In. On earth this day!

Pr. There is fire on earth this day.

In. This is a sacred place, a solemn hour,

Thy speech is earnest: yet even if thou speak truth,

O welcome messenger of happy tidings,

And though I hear aright, yet to believe

Is hard: thou canst not know what words thou speakest

Into what ears: they never heard before 365

This sound but in old tales of happier times,

In sighs of prayer and faint unhearted hope: