Antiphon

Daylight fades away.             Is the Lord at hand         In the shadows gray             Stealing on the land?             Gently from the east                 Come the shadows gray;             But our lowly priest                 Nearer is than they.         It is darkness quite.             Is the Lord at hand,         In the cloak of night             Stolen upon the land?             But I see no night,                 For my Lord is here             With him dark is light,                 With him far is near.         List! the cock's awake.             Is the Lord at hand?         Cometh he to make             Light in all the land?             Long ago he made                 Morning in my heart;             Long ago he bade                 Shadowy things depart.         Lo, the dawning hill!             Is the Lord at hand,         Come to scatter ill,             Ruling in the land?             He hath scattered ill,                 Ruling in my mind;             Growing to his will,                 Freedom comes, I find.         We will watch all day,             Lest the Lord should come;         All night waking stay             In the darkness dumb.             I will work all day,                 For the Lord hath come;             Down my head will lay                 All night, glad and dumb.         For we know not when             Christ may be at hand;         But we know that then             Joy is in the land.             For I know that where                 Christ hath come again,             Quietness without care                 Dwelleth in his men.