Easter (Sonnet 68 from Amoretti)

¹Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day,

²Didst make thy triumph over death and sin:

³And having harrowed hell, didst bring away

⁴Captivity thence captive, us to win:

⁵This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,

⁶And grant that we for whom thou diddest die,

⁷Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin,

⁸May live for ever in felicity:

⁹And that thy love we weighing worthily,

¹⁰May likewise love thee for the same again:

¹¹And for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,

¹²With love may one another entertain.

¹³So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,

¹⁴Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.