thy first breath, and man's eternal Prime.