THE HYMNS of
PRUDENTIUS
TRANSLATED
by R ·
MARTIN ·
POPE

MDCCCCV PUBLISHED BY J.M. DENT
AND CO: ALDINE HOUSE LONDON W C

CATHEMERINON LIBER
OF
PRUDENTIUS

HYMNS FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S DAY

NEWLY TRANSLATED INTO

ENGLISH VERSE

---

Table of Contents to the Electronic Edition

Praefatio Preface I. Hymnus ad Galli Cantum I. Hymn at Cock-Crow II. Hymnus Matutinus II. Morning Hymn III. Hymnus ante Cibum III. Hymn before Meat IV. Hymnus post Cibum IV. Hymn after Meat V. Hymnus ad Incensum Lucernae V. Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps VI. Hymnus ante Somnum VI. Hymn before Sleep VII. Hymnus Ieiunantium VII. Hymn for Those Who Fast VIII. Hymnus post Ieiunium VIII. Hymn after Fasting IX. Hymnus Omnis Horae IX. Hymn for All Hours X. Hymnus ad Exequias Defuncti X. Hymn for the Burial of the Dead XI. Hymnus Kalendas Ianuarias XI. Hymn for Christmas-Day XII. Hymnus Epiphaniae XII. Hymn for the Epiphany Epilogus Epilogue Notes Translator's Note The Title The Preface I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI

class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">XII

---

PRAEFATIO

Per quinquennia iam decem,

ni fallor, fuimus: septimus insuper

annum cardo rotat, dum fruimur sole volubili.

Instat terminus et diem

    5vicinum senio iam Deus adplicat.

Quid nos utile tanti spatio temporis egimus?

Aetas prima crepantibus

levit sub ferulis: mox docuit toga

infectum vitiis falsa loqui, non sine crimine.

    10Tum lasciva protervitas,

et luxus petulans (heu pudet ac piget)

foedavit iuvenem nequitiae sordibus ac luto.

Exin iurgia turbidos

armarunt animos et male pertinax

    15vincendi studium subiacuit casibus asperis.

Bis legum moderamine

frenos nobilium reximus urbium,

ius civile bonis reddidimus, terruimus reos.

Tandem militiae gradu

    20evectum pietas principis extulit

adsumptum propius stare iubens ordine proximo.

Haec dum vita volans agit,

inrepsit subito canities seni

oblitum veteris me Saliae consulis arguens:

    25ex quo prima dies mihi

quam multas hiemes volverit et rosas

pratis post glaciem reddiderit, nix capitis probat.

Numquid talia proderunt

carnis post obitum vel bona vel mala,

    30cum iam, quidquid id est, quod fueram, mors aboleverit?

Dicendum mihi; Quisquis es,

mundum, quem coluit, mens tua perdidit:

non sunt illa Dei, quae studuit, cuius habeberis.

Atqui fine sub ultimo

    35peccatrix anima stultitiam exuat:

saltem voce Deum concelebret, si meritis nequit:

hymnis continuet dies,

nec nox ulla vacet, quin Dominum canat:

pugnet contra hereses, catholicam discutiat fidem,

    40conculcet sacra gentium,

labem, Roma, tuis inferat idolis,

carmen martyribus devoveat, laudet apostolos.

Haec dum scribo vel eloquor,

vinclis o utinam corporis emicem

    45liber, quo tulerit lingua sono mobilis ultimo.

PREFACE

Full fifty years my span of life hath run,

Unless I err, and seven revolving years

Have further sped while I the sun enjoy.

Yet now the end draws nigh, and by God's will

Old age's bound is reached: how have I spent

And with what fruit so wide a tract of days?

I wept in boyhood 'neath the sounding rod:

Youth's toga donned, the rhetorician's arts

I plied and with deceitful pleadings sinned:

Anon a wanton life and dalliance gross

(Alas! the recollection stings to shame!)

Fouled and polluted manhood's opening bloom:

And then the forum's strife my restless wits

Enthralled, and the keen lust of victory

Drove me to many a bitterness and fall.

Twice held I in fair cities of renown

The reins of office, and administered

To good men justice and to guilty doom.

At length the Emperor's will beneficent

Exalted me to military power

And to the rank that borders on the throne.

The years are speeding onward, and gray hairs

Of old have mantled o'er my brows

And Salia's consulship from memory dies.

What frost-bound winters since that natal year

Have fled, what vernal suns reclothed

The meads with roses,--this white crown declares.

Yet what avail the prizes or the blows

Of fortune, when the body's spark is quenched

And death annuls whatever state I held?

This sentence I must hear: "Whate'er thou art,

Thy mind hath lost the world it loved: not God's

The things thou soughtest, Whose thou now shalt be."

Yet now, ere hence I pass, my sinning soul

Shall doff its folly and shall praise my Lord

If not by deeds, at least with humble lips.

Let each day link itself with grateful hymns

And every night re-echo songs of God:

Yea, be it mine to fight all heresies,

Unfold the meanings of the Catholic faith,

Trample on Gentile rites, thy gods, O Rome,

Dethrone, the Martyrs laud, th' Apostles sing.

O while such themes my pen and tongue employ,

May death strike off these fetters of the flesh

And bear me whither my last breath shall rise!

I. HYMNUS AD GALLI CANTUM

Ales diei nuntius

lucem propinquam praecinit;

nos excitator mentium

iam Christus ad vitam vocat.

 

    5Auferte, clamat, lectulos

aegros, soporos, desides:

castique recti ac sobrii

vigilate, iam sum proximus.

 

Post solis ortum fulgidi

    10serum est cubile spernere,

ni parte noctis addita

tempus labori adieceris.

 

Vox ista, qua strepunt aves

stantes sub ipso culmine

  15paulo ante quam lux emicet,

nostri figura est iudicis.

 

Tectos tenebris horridis

stratisque opertos segnibus

suadet quietem linquere

  20iam iamque venturo die.

 

Ut, cum coruscis flatibus

aurora caelum sparserit,

omnes labore exercitos

confirmet ad spem luminis.

 

  25Hic somnus ad tempus datus

est forma mortis perpetis,

peccata ceu nox horrida

cogunt iacere ac

stertere.

 

Sed vox ab alto culmine

  30Christi docentis praemonet,

adesse iam lucem prope,

ne mens sopori serviat:

 

Ne somnus usque ad terminos

vitae socordis opprimat

  35pectus sepultum crimine

et lucis oblitum suae.

 

Ferunt vagantes daemonas

laetos tenebris noctium,

gallo canente exterritos

  40sparsim timere et cedere.

 

Invisa nam vicinitas

lucis, salutis, numinis

rupto tenebrarum situ

noctis fugat satellites.

 

  45Hoc esse signum praescii

norunt repromissae spei,

qua nos soporis liberi

speramus adventum Dei.

 

Quae vis sit huius alitis,

  50salvator ostendit Petro,

ter antequam gallus canat

sese negandum praedicans.

 

Fit namque peccatum prius,

quam praeco lucis proximae

  55inlustret humanum genus

finemque peccandi ferat.

 

Flevit negator denique

ex ore prolapsum nefas,

cum mens maneret innocens,

  60animusque servaret fidem.

 

Nec tale quidquam postea

linguae locutus lubrico est,

cantuque galli cognito

peccare iustus destitit.

 

  65Inde est quod omnes credimus,

illo quietis tempore

quo gallus exsultans canit

Christum redisse ex inferis.

 

Tunc mortis oppressus vigor,

  70tunc lex subacta est tartari,

tunc vis diei fortior

noctem coegit cedere.

 

Iam iam quiescant inproba,

iam culpa furva obdormiat,

  75iam noxa letalis suum

perpessa somnum marceat.

 

Vigil vicissim spiritus

quodcumque restat temporis,

dum meta noctis clauditur,

  80stans ac laborans excubet.

 

Iesum ciamus vocibus

flentes, precantes, sobrii:

intenta supplicatio

dormire cor mundum vetat.

 

  85Sat convolutis artubus

sensum profunda oblivio

pressit, gravavit, obruit

vanis vagantem somniis.

 

Sunt nempe falsa et frivola,

  90quae mundiali gloria

ceu dormientes egimus:

vigilemus, hic est veritas.

 

Aurum, voluptas, gaudium,

opes, honores, prospera,

  95quaecumque nos inflant mala,

fit mane, nil sunt omnia.

 

Tu, Christe, somnum dissice,

tu rumpe noctis vincula,

tu solve peccatum vetus

  100novumque lumen ingere.

I. HYMN AT COCK-CROW

Awake! the shining day is born!

The herald cock proclaims the morn:

And Christ, the soul's Awakener, cries,

Bidding us back to life arise.

 

Away the sluggard's bed! away

The slumber of the soul's decay!

Ye chaste and just and temperate,

Watch! I am standing at the gate.

 

After the sun hath risen red

'Tis late for men to scorn their bed,

Unless a portion of the night

They seize for labours of the light.

 

Mark ye, what time the dawn draws nigh,

How 'neath the eaves the swallows cry?

Know that by true similitude

Their notes our Judge's voice prelude.

 

When hid by shades of dark malign

On beds of softness we recline,

They call us forth with music clear

Warning us that the day is near.

 

When breezes bright of orient morn

With rosy hues the heavens adorn,

They cheer with hope of gladdening light

The hearts that spend in toil their might.

 

Though sleep be but a passing guest

'Tis type of death's perpetual rest:

Our sins are as a ghastly night,

And seal with slumbers deep our sight.

 

But from the wide roof of the sky

Christ's voice peals forth with urgent cry,

Calling our sleep-bound hearts to rise

And greet the dawn with wakeful eyes.

 

He bids us fear lest sensual ease

Unto life's end the spirit seize

And in the tomb of shame us bind,

Till we are to the true light blind.

 

'Tis said that baleful spirits roam

Abroad beneath the dark's vast dome;

But, when the cock crows, take their flight

Sudden dispersed in sore affright.

 

For the foul votaries of the night

Abhor the coming of the light,

And shamed before salvation's grace

The hosts of darkness hide their face.

 

They know the cock doth prophesy

Of Hope's long-promised morning sky,

When comes the Majesty Divine

Upon awakened worlds to shine.

 

The Lord to Peter once foretold

What meaning that shrill strain should hold,

How he before cock-crow would lie

And thrice his Master dear deny.

 

For 'tis a law that sin is done

Before the herald of the sun

To humankind the dawn proclaims

And with his cry the sinner shames.

 

Then wept he bitter tears aghast

That from his lips the words had passed,

Though guileless he his soul possessed

And faith still reigned within his breast.

 

Nor ever reckless word he said

Thereafter, by his tongue betrayed,

But at the cock's familiar cry

Humbled he turned from vanity.

 

Therefore it is we hold to-day

That, as the world in stillness lay,

What hour the cock doth greet the skies,

Christ from deep Hades did arise.

 

Lo!

then the bands of death were burst,

Shattered the sway of hell accurst:

Then did the Day's superior might

Swiftly dispel the hosts of Night.

 

Now let base deeds to silence fall,

Black thoughts be stilled beyond recall:

Now let sin's opiate spell retire

To that deep sleep it doth inspire.

 

For all the hours that still remain

Until the dark his goal attain,

Alert for duty's stern command

Let every soul a sentry stand.

 

With sober prayer on Jesus call;

Let tears with our strong crying fall;

Sleep cannot on the pure soul steal

That supplicates with fervent zeal.

 

Too long did dull oblivion cloud

Our motions and our senses shroud:

Lulled by her numbing touch, we stray

In dreamland's ineffectual way.

 

Bound by the dazzling world's soft chain

'Tis false and fleeting gauds we gain,

Like those who in deep slumbers lie:--

Let us awake! the truth is nigh.

 

Gold, honours, pleasure, wealth and ease,

And all the joys that mortals please,

Joys with a fatal glamour fraught--

When morning comes, lo! all are nought.

 

But thou, O Christ, put sleep to flight

And break the iron bands of night,

Free us from burden of past sin

And shed Thy morning rays within.

II. HYMNUS MATUTINUS

Nox et tenebrae et nubila,

confusa mundi et turbida,

lux intrat, albescit polus,

Christus venit, discedite.

 

  5Caligo terrae scinditur

percussa solis spiculo,

rebusque iam color redit

vultu nitentis sideris.

 

Sic nostra mox obscuritas

  10fraudisque pectus conscium

ruptis retectum nubibus

regnante pallescit Deo.

 

Tunc non licebit claudere

quod quisque fuscum cogitat,

  15sed mane clarescent novo

secreta mentis prodita.

 

Fur ante lucem squalido

inpune peccat tempore,

sed lux dolis contraria

  20latere furtum non sinit.

 

Versuta fraus et callida

amat tenebris obtegi,

aptamque noctem turpibus

adulter occultus fovet.

 

  25Sol ecce surgit igneus,

piget, pudescit, paenitet,

nec teste quisquam lumine

peccare constanter potest.

 

Quis mane sumptis nequiter

  30non erubescit poculis,

cum fit libido temperans

castumque nugator sapit?

 

Nunc, nunc severum vivitur,

nunc nemo tentat ludicrum,

  35inepta nunc omnes sua

vultu colorant serio.

 

Haec hora cunctis utilis,

qua quisque, quod studet, gerat,

miles, togatus, navita,

  40opifex, arator, institor.

 

Illum forensis gloria,

hunc triste raptat classicum,

mercator hinc ac rusticus

avara suspirant lucra.

 

  45At nos lucelli ac faenoris

fandique prorsus nescii,

nec arte fortes bellica,

te, Christe, solum novimus.

 

Te mente pura et simplici,

  50te voce, te cantu pio

rogare curvato genu

flendo et canendo discimus.

 

His nos lucramur quaestibus,

hac arte tantum vivimus,

  55haec inchoamus munera,

cum sol resurgens emicat.

 

Intende nostris sensibus,

vitamque totam dispice,

sunt multa fucis inlita,

  60quae luce purgentur tua.

 

Durare nos tales iube,

quales, remotis sordibus

nitere pridem iusseras,

Iordane tinctos flumine.

 

  65Quodcumque nox mundi dehinc

infecit atris nubibus,

tu, rex Eoi sideris,

vultu sereno inlumina.

 

Tu sancte, qui taetram picem

  70candore tingis lacteo

ebenoque crystallum facis,

delicta terge livida.

 

Sub nocte Iacob caerula

luctator audax angeli,

  75eo usque dum lux surgeret,

sudavit inpar praelium.

 

Sed cum iubar claresceret,

lapsante claudus poplite

femurque victus debile

  80culpae vigorem perdidit.

 

Nutabat inguen saucium,

quae corporis pars vilior

longeque sub cordis loco

diram fovet libidinem.

 

  85Hae nos docent imagines,

hominem tenebris obsitum,

si forte non cedat Deo,

vires rebellis perdere.

 

Erit tamen beatior,

  90intemperans membrum cui

luctando claudum et tabidum

dies oborta invenerit.

 

Tandem facessat caecitas,

quae nosmet in praeceps diu

  95lapsos sinistris gressibus

errore traxit devio.

 

Haec lux serenum conferat

purosque nos praestet sibi:

nihil loquamur subdolum,

  100volvamus obscurum nihil.

 

Sic tota decurrat dies,

ne lingua mendax, ne manus,

oculive peccent lubrici,

ne noxa corpus inquinet.

 

  105Speculator adstat

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">desuper,

qui nos diebus omnibus

actusque nostros prospicit

a luce prima in vesperum.

 

Hic testis, hic est arbiter,

  110his intuetur quidquid est,

humana quod mens concipit;

hunc nemo fallit iudicem.

II. MORNING HYMN

Ye clouds and darkness, hosts of night

That breed confusion and affright,

Begone! o'erhead the dawn shines clear,

The light breaks in and Christ is here.

 

Earth's gloom flees broken and dispersed,

By the sun's piercing shafts coerced:

The daystar's eyes rain influence bright

And colours glimmer back to sight.

 

So shall our guilty midnight fade,

The sin-stained heart's gross dusky shade:

So shall the King's All-radiant Face

Sudden unveil our deep disgrace.

 

No longer then may we disguise

Our dark intents from those clear eyes:

Yea, at the dayspring's advent blest

Our inmost thoughts will stand confest.

 

The thief his hidden traffic plies

Unmarked before the dawn doth rise:

But light, the foe of guile concealed,

Lets no ill craft lie unrevealed.

 

Fraud and Deceit love only night,

Their wiles they practise out of sight;

Curtained by dark, Adultery too

Doth his foul treachery pursue,

 

But slinks abashed and shamed away

Soon as the sun rekindles day,

For none can damning light resist

And 'neath its rays in sin persist.

 

Who doth not blush o'ertook by morn

And his long night's carousal scorn?

For day subdues the lustful soul,

And doth all foul desires control.

 

Now each to earnest life awakes,

Now each his wanton sport forsakes;

Now foolish things are put away

And gravity resumes her sway.

 

It is the hour for duty's deeds,

The path to which our labour leads,

Be it the forum, army, sea,

The mart or field or factory.

 

One seeks the plaudits of the bar,

One the stern trumpet calls to war:

Those bent on trade and husbandry

At greed's behest for lucre sigh.

 

Mine is no rhetorician's fame,

No petty usury I claim;

Nor am I skilled to face the foe:

'Tis Thou, O Christ, alone I know.

 

Yea, I have learnt to wait on Thee

With heart and lips of purity,

Humbly my knees in prayer to bend,

And tears with songs of praise to blend.

 

These are the gains I hold in view

And these the arts that I pursue:

These are the offices I ply

When the bright sun mounts up the sky.

 

Prove Thou my heart, my every thought,

Search into all that I have wrought:

Though I be stained with blots within,

Thy quickening rays shall purge my sin.

 

O may I ever spotless be

As when my stains were cleansed by Thee,

Who bad'st me 'neath the Jordan's wave

Of yore my soilëd spirit lave.

 

If e'er since then the world's gross night

Hath cast its curtain o'er my sight,

Dispel the cloud, O King of grace,

Star of the East! with thy pure face.

 

Since Thou canst change, O holy Light,

The blackest hue to milky white,

Ebon to clearness crystalline,

Wash my foul stains and make me clean.

 

'Twas 'neath the lonely star-blue night

That Jacob waged the unequal fight,

Stoutly he wrestled with the Man

In darkness, till the day began.

 

And when the sun rose in the sky

He halted on his shrivelled thigh:

His natural might had ebbed away,

Vanquished in that tremendous fray.

 

Not wounded he in nobler part

Nor smitten in life's fount, the heart:

But lust was shaken from his throne

And his foul empire overthrown.

 

Whereby we clearly learn aright

That man is whelmed by deadly night,

Unless he own God conqueror

And strive against His will no more.

 

Yet happier he whom rising morn

Shall find of nature's strength forlorn,

Whose warring flesh hath shrunk away,

Palsied by virtue's puissant sway.

 

And then at length let darkness flee,

Which all too long held us in fee,

'Mid wildering shadows made us stray

And led in devious tracks our way.

 

We pray Thee, Rising Light serene,

E'en as Thyself our hearts make clean:

Let no deceit our lips defile

Nor let our souls be vexed by guile.

 

O keep us, as the hours proceed,

From lying word and evil deed,

Our roving eyes from sin set free,

Our body from impurity.

 

For thou dost from above survey

The converse of each fleeting day:

Thou dost foresee from morning light

Our every deed, until the night.

 

Justice and judgment dwell with Thee,

Whatever is, Thine eye doth see:

Thou know'st what human hearts conceive

And none Thy wisdom may deceive.

III. HYMNUS ANTE CIBUM

O crucifer bone, lucisator,

omniparens, pie, verbigena,

edite corpore virgineo,

sed prius in genitore potens,

  5astra, solum, mare quam fierent:

 

Huc nitido precor intuitu

flecte salutiferam faciem,

fronte serenus et inradia,

nominis ut sub honore tui

  10has epulas liceat capere.

 

Te sine dulce nihil, Domine,

nec iuvat ore quid adpetere,

pocula ni prius atque cibos,

Christe, tuus favor inbuerit

  15omnia sanctificante fide.

 

Fercula nostra Deum sapiant,

class="l">Christus et influat in pateras:

seria, ludicra, verba, iocos,

denique quod sumus aut agimus,

  20trina superne regat pietas.

 

Hic mihi nulla rosae spolia,

nullus aromate fragrat odor,

sed liquor influit ambrosius

nectareamque fidem redolet

  25fusus ab usque Patris gremio.

 

Sperne camena leves hederas,

cingere tempora quis solita es,

sertaque mystica dactylico

texere docta liga strophio,

  30laude Dei redimita comas.

 

Quod generosa potest anima,

lucis et aetheris indigena,

solvere dignius obsequium,

quam data munera si recinat

  35artificem modulata suum?

 

Ipse homini quia cuncta dedit,

quae capimus dominante manu,

quae polus aut humus aut pelagus

aere, gurgite, rure creant,

  40haec mihi subdidit et sibi me.

 

Callidus inlaqueat volucres

aut pedicis dolus aut maculis,

inlita glutine corticeo

vimina plumigeram seriem

  45inpediunt et abire vetant.

 

Ecce per aequora fluctivagos

texta greges sinuosa trahunt:

piscis item sequitur calamum

raptus acumine vulnifico

  50credula saucius ora cibo.

 

Fundit opes ager ingenuas

dives aristiferae segetis:

his ubi vitea pampineo

brachia palmite luxuriant,

  55pacis alumna ubi baca viret.

 

Haec opulentia Christicolis

servit et omnia suppeditat:

absit enim procul ilia fames,

caedibus ut pecudum libeat

  60sanguineas lacerare dapes.

 

Sint fera gentibus indomitis

prandia de nece quadrupedum:

nos oleris coma, nos siliqua

feta legumine multimodo

  65paverit innocuis epulis.

 

Spumea mulctra gerunt niveos

ubere de gemino latices,

perque coagula densa liquor

in solidum coit et fragili

  70lac tenerum premitur calatho.

 

Mella recens mihi Cecropia

nectare sudat olente favus:

haec opifex apis aerio

rore liquat tenuique thymo,

  75nexilis inscia connubii.

 

Hinc quoque pomiferi nemoris

munera mitia proveniunt,

arbor onus tremefacta suum

deciduo gravis imbre pluit

  80puniceosque iacit cumulos.

 

Quae veterum tuba, quaeve lyra

flatibus inclita vel fidibus

divitis omnipotentis opus,

quaeque fruenda patent homini

  85laudibus aequiparare queat?

 

Te Pater optime mane novo,

solis et orbita cum media est,

te quoque luce sub occidua

sumere cum monet hora cibum,

  90nostra Deus canet harmonia.

 

Quod calet halitus interior,

corde quod abdita vena tremit,

pulsat et incita quod resonam

lingua sub ore latens caveam,

  95laus superi Patris esto mihi.

 

Nos igitur tua sancte manus

caespite conposuit madido

effigiem meditata suam,

utque foret rata materies

  100flavit et indidit ore animam.

 

Tunc per amoena vireta iubet

frondicomis habitare locis,

ver ubi perpetuum redolet

prataque multicolora latex

  105quadrifluo celer amne rigat.

 

Haec tibi nunc famulentur, ait,

usibus omnia dedo tuis:

sed tamen aspera mortifero

stipite carpere poma veto,

  110qui medio viret in nemore.

 

Hic draco perfidus indocile

virginis inlicit ingenium,

ut socium malesuada virum

mandere cogeret ex vetitis

  115ipsa pari peritura modo.

 

Corpora mutua--nosse nefas--

post epulas inoperta vident,

lubricus error et erubuit:

tegmina suta parant foliis,

  120dedecus ut pudor occuleret.

 

Conscia culpa Deum pavitans

sede pia procul exigitur.

innuba fernina quae fuerat,

coniugis excipit inperium,

  125foedera tristia iussa pati.

 

Auctor et ipse doli coluber

plectitur inprobus, ut mulier

colla trilinguia calce terat:

sic coluber muliebre solum

  130suspicit atque virum mulier.

 

His ducibus vitiosa dehinc

posteritas ruit in facinus,

dumque rudes imitatur avos,

fasque nefasque simul glomerans

  135inpia crimina morte luit.

 

Ecce venit nova progenies,

aethere proditus alter homo,

non luteus, velut ille prior:

sed Deus ipse gerens hominem,

  140corporeisque carens vitiis.

 

Fit caro vivida sermo Patris,

numine quam rutilante gravis

non thalamo, neque iure tori,

nec genialibus inlecebris

  145intemerata puella parit.

 

Hoc odium vetus illud erat,

hoc erat aspidis atque hominis

digladiabile discidium,

quod modo cernua femineis

  150vipera proteritur pedibus.

 

Edere namque Deum merita

omnia virgo venena domat:

tractibus anguis inexplicitis

virus inerme piger revomit,

  155gramine concolor in viridi.

 

Quae feritas modo non trepidat,

territa de grege

class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">candidulo?

inpavidas lupus inter oves

tristis obambulat et rabidum

  160sanguinis inmemor os cohibet.

 

Agnus enim vice mirifica

ecce leonibus inperitat:

exagitansque truces aquilas

per vaga nubila, perque notos

  165sidere lapsa columba fugat.

 

Tu mihi Christe columba potens,

sanguine pasta cui cedit avis,

tu niveus per ovile tuum

agnus hiare lupum prohibes,

  170sub iuga tigridis ora premens.

 

Da locuples Deus hoc famulis

rite precantibus, ut tenui

membra cibo recreata levent,

neu piger inmodicis dapibus

  175viscera tenta gravet stomachus.

 

Haustus amarus abesto procul,

ne libeat tetigisse manu

exitiale quid aut vetitum:

gustus et ipse modum teneat,

  180sospitet ut iecur incolume.

 

Sit satis anguibus horrificis,

liba quod inpia corporibus

ah miseram peperere necem,

sufficiat semel ob facinus

  185plasma Dei potuisse mori.

 

Oris opus, vigor igneolus

non moritur, quia flante Deo

conpositus superoque fluens

de solio Patris artificis

  190vim liquidae rationis habet.

 

Viscera mortua quin etiam

post obitum reparare datur,

eque suis iterum tumulis

prisca renascitur effigies

  195pulvereo coeunte situ.

 

Credo equidem, neque vana fides,

corpora vivere more animae:

nam modo corporeum memini

de Phlegethonte gradu facili

  200ad superos remeasse Deum.

 

Spes eadem mea membra manet,

quae redolentia funereo

iussa quiescere sarcophago

dux parili redivivus humo

  205ignea Christus ad astra vocat.

III. HYMN BEFORE MEAT

Blest Cross-bearer, Source of good,

Light-creating, Word-begot,

Gracious child of maidenhood,

Bosomed in the Fatherhood,

When earth, sea and stars were not.

 

With Thy cloudless, healing gaze

Shine upon me from above:

Let Thine all-enlightening rays

Bless this meal and quicken praise,

Praise unto Thy name of Love.

 

Lord, without Thee nought is sweet,

Nought my life can satisfy,

If Thy favour make not meet

What I drink and what I eat;

Let faith all things sanctify!

 

O'er this bread God's grace be poured,

Christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl!

Rule my converse, Triune Lord,

Sober thought and sportive word,

All my acts and all my soul.

 

Spoils of rose-trees are not spent,

Nor rich unguents on my board:

But ambrosial sweets are sent,

Of faith's nectar redolent,

From the bosom of my Lord.

 

Scorn, my Muse, light ivy-leaves

Wherewith custom wreathed thy brow:

Love a mystic crown conceives

And a rhythmic garland weaves:

Bind on thee God's praises now.

 

What more worthy gift can I,

Child of light and aether, bring

Than for boons the Maker high

From His bounty doth supply

Lovingly my thanks to sing?

 

He hath set 'neath our command

All that ever rose to be,

All that sky and sea and land

Breed in air, in glebe and sand,

Made my slaves, His own made me.

 

Fowler's craft with gin and net

Feathered tribes of heaven ensnares:

Osier twigs with lime o'erset

That their airy flight may let

His relentless guile prepares.

 

Lo! with woven mesh the seine

Swimming shoals draws from the wave:

Nor do fish the bait disdain

Till they feel the barb's swift pain,

Captives of the food they crave.

 

Native wealth that knows no fail,

Golden wheat springs from the field:

Tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail,

Nursed of Peace the olives pale

Berries green unbidden yield.

 

Christ's grace fills His people's need

With these mercies ever fresh:

Far from us be that foul greed,

Gluttony that loves to feed

On slain oxen's bloodstained flesh.

 

Leave to the barbarian brood

Banquet of the slaughtered beast:

Ours the homely, garden food,

Greenstuff manifold and good

And the lentils' harmless feast.

 

Foaming milkpails bubble o'er

With the udders' snowy stream,

Which in thickening churns we pour

Or in wicker baskets store,

As the cheese is pressed from cream.

 

Honey's nectar for our use

From the new-made comb is shed:

Which the skilful bee imbues

With thyme's scent and airy dews,

Plying lonely toils unwed.

 

Orchard-groves now mellowed o'er

Bounteously their fruitage shed:

See! like rain on forest floor

Shaken trees their riches pour,

High-heaped apples, ripe and red.

 

What great trumpet voice or lyre

Famed of yore could fitly praise

Gifts of the Almighty Sire,

Blessings that His own require,

Richly lavished through their days?

 

When morn breaks upon our sight,

Hymns, O Lord, to Thee shall ring:

Thee, when streams the midday light,

Thee, when shadows of the night

Bid us sup, our voices sing.

 

For my body's vital heat,

For my heart-blood's pulsing vein,

For my tongue and speech complete

Unto Thee, Most High, 'tis meet

That I raise my grateful strain.

class="l"> 

'Twas, O Holy One, Thy care

Wrought us from the plastic clay,

Made us Thine own image bear,

And for our perfection fair

Did Thy Breath to man convey.

 

On the twain Thou didst bestow

Leafy bowers in pleasaunce fair:

Where spring's scents for aye did blow,

And four stately streams did flow

O'er meads pied with blossoms rare.

 

"All this realm ye now shall sway:"

(Saidst Thou) "use it at your will,

Yet 'tis death your hands to lay

On the Tree, whose verdant sway

Doth the midmost garden fill."

 

Then the Serpent's guileful hate

Would not innocency spare:

Bade the maiden urge her mate

With the fruit his lips to sate,

Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.

 

Each their nakedness perceives

When the feast they once partook:

Smit with shame their conscience grieves:

Wove they coverings of leaves

Shielding from lascivious look.

 

Far they both in terror fled

Thrust from dwelling of the pure:

She who erst had dwelt unwed

Subject to her spouse was led,

Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.

 

On the Serpent, too, His seal

God hath set, Who guile abhorred,

Doomed in triple neck to feel

Impress of the woman's heel,

Fearing her, who feared her lord.

 

Thus sin in our parents sown

Brought forth ruin for the race;

Good and evil having grown

From that primal root alone,

Nought but death could guilt efface.

 

But the Second Man behold

Come to re-create our kin:

Not formed after common mould

But our God (O Love untold!)

Made in flesh that knows not sin.

 

Word of God incarnated,

By His awful power conceived,

Whom a maiden yet unwed,

Innocent of marriage-bed,

In her virgin womb received.

 

Now we see the Serpent lewd

'Neath the woman's heel downtrod:

Whence there sprang the deadly feud,

Strife for ages unsubdued,

'Twixt mankind and foe of God.

 

Yet God's mother, Maid adored,

Robbed sin's poison of its bane,

And the Snake, his green coils lowered,

Writhing on the sod, outpoured

Harmless now his venom's stain.

 

What fierce brute that doth not flee

Lambs of Christ, white-robed and clean?

'Midst the flock from fear set free,

Slinks the drear wolf sullenly,

Checked his maw and tamed his mien.

 

Wondrous change! restrained by love

Lions the mild lamb obey:

Eagles wild, before the dove

Fluttering from the stars above,

Speed o'er cloudy winds away.

 

Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reign

Where the vulture gnaws no more:

Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchain

Tigers fierce, and wolves restrain

Gaping at the sheepfold's door.

 

God of Love, Thy servants we

Pray Thee now to grant our prayer

That our feast may frugal be,

Nor that we dishonour Thee

By coarse surfeit of rich fare.

 

May we taste no bitter gall

In our cup, nor handle we

Aught of death or harm at all,

Nor intemperately fall

Into gross debauchery.

 

Be the powers of Hell content

With their primal fraud, whereby

Death into this world was sent,

And that, for sin's chastisement,

God's own creatures once should die.

 

But in us God's Breath of fire

Cannot lose its vital force:

Never can its might expire,

Flowing from the Eternal Sire,

Who of Reason's strength is source.

 

Nay, from out death's chilling tomb

Mortal atoms shall arise:

Man from earth's vast, hidden womb

Other, yet the same, shall bloom,

Dust re-made in glorious guise.

 

'Tis my faith--and faith not vain--

Bodies live e'en as the soul:

Since I hold in memory plain

God as man uprose again,

Loosed from Hell, to His true goal.

 

Whence from Him the hope I reap

That these limbs the same shall rise,

Which enwrapped in balmy sleep

Christ the Risen safe shall keep

Till He call me to the skies.

IV. HYMNUS POST CIBUM

Pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto,

quem lex corporis inbecilla poscit,

laudem lingua Deo patri rependat;

Patri, qui Cherubin sedile sacrum,

  5nec non et Seraphin suum supremo

subnixus solio tenet regitque.

 

Hic est, quem Sabaoth Deum vocamus,

expers principii carensque fine,

rerum conditor et repertor orbis:

  10fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce,

infusor fidei, sator pudoris,

mortis perdomitor, salutis auctor.

 

Omnes quod sumus aut vigemus, inde est:

regnat Spiritus ille sempiternus

  15a Christo simul et Parente missus.

Intrat pectora candidus pudica,

quae templi vice consecrata rident,

postquam conbiberint Deum medullis.

 

Sed si quid vitii dolive nasci

  20inter viscera iam dicata sensit,

ceu spurcum refugit celer sacellum.

Taetrum flagrat enim vapore crasso

horror conscius aestuante culpa

offensumque bonum niger repellit.

 

  25Nec solus pudor innocensve votum

templum constituunt perenne Christo

in cordis medii sum ac recessu:

sed ne crapula ferveat cavendum est,

quae sedem fidei cibis refertam

  30usque ad congeriem coartet intus.

 

Parcis victibus expedita corda

infusum melius Deum receptant.

Hic pastus animae est, saporque verus:

sed nos tu gemino fovens paratu

  35artus atque animas utroque pastu

confirmas Pater ac vigore conples.

 

Sic olim tua praecluens potestas

class="l">inter raucisonos situm leones,

inlapsis dapibus virum refovit.

  40Illum fusile numen execrantem

et curvare caput sub expolita

aeris materia nefas putantem

 

Plebs dirae Babylonis ac tyrannus

morti subdiderant, feris dicarant

  45saevis protinus haustibus vorandum.

O semper pietas fidesque tuta!

lambunt indomiti virum leones

intactumque Dei tremunt alumnum.

 

Adstant cominus et iubas reponunt,

  50mansuescit rabies fameque blanda

praedam rictibus ambit incruentis.

Sed cum tenderet ad superna palmas

expertumque sibi Deum rogaret,

clausus iugiter indigensque victu:

 

  55Iussus nuntius advolare terris,

qui pastum famulo daret probato,

raptim desilit obsequente mundo.

Cernit forte procul dapes inemptas,

quas messoribus Abbacuc propheta

  60agresti bonus exhibebat arte.

 

Huius caesarie manu prehensa

plenis, sicut erat, gravem canistris

suspensum rapit et vehit per auras.

Tum raptus simul ipse prandiumque

  65sensim labitur in lacum leonum,

et, quas tunc epulas gerebat, offert:

 

Sumas laetus, ait, libensque carpas,

quae summus Pater, angelusque Christi

mittunt liba tibi sub hoc periclo.

  70His sumptis Danielus excitavit

in caelum faciem ciboque fortis

Amen reddidit, Halleluia dixit.

 

Sic nos muneribus tuis refecti,

largitor Deus omnium bonorum,

  75grates reddimus et sacramus hymnos.

Tu nos tristifico velut tyranno

mundi scilicet inpotentis actu

conclusos regis et feram repellis,

 

Quae circumfremit ac vorare temptat

  80insanos acuens furore dentes,

cur te, summe Deus, precemur unum.

Vexamur, premimur, malis rotamur;

oderunt, lacerant, trahunt, lacessunt,

iuncta est suppliciis fides iniquis.

 

  85Nec defit tamen anxiis medela;

nam languente trucis leonis ira

inlapsae superingeruntur escae.

Quas si quis sitienter hauriendo

non gustu tenui, sed ore pleno

  90internis velit inplicare venis,

 

Hic sancto satiatus ex propheta,

iustorum capiet cibos virorum,

qui fructum domino metunt perenni.

Nil est dulcius ac magis saporum,

  95nil quod plus hominem iuvare possit,

quam vatis pia praecinentis orsa.

 

His sumptis licet insolens potestas

pravum iudicet, inrogetque mortem,

inpasti licet inruant leones,

  100nos semper Dominum patrem fatentes

in te, Christe Deus, loquemur unum

constanterque tuam crucem feremus.

IV. HYMN AFTER MEAT

Refreshed we rise, and for this bread that feeds,

By law of man's weak flesh, our daily needs,

Let every tongue, the Father's praises sing;

The Father Who on His exalted throne,

O'er Cherubim and Seraphim, alone

Reigns in His majesty, Eternal King.

 

God of Sabaoth is His name: 'tis He

Who ne'er began and ne'er shall cease to be,

Builder of worlds created at His word;

Fountain of Life that flows from out the sky,

He breathes within us Faith and Purity,

Great Conqueror of Death, Salvation's Lord.

 

From Him each creature life and vigour gains,

And over all the Eternal Spirit reigns

Who cometh from the Father and the Son:

When, dovelike, on pure hearts the heavenly Guest

Descends, they are by God's own presence blest,

As temples where His holy work is done.

 

But if the taint of vice or guile arise

Within the consecrated shrine, He flies

With speed from out the sin-defilèd cell;

For, driven forth by guilt's black, surging tide,

The offended Godhead may not there abide

Where conscious sin and noisome foulness dwell.

 

Not chastity nor childlike faith alone

Build up for Christ an everlasting throne

Deep in the inmost heart, devoid of shame:

But watchful ever must His servants be,

Lest the dark power of sated gluttony

Should bind about the abode of faith its chain.

 

Yet simple saints, content with frugal fare,

More surely find the Spirit present there,

Who is our soul's true strength and heavenly food:

Thy love for us a twofold feast supplies,

O Father, whence the soul may strengthened rise

And eke the body gain new hardihood.

 

Thus, fed and sheltered by Thy matchless might,

The lions' hideous roar could not affright

Thy loyal servant in the days of old:

He boldly cursed the molten deity

And stood with stubborn head uplifted high

That scorned to bow before a god of gold.

 

Then Babylon's vile mob with fury glows;

Death is his doom; and straight the tyrant throws

The youth to be his savage lions' prey:

But faith and piety Thou still dost save,

For lo! the untamed brutes no longer rave,

But round God's unscathed child they gently play.

 

Close by his side they stand with drooping mane,

The grisly, gaping jaws from blood refrain

And with rough tongues their whilom prey caress:

But when in prayer he raised his hands to heaven

And called the God, from Whom such help was given,

Close-prisoned, hungry, and in sore distress,

 

A wingèd messenger to earth He sends,

Who swiftly through the parting clouds descends

To feed His servant, proven by the test:

By chance he sees from far the unbought fare

Which the good seer Habakkuk's kindly care

With rustic art had for the reapers dressed:

 

Then, grasping in strong hand the prophet's hair,

He bears him gently through the rushing air,

Still burdened with the platter's savoury load,

Till o'er the lions' den at last they stayed

And straightway to the starving youth displayed

The food thus brought, by God's good grace bestowed.

 

class="l">"Take this with joy," he said, "and thankful feed,

The bread that in thy hour of direst need,

By the great Father sent, Christ's angel brings."

Then Daniel lifts his eyes to heaven above

And, strengthened by the wondrous gift of love,

"Amen!" he cries, and Alleluia sings.

 

Thus, therefore, by Thy bounties now restored,

Giver of all things good, Almighty Lord,

We render thanks and sing glad hymns to Thee:

Though prisoned in an evil world we dwell

Where sin's grim tyrant rules, Thou dost repel

With sovran power our mortal enemy.

 

He roars around us, and would fain devour,

Grinding his angry teeth when 'gainst his power

In Thee alone, O God, we still confide:

By evil things we are beset and vexed,

Tormented, hated, harassed and perplexed,

Our faith by cruel suffering sorely tried,

 

Yet help ne'er fails us in our time of need,

For Thou canst quell the lions' rage, and feed

Our hungry spirits with celestial fare:

And if some soul no meagre taste would gain

Of that repast, but thirstily is fain

Full measure of the heavenly sweets to share,

 

He by the holy seers of old is fed,

And shall partake the loyal reapers' bread

Who labour in the eternal Master's field:

For nothing sweeter than the Word can be

That fell from righteous lips, once touched by Thee,

And nought can richer grace to mortals yield.

 

With this sustained, though vaunting tyranny

By unjust judgment doom us straight to die,

And starvèd lions rush these limbs to tear;

Confessing ever Thine Eternal Son,

With Thee, Almighty Father, ever one,

His cross with faith unshaken will we bear.