Have you, or others within hearing, considered this side-by-side "The
Phoenix and The Turtle"?

Doubtless a topic for ShaksperList, but you've brought it to our attention
now.

Judy

2008/6/30 Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>:

> When they come to the Grave, while the Corpse is made ready to be laid into
> the earth, the Priest shall say, or the Priest and Clerks shall sing:
>
> MAN that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of
> misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were
> a
> shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
>
>      In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour,
> but of thee, 0 Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
>
>      Yet, 0 Lord God most holy, 0 Lord most mighty, 0 holy and most
> merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
>
>      Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful
> ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, 0 God most mighty, 0 holy
> and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy judge eternal, suffer us not, at our
> last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.
>
> Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the Body by some standing by, the
> Priest shall say:
>
> FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto
> himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his
> body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure
> and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord
> Jesus
> Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his
> glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to
> subdue
> all things to himself.
>
> Then shall be said or sung:
>
> I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed
> are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit: for they rest
> from their labours.
>
> Then the Priest shall say,
>
>      Lord, have mercy upon us.
>            Christ, have mercy upon us.
>      Lord, have mercy upon us.
> OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come.
> Thy
> will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
> bread.
> And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us.
> And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
>
> Priest:
>
> ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in
> the
> Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered
> from
> the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: We give thee hearty
> thanks, for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our brother out of
> the
> miseries of this sinful world; beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of
> thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and
> to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the
> true
> faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both
> in
> body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ
> our Lord. Amen.
>
> The Collect:
>
> MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection
> and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and
> whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also
> hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men
> without hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, 0 Father,
> to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that,
> when
> we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our
> brother doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may
> be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy
> well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee,
> saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom
> prepared
> for you from the beginning of the world: Grant this, we beseech thee, 0
> merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.
> HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship
> of
> the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
>