Wake, awake, for night is flying

Wake, awake, for night is flying.  Philipp Nicolai* (1556-1608), translated by Catherine Winkworth* (1827-1878). From Winkworth’s Lyra Germanica: Second Series (1858), where it was entitled ‘The Final Joy’. It was the penultimate hymn in the book, celebrating Christ’s coming in glory. It had three stanzas, following Nicolai’s metre and rising to a wonderful climax at the beginning of stanza 3: Wake, awake, for night is flying, The watchmen on the heights are crying;   Awake, Jerusalem, at last! Midnight hears the welcome voices, And at the thrilling cry rejoices:   Come forth, ye virgins, night is past!         The Bridegroom comes, awake,         Your lamps with gladness take;...