COME DOWN, O LOVE DIVINE
"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to
rest on each of them." Acts 2:2-3
Words: Bianco of Siena (?-1434) ("Discendi, Amor santo"); appeared in
Laudi spirituali del Bianco da Siena, edited by T. Bini, 1851;
translated from Italian to English by Richard Frederick Littledale in
The People's Hymnal, 1867.
Music: "Down Ampney," Ralph Vaughn Williams, 1906. The tune is named
after William's birthplace in Gloucestershire, England.
Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, til early passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heart consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till love create a place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.