O Valiant Hearts (EN 4435)

1

O valiant hearts who to your glory came

Through dust of conflict and through battle flame;

Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,

Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

2

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war

As who had heard God’s message from afar;

All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,

To save mankind—yourselves you scorned to save.

3

Splendid you passed, the great surrender made;

Into the light that nevermore shall fade;

Deep your contentment in that blest abode,

Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God.

4

Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,

Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,

While in the frailty of our human clay,

Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self same way.

5

Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this,

Like some bright star above the dark abyss;

Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes

Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.

6

These were His servants, in His steps they trod,

Following through death the martyred Son of God:

Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise

They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice.

7

O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,

Whose cross has bought them and Whose staff has led,

In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land

Commits her children to Thy gracious hand.