Third Day of Easter (Easter Tuesday).

Poet unknown; Salomo Franck?

2. Johann Georg Albinus, verse 1 of the hymn, 1649 (Fischer- Tümpel, IV, #312), with interpolated aria; 4. Martin Luther, verse 5 of "Christ lag in Todesbanden," 1524 (Wackernagel, III, #15).

Date uncertain.

BG 32; NBA I/10.

1. Recit. (B)

May peace now be with thee,
O thou most anxious conscience!
Thine intercessor’s here,
Who hath thy ledger book
And the Law’s dread curse
Now settled and destroyed.(1)
May peace now be with thee,
The prince who rules this world,
Who for thy soul hath lain in wait,
Is through the Lamb’s own blood now conquered and laid low.
My heart, why art thou so downcast,
When thou by God through Christ art loved?
He saith himself to me:
May peace now be with thee!

2. Aria (B) and Chorale (S)

(B)
World, farewell, of thee I'm weary,
Salem's shelter I prefer,

    (S)
    World, farewell, of thee I'm weary,
    I would now to heaven go,

(B)
Where I God in peace and quiet
Ever blessed can behold.

    (S)
    Where will be a peace most tranquil
    And eternal grand repose.

(B)
I'll bide there where I shall be dwelling contented

    (S)
    World, with thee is war and strife,
    Nought but merest vanity;

(B)
And crowned in the glory of heavenly splendor.

    (S)
    But in heaven evermore
    Peace and joy and happiness.

3. Recit. and Arioso (B)

O Lord, now govern all my thoughts,
That I, while in the world
As long as thou dost please to let me here remain,
A child of peace may be,
And let me to thee from all my suff'ring
Like Simeon in peace depart now!(2)
I'll bide there where I shall be dwelling with favor
And crowned in the glory of heavenly splendor.

4. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Here is the proper Easter lamb,
Whereof God hath commanded;
It is high on the cross's trunk
In ardent love now roasted.
His blood signeth now our door,
Our faith doth it to death display;
The strangler cannot now touch us.
Alleluia!

1. Banking metaphors are characteristic of Salomo Franck.

2. An allusion to the "Nunc dimittis" or "Song of Simeon."

© Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose

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