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. >