Thee, Lord, before the close of day,
Maker of all things, Thee we pray
For Thy dear loving kindness’ sake
To guard and guide us in Thy way.

Banish the dreams that terrify,
And night’s fantastic company:
Keep us from Satan’s tyranny:
Defend us from unchastity.

Protect us, Father, God ador’d,
Thou too, co-equal Son and Lord,
Thou, Holy Ghost, our Advocate,
Whose reign can know nor bound nor date. Amen

Words translated from the Sarum Rite of the office of Compline
Music: Henry Balfour Gardiner (1908)

Balfour Gardiner gave up composing in 1925 largely because he was intensely self-critical and it is thought that he destroyed much of his own work.
Thereafter, he devoted himself to a pioneering afforestation programme on his Dorset pig farm. He died in Salisbury in 1950, but there is no suggestion it was due to a Novichok agent.