III. When the last agony draws nigh,

Kommt an der Tod, da ich muss ringen

[145]Anon.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

When the last agony draws nigh,

My spirit sinks in bitter fear:

Courage! I conquer though I die,

For Christ with Death once wrestled here.

Thy strife, O Christ, with Death's dark power

Upholds me in this fearful hour.

In faith I hide myself in Thee,

I shall not perish in the strife;

I share Thy war, Thy victory,

And Death is swallowed up in Life.

Thy strife, O Christ, with Death of yore

Hath conquered, and I fear no more.