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Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 314

'Tis midnight; and on Olives' brow

Words: William A. TappanMusic: William B. BradburyTune: Olives' BrowL. M.

Studio

1'Tis midnight; and on Olives' brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone:
'Tis midnight; in the garden, now,
The suffering Saviour prays alone.

2'Tis midnight; and from all removed,
The Saviour wrestles lone with fears;
E'en that disciple whom he loved
Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.

3'Tis midnight; and for others' guilt
The Man of sorrows weeps in blood;
Yet he who hath in anguish knelt,
Is not forsaken by his God.

4'Tis midnight; and from ether plains
Is borne the song that angels know;
Unheard by mortals are the strains
That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe.

Meter
L. M.

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.8.8.8 · as printed
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 65% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABAB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

'Tis midnight; and on Olives' brow///˘˘/˘/8A
The star is dimmed that lately shone:˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
'Tis midnight; in the garden, now,///˘˘/˘/8A
The suffering Saviour prays alone.˘/˘/˘/˘/8B

Verse 2

'Tis midnight; and from all removed,///˘˘/˘/8A
The Saviour wrestles lone with fears;˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
E'en that disciple whom he loved??˘˘/˘˘˘/9C
Heeds not his Master's grief and tears./˘˘/˘/˘/8D

Verse 3

'Tis midnight; and for others' guilt///˘˘/˘/8A
The Man of sorrows weeps in blood;˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
Yet he who hath in anguish knelt,/˘˘/˘/˘/8C
Is not forsaken by his God.˘˘˘/˘˘˘/8D

Verse 4

'Tis midnight; and from ether plains///˘˘/˘/8A
Is borne the song that angels know;˘/˘/˘/˘/8B
Unheard by mortals are the strains˘/˘/˘˘˘/8A
That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe.˘/˘/˘/˘/8B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.