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diff --git a/14959.txt b/14959.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1496c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/14959.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6278 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Hymns of Prudentius, by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Hymns of Prudentius + +Author: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius + +Release Date: February 7, 2005 [EBook #14959] + +Language: Latin and English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HYMNS OF PRUDENTIUS *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + 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 + + + + + PRAEFATIO + + + Per quinquennia iam decem, + ni fallor, fuimus: septimus insuper + annum cardo rotat, dum fruimur sole volubili. + Instat terminus et diem + vicinum senio iam Deus adplicat. 5 + Quid nos utile tanti spatio temporis egimus? + Aetas prima crepantibus + flevit sub ferulis: mox docuit toga + infectum vitiis falsa loqui, non sine crimine. + Tum lasciva protervitas, 10 + et luxus petulans (heu pudet ac piget) + foedavit iuvenem nequitiae sordibus ac luto. + Exin iurgia turbidos + armarunt animos et male pertinax + vincendi studium subiacuit casibus asperis. 15 + Bis legum moderamine + frenos nobilium reximus urbium, + ius civile bonis reddidimus, terruimus reos. + Tandem militiae gradu + evectum pietas principis extulit 20 + adsumptum propius stare iubens ordine proximo. + Haec dum vita volans agit, + inrepsit subito canities seni + oblitum veteris me Saliae consulis arguens: + ex quo prima dies mihi 25 + quam multas hiemes volverit et rosas + pratis post glaciem reddiderit, nix capitis probat. + Numquid talia proderunt + carnis post obitum vel bona vel mala, + cum iam, quidquid id est, quod fueram, mors aboleverit? 30 + Dicendum mihi; Quisquis es, + mundum, quem coluit, mens tua perdidit: + non sunt illa Dei, quae studuit, cuius habeberis. + Atqui fine sub ultimo + peccatrix anima stultitiam exuat: 35 + saltem voce Deum concelebret, si meritis nequit: + hymnis continuet dies, + nec nox ulla vacet, quin Dominum canat: + pugnet contra hereses, catholicam discutiat fidem, + conculcet sacra gentium, 40 + labem, Roma, tuis inferat idolis, + carmen martyribus devoveat, laudet apostolos. + Haec dum scribo vel eloquor, + vinclis o utinam corporis emicem + liber, quo tulerit lingua sono mobilis ultimo. 45 + + + + + 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. + + Auferte, clamat, lectulos 5 + aegros, soporos, desides: + castique recti ac sobrii + vigilate, iam sum proximus. + + Post solis ortum fulgidi + serum est cubile spernere, 10 + ni parte noctis addita + tempus labori adieceris. + + Vox ista, qua strepunt aves + stantes sub ipso culmine + paulo ante quam lux emicet, 15 + nostri figura est iudicis. + + Tectos tenebris horridis + stratisque opertos segnibus + suadet quietem linquere + iam iamque venturo die. 20 + + Ut, cum coruscis flatibus + aurora caelum sparserit, + omnes labore exercitos + confirmet ad spem luminis. + + Hic somnus ad tempus datus 25 + est forma mortis perpetis, + peccata ceu nox horrida + cogunt iacere ac stertere. + + Sed vox ab alto culmine + Christi docentis praemonet, 30 + adesse iam lucem prope, + ne mens sopori serviat: + + Ne somnus usque ad terminos + vitae socordis opprimat + pectus sepultum crimine 35 + et lucis oblitum suae. + + Ferunt vagantes daemonas + laetos tenebris noctium, + gallo canente exterritos + sparsim timere et cedere. 40 + + Invisa nam vicinitas + lucis, salutis, numinis + rupto tenebrarum situ + noctis fugat satellites. + + Hoc esse signum praescii 45 + norunt repromissae spei, + qua nos soporis liberi + speramus adventum Dei. + + Quae vis sit huius alitis, + salvator ostendit Petro, 50 + ter antequam gallus canat + sese negandum praedicans. + + Fit namque peccatum prius, + quam praeco lucis proximae + inlustret humanum genus 55 + finemque peccandi ferat. + + Flevit negator denique + ex ore prolapsum nefas, + cum mens maneret innocens, + animusque servaret fidem. 60 + + Nec tale quidquam postea + linguae locutus lubrico est, + cantuque galli cognito + peccare iustus destitit. + + Inde est quod omnes credimus, 65 + illo quietis tempore + quo gallus exsultans canit + Christum redisse ex inferis. + + Tunc mortis oppressus vigor, + tunc lex subacta est tartari, 70 + tunc vis diei fortior + noctem coegit cedere. + + Iam iam quiescant inproba, + iam culpa furva obdormiat, + iam noxa letalis suum 75 + perpessa somnum marceat. + + Vigil vicissim spiritus + quodcumque restat temporis, + dum meta noctis clauditur, + stans ac laborans excubet. 80 + + Iesum ciamus vocibus + flentes, precantes, sobrii: + intenta supplicatio + dormire cor mundum vetat. + + Sat convolutis artubus 85 + sensum profunda oblivio + pressit, gravavit, obruit + vanis vagantem somniis. + + Sunt nempe falsa et frivola, + quae mundiali gloria 90 + ceu dormientes egimus: + vigilemus, hic est veritas. + + Aurum, voluptas, gaudium, + opes, honores, prospera, + quaecumque nos inflant mala, 95 + fit mane, nil sunt omnia. + + Tu, Christe, somnum dissice, + tu rumpe noctis vincula, + tu solve peccatum vetus + novumque lumen ingere. 100 + + + + + 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. + + Caligo terrae scinditur 5 + percussa solis spiculo, + rebusque iam color redit + vultu nitentis sideris. + + Sic nostra mox obscuritas + fraudisque pectus conscium 10 + ruptis retectum nubibus + regnante pallescit Deo. + + Tunc non licebit claudere + quod quisque fuscum cogitat, + sed mane clarescent novo 15 + secreta mentis prodita. + + Fur ante lucem squalido + inpune peccat tempore, + sed lux dolis contraria + latere furtum non sinit. 20 + + Versuta fraus et callida + amat tenebris obtegi, + aptamque noctem turpibus + adulter occultus fovet. + + Sol ecce surgit igneus, 25 + piget, pudescit, paenitet, + nec teste quisquam lumine + peccare constanter potest. + + Quis mane sumptis nequiter + non erubescit poculis, 30 + cum fit libido temperans + castumque nugator sapit? + + Nunc, nunc severum vivitur, + nunc nemo tentat ludicrum, + inepta nunc omnes sua 35 + vultu colorant serio. + + Haec hora cunctis utilis, + qua quisque, quod studet, gerat, + miles, togatus, navita, + opifex, arator, institor. 40 + + Illum forensis gloria, + hunc triste raptat classicum, + mercator hinc ac rusticus + avara suspirant lucra. + + At nos lucelli ac faenoris 45 + fandique prorsus nescii, + nec arte fortes bellica, + te, Christe, solum novimus. + + Te mente pura et simplici, + te voce, te cantu pio 50 + rogare curvato genu + flendo et canendo discimus. + + His nos lucramur quaestibus, + hac arte tantum vivimus, + haec inchoamus munera, 55 + cum sol resurgens emicat. + + Intende nostris sensibus, + vitamque totam dispice, + sunt multa fucis inlita, + quae luce purgentur tua. 60 + + Durare nos tales iube, + quales, remotis sordibus + nitere pridem iusseras, + Iordane tinctos flumine. + + Quodcumque nox mundi dehinc 65 + infecit atris nubibus, + tu, rex Eoi sideris, + vultu sereno inlumina. + + Tu sancte, qui taetram picem + candore tingis lacteo 70 + ebenoque crystallum facis, + delicta terge livida. + + Sub nocte Iacob caerula + luctator audax angeli, + eo usque dum lux surgeret, 75 + sudavit inpar praelium. + + Sed cum iubar claresceret, + lapsante claudus poplite + femurque victus debile + culpae vigorem perdidit. 80 + + Nutabat inguen saucium, + quae corporis pars vilior + longeque sub cordis loco + diram fovet libidinem. + + Hae nos docent imagines, 85 + hominem tenebris obsitum, + si forte non cedat Deo, + vires rebellis perdere. + + Erit tamen beatior, + intemperans membrum cui 90 + luctando claudum et tabidum + dies oborta invenerit. + + Tandem facessat caecitas, + quae nosmet in praeceps diu + lapsos sinistris gressibus 95 + errore traxit devio. + + Haec lux serenum conferat + purosque nos praestet sibi: + nihil loquamur subdolum, + volvamus obscurum nihil. 100 + + Sic tota decurrat dies, + ne lingua mendax, ne manus, + oculive peccent lubrici, + ne noxa corpus inquinet. + + Speculator adstat desuper, 105 + qui nos diebus omnibus + actusque nostros prospicit + a luce prima in vesperum. + + Hic testis, hic est arbiter, + his intuetur quidquid est, 110 + 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 soiled 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, + astra, solum, mare quam fierent: 5 + + Huc nitido precor intuitu + flecte salutiferam faciem, + fronte serenus et inradia, + nominis ut sub honore tui + has epulas liceat capere. 10 + + Te sine dulce nihil, Domine, + nec iuvat ore quid adpetere, + pocula ni prius atque cibos, + Christe, tuus favor inbuerit + omnia sanctificante fide. 15 + + Fercula nostra Deum sapiant, + Christus et influat in pateras: + seria, ludicra, verba, iocos, + denique quod sumus aut agimus, + trina superne regat pietas. 20 + + Hic mihi nulla rosae spolia, + nullus aromate fragrat odor, + sed liquor influit ambrosius + nectareamque fidem redolet + fusus ab usque Patris gremio. 25 + + Sperne camena leves hederas, + cingere tempora quis solita es, + sertaque mystica dactylico + texere docta liga strophio, + laude Dei redimita comas. 30 + + Quod generosa potest anima, + lucis et aetheris indigena, + solvere dignius obsequium, + quam data munera si recinat + artificem modulata suum? 35 + + Ipse homini quia cuncta dedit, + quae capimus dominante manu, + quae polus aut humus aut pelagus + aere, gurgite, rure creant, + haec mihi subdidit et sibi me. 40 + + Callidus inlaqueat volucres + aut pedicis dolus aut maculis, + inlita glutine corticeo + vimina plumigeram seriem + inpediunt et abire vetant. 45 + + Ecce per aequora fluctivagos + texta greges sinuosa trahunt: + piscis item sequitur calamum + raptus acumine vulnifico + credula saucius ora cibo. 50 + + Fundit opes ager ingenuas + dives aristiferae segetis: + his ubi vitea pampineo + brachia palmite luxuriant, + pacis alumna ubi baca viret. 55 + + Haec opulentia Christicolis + servit et omnia suppeditat: + absit enim procul ilia fames, + caedibus ut pecudum libeat + sanguineas lacerare dapes. 60 + + Sint fera gentibus indomitis + prandia de nece quadrupedum: + nos oleris coma, nos siliqua + feta legumine multimodo + paverit innocuis epulis. 65 + + Spumea mulctra gerunt niveos + ubere de gemino latices, + perque coagula densa liquor + in solidum coit et fragili + lac tenerum premitur calatho. 70 + + Mella recens mihi Cecropia + nectare sudat olente favus: + haec opifex apis aerio + rore liquat tenuique thymo, + nexilis inscia connubii. 75 + + Hinc quoque pomiferi nemoris + munera mitia proveniunt, + arbor onus tremefacta suum + deciduo gravis imbre pluit + puniceosque iacit cumulos. 80 + + Quae veterum tuba, quaeve lyra + flatibus inclita vel fidibus + divitis omnipotentis opus, + quaeque fruenda patent homini + laudibus aequiparare queat? 85 + + Te Pater optime mane novo, + solis et orbita cum media est, + te quoque luce sub occidua + sumere cum monet hora cibum, + nostra Deus canet harmonia. 90 + + Quod calet halitus interior, + corde quod abdita vena tremit, + pulsat et incita quod resonam + lingua sub ore latens caveam, + laus superi Patris esto mihi. 95 + + Nos igitur tua sancte manus + caespite conposuit madido + effigiem meditata suam, + utque foret rata materies + flavit et indidit ore animam. 100 + + Tunc per amoena vireta iubet + frondicomis habitare locis, + ver ubi perpetuum redolet + prataque multicolora latex + quadrifluo celer amne rigat. 105 + + Haec tibi nunc famulentur, ait, + usibus omnia dedo tuis: + sed tamen aspera mortifero + stipite carpere poma veto, + qui medio viret in nemore. 110 + + Hic draco perfidus indocile + virginis inlicit ingenium, + ut socium malesuada virum + mandere cogeret ex vetitis + ipsa pari peritura modo. 115 + + Corpora mutua--nosse nefas-- + post epulas inoperta vident, + lubricus error et erubuit: + tegmina suta parant foliis, + dedecus ut pudor occuleret. 120 + + Conscia culpa Deum pavitans + sede pia procul exigitur. + innuba fernina quae fuerat, + coniugis excipit inperium, + foedera tristia iussa pati. 125 + + Auctor et ipse doli coluber + plectitur inprobus, ut mulier + colla trilinguia calce terat: + sic coluber muliebre solum + suspicit atque virum mulier. 130 + + His ducibus vitiosa dehinc + posteritas ruit in facinus, + dumque rudes imitatur avos, + fasque nefasque simul glomerans + inpia crimina morte luit. 135 + + Ecce venit nova progenies, + aethere proditus alter homo, + non luteus, velut ille prior: + sed Deus ipse gerens hominem, + corporeisque carens vitiis. 140 + + Fit caro vivida sermo Patris, + numine quam rutilante gravis + non thalamo, neque iure tori, + nec genialibus inlecebris + intemerata puella parit. 145 + + Hoc odium vetus illud erat, + hoc erat aspidis atque hominis + digladiabile discidium, + quod modo cernua femineis + vipera proteritur pedibus. 150 + + Edere namque Deum merita + omnia virgo venena domat: + tractibus anguis inexplicitis + virus inerme piger revomit, + gramine concolor in viridi. 155 + + Quae feritas modo non trepidat, + territa de grege candidulo? + inpavidas lupus inter oves + tristis obambulat et rabidum + sanguinis inmemor os cohibet. 160 + + Agnus enim vice mirifica + ecce leonibus inperitat: + exagitansque truces aquilas + per vaga nubila, perque notos + sidere lapsa columba fugat. 165 + + Tu mihi Christe columba potens, + sanguine pasta cui cedit avis, + tu niveus per ovile tuum + agnus hiare lupum prohibes, + sub iuga tigridis ora premens. 170 + + Da locuples Deus hoc famulis + rite precantibus, ut tenui + membra cibo recreata levent, + neu piger inmodicis dapibus + viscera tenta gravet stomachus. 175 + + Haustus amarus abesto procul, + ne libeat tetigisse manu + exitiale quid aut vetitum: + gustus et ipse modum teneat, + sospitet ut iecur incolume. 180 + + Sit satis anguibus horrificis, + liba quod inpia corporibus + ah miseram peperere necem, + sufficiat semel ob facinus + plasma Dei potuisse mori. 185 + + Oris opus, vigor igneolus + non moritur, quia flante Deo + conpositus superoque fluens + de solio Patris artificis + vim liquidae rationis habet. 190 + + Viscera mortua quin etiam + post obitum reparare datur, + eque suis iterum tumulis + prisca renascitur effigies + pulvereo coeunte situ. 195 + + Credo equidem, neque vana fides, + corpora vivere more animae: + nam modo corporeum memini + de Phlegethonte gradu facili + ad superos remeasse Deum. 200 + + Spes eadem mea membra manet, + quae redolentia funereo + iussa quiescere sarcophago + dux parili redivivus humo + ignea Christus ad astra vocat. 205 + + + + + 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. + + '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, + nec non et Seraphin suum supremo 5 + subnixus solio tenet regitque. + + Hic est, quem Sabaoth Deum vocamus, + expers principii carensque fine, + rerum conditor et repertor orbis: + fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce, 10 + infusor fidei, sator pudoris, + mortis perdomitor, salutis auctor. + + Omnes quod sumus aut vigemus, inde est: + regnat Spiritus ille sempiternus + a Christo simul et Parente missus. 15 + Intrat pectora candidus pudica, + quae templi vice consecrata rident, + postquam conbiberint Deum medullis. + + Sed si quid vitii dolive nasci + inter viscera iam dicata sensit, 20 + ceu spurcum refugit celer sacellum. + Taetrum flagrat enim vapore crasso + horror conscius aestuante culpa + offensumque bonum niger repellit. + + Nec solus pudor innocensve votum 25 + templum constituunt perenne Christo + in cordis medii sum ac recessu: + sed ne crapula ferveat cavendum est, + quae sedem fidei cibis refertam + usque ad congeriem coartet intus. 30 + + Parcis victibus expedita corda + infusum melius Deum receptant. + Hic pastus animae est, saporque verus: + sed nos tu gemino fovens paratu + artus atque animas utroque pastu 35 + confirmas Pater ac vigore conples. + + Sic olim tua praecluens potestas + inter raucisonos situm leones, + inlapsis dapibus virum refovit. + Illum fusile numen execrantem 40 + et curvare caput sub expolita + aeris materia nefas putantem + + Plebs dirae Babylonis ac tyrannus + morti subdiderant, feris dicarant + saevis protinus haustibus vorandum. 45 + O semper pietas fidesque tuta! + lambunt indomiti virum leones + intactumque Dei tremunt alumnum. + + Adstant cominus et iubas reponunt, + mansuescit rabies fameque blanda 50 + praedam rictibus ambit incruentis. + Sed cum tenderet ad superna palmas + expertumque sibi Deum rogaret, + clausus iugiter indigensque victu: + + Iussus nuntius advolare terris, 55 + qui pastum famulo daret probato, + raptim desilit obsequente mundo. + Cernit forte procul dapes inemptas, + quas messoribus Abbacuc propheta + agresti bonus exhibebat arte. 60 + + Huius caesarie manu prehensa + plenis, sicut erat, gravem canistris + suspensum rapit et vehit per auras. + Tum raptus simul ipse prandiumque + sensim labitur in lacum leonum, 65 + et, quas tunc epulas gerebat, offert: + + Sumas laetus, ait, libensque carpas, + quae summus Pater, angelusque Christi + mittunt liba tibi sub hoc periclo. + His sumptis Danielus excitavit 70 + in caelum faciem ciboque fortis + Amen reddidit, Halleluia dixit. + + Sic nos muneribus tuis refecti, + largitor Deus omnium bonorum, + grates reddimus et sacramus hymnos. 75 + Tu nos tristifico velut tyranno + mundi scilicet inpotentis actu + conclusos regis et feram repellis, + + Quae circumfremit ac vorare temptat + insanos acuens furore dentes, 80 + cur te, summe Deus, precemur unum. + Vexamur, premimur, malis rotamur; + oderunt, lacerant, trahunt, lacessunt, + iuncta est suppliciis fides iniquis. + + Nec defit tamen anxiis medela; 85 + nam languente trucis leonis ira + inlapsae superingeruntur escae. + Quas si quis sitienter hauriendo + non gustu tenui, sed ore pleno + internis velit inplicare venis, 90 + + Hic sancto satiatus ex propheta, + iustorum capiet cibos virorum, + qui fructum domino metunt perenni. + Nil est dulcius ac magis saporum, + nil quod plus hominem iuvare possit, 95 + quam vatis pia praecinentis orsa. + + His sumptis licet insolens potestas + pravum iudicet, inrogetque mortem, + inpasti licet inruant leones, + nos semper Dominum patrem fatentes 100 + 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-defiled 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 winged 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. + + "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 starved 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. + + + + + V. HYMNUS AD INCENSUM LUCERNAE + + + Inventor rutili, dux bone, luminis, + qui certis vicibus tempora dividis, + merso sole chaos ingruit horridum, + lucem redde tuis Christe fidelibus. + + Quamvis innumero sidere regiam 5 + lunarique polum lampade pinxeris, + incussu silicis lumina nos tamen + monstras saxigeno semine quaerere: + + Ne nesciret homo spem sibi luminis + in Christi solido corpore conditam, 10 + qui dici stabilem se voluit petram, + nostris igniculis unde genus venit. + + Pinguis quos olei rore madentibus + lychnis aut facibus pascimus aridis: + quin et fila favis scirpea floreis 15 + presso melle prius conlita fingimus. + + Vivax flamma viget, seu cava testula + sucum linteolo suggerit ebrio, + seu pinus piceam fert alimoniam, + seu ceram teretem stuppa calens bibit. 20 + + Nectar de liquido vertice fervidum + guttatim lacrimis stillat olentibus, + ambustum quoniam vis facit ignea + imbrem de madido flere cacumine. + + Splendent ergo tuis muneribus, Pater, 25 + flammis mobilibus scilicet atria, + absentemque diem lux agit aemula, + quam nox cum lacero victa fugit peplo. + + Sed quis non rapidi luminis arduam + manantemque Deo cernat originem? 30 + Moyses nempe Deum spinifera in rubo + vidit conspicuo lumine flammeum. + + Felix, qui meruit sentibus in sacris + caelestis solii visere principem, + iussus nexa pedum vincula solvere, 35 + ne sanctum involucris pollueret locum. + + Hunc ignem populus sanguinis incliti + maiorum meritis tutus et inpotens, + suetus sub dominis vivere barbaris, + iam liber sequitur longa per avia: 40 + + qua gressum tulerant castraque caerulae + noctis per medium concita moverant, + plebem pervigilem fulgure praevio + ducebat radius sole micantior. + + Sed rex Niliaci littoris invido 45 + fervens felle iubet praevalidam manum + in bellum rapidis ire cohortibus + ferratasque acies clangere classicum. + + Sumunt arma viri seque minacibus + accingunt gladiis, triste canit tuba: 50 + hic fidit iaculis, ille volantia + praefigit calamis spicula Gnosiis. + + Densetur cuneis turba pedestribus, + currus pars et equos et volucres rotas + conscendunt celeres signaque bellica 55 + praetendunt tumidis clara draconibus. + + Hic iam servitii nescia pristini + gens Pelusiacis usta vaporibus + tandem purpurei gurgitis hospita + rubris littoribus fessa resederat. 60 + + Hostis dirus adest cum duce perfido, + infert et validis praelia viribus: + Moyses porro suos in mare praecipit + constans intrepidis tendere gressibus: + + praebent rupta locum stagna viantibus 65 + riparum in faciem pervia, sistitur + circumstans vitreis unda liquoribus, + dum plebs sub bifido permeat aequore. + + Pubes quin etiam decolor asperis + inritata odiis rege sub inpio 70 + Hebraeum sitiens fundere sanguinem + audet se pelago credere concavo: + + ibant praecipiti turbine percita + fluctus per medios agmina regia, + sed confusa dehinc unda revolvitur 75 + in semet revolans gurgite confluo. + + Currus tunc et equos telaque naufraga + ipsos et proceres et vaga corpora + nigrorum videas nare satellitum, + arcis iustitium triste tyrannicae. 80 + + Quae tandem poterit lingua retexere + laudes Christe tuas? qui domitam Pharon + plagis multimodis cedere praesuli + cogis iustitiae vindice dextera. + + Qui pontum rapidis aestibus invium 85 + persultare vetas, ut refluo in salo + securus pateat te duce transitus, + et mox unda rapax devoret inpios. + + Cui ieiuna eremi saxa loquacibus + exundant scatebris, et latices novos 90 + fundit scissa silex, quae sitientibus + dat potum populis axe sub igneo. + + Instar fellis aqua tristifico in lacu + fit ligni venia mel velut Atticum: + lignum est, quo sapiunt aspera dulcius; 95 + uam praefixa cruci spes hominum viget. + + Inplet castra cibus tunc quoque ninguidus, + inlabens gelida grandine densius: + his mensas epulis, hac dape construunt, + quam dat sidereo Christus ab aethere. 100 + + Nec non imbrifero ventus anhelitu + crassa nube leves invehit alites, + quae conflata in humum, cum semel agmina + fluxerunt, reduci non revolant fuga. + + Haec olim patribus praemia contulit 105 + insignis pietas numinis unici, + cuius subsidio nos quoque vescimur + pascentes dapibus pectora mysticis. + + Fessos ille vocat per freta seculi + discissis populum turbinibus regens 110 + iactatasque animas mille laboribus + iustorum in patriam scandere praecipit. + + Illic purpureis tecta rosariis + omnis fragrat humus calthaque pinguia + et molles violas et tenues crocos 115 + fundit fonticulis uda fugacibus. + + Illic et gracili balsama surculo + desudata fluunt, raraque cinnama + spirant et folium, fonte quod abdito + praelambens fluvius portat in exitum. 120 + + Felices animae prata per herbida + concentu parili suave sonantibus + hymnorum modulis dulce canunt melos, + calcant et pedibus lilia candidis. + + Sunt et spiritibus saepe nocentibus 125 + paenarum celebres sub Styge feriae + illa nocte, sacer qua rediit Deus + stagnis ad superos ex Acheronticis. + + Non sicut tenebras de face fulgida + surgens oceano Lucifer inbuit, 130 + sed terris Domini de cruce tristibus + maior sole novum restituens diem. + + Marcent suppliciis tartara mitibus, + exultatque sui carceris otio + functorum populus liber ab ignibus, 135 + nec fervent solito flumina sulphure. + + Nos festis trahimus per pia gaudia + noctem conciliis votaque prospera + certatim vigili congerimus prece + extructoque agimus liba sacrario. 140 + + Pendent mobilibus lumina funibus, + quae suffixa micant per laquearia, + et de languidulis fota natatibus + lucem perspicuo flamma iacit vitro. + + Credas stelligeram desuper aream 145 + ornatam geminis stare trionibus, + et qua bosporeum temo regit iugum, + passim purpureos spargier hesperos. + + O res digna, Pater, quam tibi roscidae + noctis principio grex tuus offerat, 150 + lucem, qua tribuis nil pretiosius, + lucem, qua reliqua praemia cernimus. + + Tu lux vera oculis, lux quoque sensibus, + intus tu speculum, tu speculum foris, + lumen, quod famulans offero, suscipe, 155 + tinctum pacifici chrismatis unguine. + + Per Christum genitum, summe Pater, tuum, + in quo visibilis stat tibi gloria, + qui noster Dominus, qui tuus unicus + spirat de patrio corde paraclitum. 160 + + Per quem splendor, honos, laus, sapientia, + maiestas, bonitas, et pietas tua + regnum continuat numine triplici + texens perpetuis secula seculis. + + + + + V. HYMN FOR THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS + + + Blest Lord, Creator of the glowing light, + At Whose behest the hours successive move, + The sun has set: black darkness broods above: + Christ! light Thy faithful through the coming night. + + Thy courts are lit with stars unnumbered, + And in the cloudless vault the pale moon rides; + Yet Thou dost bid us seek the fire that hides + Till swift we strike it from its flinty bed. + + So man may learn that in Christ's body came + The hidden hope of light to mortals given: + He is the Rock--'tis His own word--that riven + Sends forth to all our race the eternal flame. + + From lamps that brim with rich and fragrant oil, + Or torches dry this heaven-sent fire we feed; + Or make us rushlights from the flowering reed + And wax, whereon the bees have spent their toil. + + Bright glows the light, whether the resin thick + Of pine-brand flares, or waxen tapers burn + With melting radiance, or the hollow urn + Yields its stored sweetness to the thirsty wick. + + Beneath the might of fire, in slow decay + The scented tears of glowing nectar fall; + Lower and lower droops the candle tall + And ever dwindling weeps itself away. + + So by Thy gifts, great Father, hearth and hall + Are all ablaze with points of twinkling light + That vie with daylight spent; and vanquished Night + Rends, as she flies away, her sable pall. + + Who knoweth not that from high Heaven first came + Our light, from God Himself the rushing fire? + For Moses erst, amid the prickly brier, + Saw God made manifest in lambent flame. + + Ah, happy he! deemed worthy face to face + To see heaven's Lord within that sacred brake; + Bidden the sandals from his feet to take, + Nor with his shoon defile that holy place. + + The mighty children of the chosen name, + Saved by the merits of their sires, and free + After long years of savage tyranny, + Through the drear desert followed still that flame. + + Striking their camp beneath the silent night + Where'er they went, to lead their darkling way, + The cloud of glory lent its guiding ray + And shone more splendid than the noonday light. + + But, mad with jealous fury, Egypt's king + Calls his great host to battle for their lord: + Swiftly the cohorts gather at his word, + And down the mail-clad lines the clarions ring. + + Girding their trusty swords the warriors go + To fill the ranks; hoarse bugles rend the air; + These seize their massy javelins, these prepare + The death-winged arrow and the Cretan bow. + + The footmen throng in close battalions pressed; + The chariots thunder; to the saddle spring + The riders of the Nile, as forth they fling + Egypt's proud banner with the serpent crest. + + And now, forgetful of the bondage past, + Thy children, tortured by the desert heat, + Drag to the Red Sea's brink their weary feet, + And on its sandy margin rest at last. + + See! with their forsworn king the savage foe + Draws nigh: the threatening squadrons nearer ride; + But ever onward urged the intrepid guide + And through the waves bade Israel fearless go. + + Before that steadfast march the billows fall, + Then raise on either hand their crystal mass, + While through the sundered deep Thy people pass + And ocean guards them with a liquid wall. + + But, mad with baffled rage, the dusky horde + Of Egypt, by their impious despot led, + Athirst the hated Hebrews' blood to shed + Pursued, all reckless of the o'er-arching flood. + + Swift as the wind the royal squadrons ride, + But swifter yet the crystal barriers break, + The waves exultantly their bounds forsake + And roll together in a roaring tide. + + 'Mid steeds and chariots and drifting mail + The drowned lords of Egypt found a grave + With all their swart retainers 'neath the wave; + And in their haughty courts the mourners wail. + + What tongue, O Christ, Thy glories can unfold? + Thine was the arm, outstretched in wrath, that made + The stricken land of Pharaoh, sore afraid, + Bow down before Thy minister of old. + + Thy pathless deep did at the voice restrain + Its surging billows, till with Thee for guide + Thy host passed scathless, and the refluent tide + Swept down the wicked to the engulfing main. + + At Thy command the desert, parched and dry, + Breaks into laughing rills, and water clear + Wells from the smitten rock Thy flock to cheer + And quench their thirst beneath that brazen sky. + + Then Marah's bitterness grew passing sweet, + Touched by the mystic tree; so by the grace + Of Thine own Tree, O Christ, our sinful race + Regains its lost hopes at Thy pierced feet. + + Faster than icy hail the manna falls, + Like snow down drifting from a wintry sky; + The feast is set: they heap the tables high + With that rich food from Thy celestial halls. + + Fresh blow the breezes from the distant shore + And bear a fluttering cloud that hides the light, + Till the frail pinions, faltering in their flight, + Sink in the wilderness to rise no more. + + How great the love of God's own Son, that shed + Such wondrous bounty on His chosen race! + And still to us He proffers in His grace + The mystic Feast, wherewith our souls are fed. + + Through the world's raging sea He bids us come, + And 'twixt the sundered billows guides our path, + Till, spent and wearied with the ocean's wrath, + He calls His storm-tossed saints to Heaven and home. + + There in His paradise red roses blow, + With golden daffodils and lilies pale + And gentle violets, and down the vale + The murmuring rivulets for ever flow. + + Sweet balsams, welling from the slender tree, + And precious spices fill the fragrant air, + And, hiding by the stream, that blossom rare + Whose leaves the river hurries to the sea. + + There the blest souls with one accord unite + To hymn in dulcet song their Saviour's praise, + And as the chanting quire their voices raise + They tread with shining feet the lilies bright. + + Yea, e'en the spirits of the lost, that dwell + Where the black stream of sullen Acheron flows, + Rest on that holy night when Christ arose, + And for a while 'tis holiday in Hell. + + No sun from ocean rising drives away + Their darkness, with his flaming shafts far-hurled, + But from the cross of Christ o'er that wan world + There streams the radiance of a new-born day. + + The sulphurous floods with lessened fury glow, + The aching limbs find respite from their pain, + While, in glad freedom from the galling chain, + The tortured ghosts a short-lived solace know. + + In holy gladness let this night be sped, + As here we gather, Lord, to watch and pray; + To Thee with one consent our vows we pay + And on Thy altar set the sacred Bread. + + From pendent chains the lamps of crystal blaze; + By fragrant oil sustained the clear flame glows + With strength undimmed, and through the darkness throws + High o'er the fretted roof a golden haze, + + As 'twere Heaven's starry floor our wondering eye + Beheld, wherein the Bears their light display, + Where Phosphor heralds the approach of day + And Hesper's radiance floods the evening sky. + + Meet is the gift we offer here to Thee, + Father of all, as falls the dewy night; + Thine own most precious gift we bring--the light + Whereby mankind Thy other bounties see. + + Thou art the Light indeed; on our dull eyes + And on our inmost souls Thy rays are poured; + To Thee we light our lamps: receive them, Lord, + Filled with the oil of peace and sacrifice. + + O hear us, Father, through Thine only Son, + Our Lord and Saviour, by Whose love bequeathed + The Paraclete upon our hearts has breathed, + With Him and Thee through endless ages one. + + Through Christ Thy Kingdom shall for ever be, + Thy grace, might, wisdom, glory ever shine, + As in the Triune majesty benign + He reigns for all eternity with Thee. + + + + + VI. HYMNUS ANTE SOMNUM + + + Ades Pater supreme, + quem nemo vidit unquam, + Patrisque sermo Christe, + et Spiritus benigne. + + O Trinitatis huius 5 + vis una, lumen unum, + Deus ex Deo perennis, + Deus ex utroque missus. + + Fluxit labor diei, + redit et quietis hora, 10 + blandus sopor vicissim + fessos relaxat artus. + + Mens aestuans procellis + curisque sauciata + totis bibit medullis 15 + obliviale poclum. + + Serpit per omne corpus + Lethaea vis, nec ullum + miseris doloris aegri + patitur manere sensum. 20 + + Lex haec data est caducis + Deo iubente membris, + ut temperet laborem + medicabilis voluptas. + + Sed dum pererrat omnes 25 + quies amica venas, + pectusque feriatum + placat rigante somno: + + Liber vagat per auras + rapido vigore sensus, 30 + variasque per figuras, + quae sunt operta, cernit. + + Quia mens soluta curis, + cui est origo caelum, + purusque fons ab aethra 35 + iners iacere nescit. + + Imitata multiformes + facies sibi ipsa fingit, + per quas repente currens + tenui fruatur actu. 40 + + Sed sensa somniantum + dispar fatigat horror, + nunc splendor intererrat + qui dat futura nosse. + + Plerumque dissipatis 45 + mendax imago veris + animos pavore maestos + ambage fallit atra. + + Quem rara culpa morum + non polluit frequenter, 50 + nunc lux serena vibrans + res edocet latentes. + + At qui coinquinatum + vitiis cor inpiavit, + lusus pavore multo 55 + species videt tremendas. + + Hoc patriarcha noster + sub carceris catena + geminis simul ministris + interpres adprobavit. 60 + + Quorum reversus unus + dat poculum tyranno, + ast alterum rapaces + fixum vorant volucres. + + Ipsum deinde regem 65 + perplexa somniantem + monuit famem futuram + clausis cavere acervis. + + Mox praesul ac tetrarches + regnum per omne iussus 70 + sociam tenere virgam + dominae resedit aulae. + + O quam profunda iustis + arcana per soporem + aperit tuenda Christus, 75 + quam clara! quam tacenda! + + Evangelista summi + fidissimus magistri + signata quae latebant + nebulis videt remotis: 80 + + ipsum tonantis agnum + de caede purpurantem, + qui conscium futuri + librum resignat unus. + + Huius manum potentem 85 + gladius perarmat anceps + et fulgurans utrimque + duplicem minatur ictum. + + Quaesitor ille solus + animaeque corporisque 90 + ensisque bis timendus + prima ac secunda mors est. + + idem tamen benignus + ultor retundit iram + paucosque non piorum 95 + patitur perire in aevum. + + Huic inclitus perenne + tribuit Pater tribunal, + hunc obtinere iussit + nomen supra omne nomen. 100 + + Hic praepotens cruenti + extinctor antichristi, + qui de furente monstro + pulchrum refert tropaeum. + + Quam bestiam capacem 105 + populosque devorantem, + quam sanguinis charybdem + Ioannis execratur. + + Haec nempe, quae sacratum + praeferre nomen ausa est, 110 + imam petit gehennam + Christo perempta vero. + + Tali sopore iustus + mentem relaxat heros, + ut spiritu sagaci 115 + caelum peragret omne. + + Nos nil meremur horum, + quos creber inplet error, + concreta quos malarum + vitiat cupido rerum. 120 + + Sat est quiete dulci + fessum fovere corpus: + sat, si nihil sinistrum + vanae minentur umbrae. + + Cultor Dei memento 125 + te fontis et lavacri + rorem subisse sanctum, + te chrismate innotatum. + + Fac, cum vocante somno + castum petis cubile, 130 + frontem locumque cordis + crucis figura signet. + + Crux pellit omne crimen, + fugiunt crucem tenebrae: + tali dicata signo 135 + mens fluctuare nescit. + + Procul, o procul vagantum + portenta somniorum, + procul esto pervicaci + praestigiator astu! 140 + + O tortuose serpens, + qui mille per Maeandros + fraudesque flexuosas + agitas quieta corda, + + Discede, Christus hic est, 145 + hic Christus est, liquesce: + signum quod ipse nosti + damnat tuam catervam. + + Corpus licet fatiscens + iaceat recline paullum, 150 + Christum tamen sub ipso + meditabimur sopore. + + + + + VI. HYMN BEFORE SLEEP + + + Draw near, Almighty Father, + Ne'er seen by mortal eye; + Come, O Thou Word eternal, + O Spirit blest, be nigh. + + One light of threefold Godhead, + One power that all transcends; + God is of God begotten, + And God from both descends. + + The hour of rest approaches, + The toils of day are past, + And o'er our tired bodies + Sleep's gentle charm is cast. + + The mind, by cares tormented + Amid life's storm and stress, + Drinks deep the wondrous potion + That brings forgetfulness. + + O'er weary, toil-worn mortals + The spells of Lethe steal; + Sad hearts lose all their sorrow, + Nor pain nor anguish feel. + + For to His frail creation + God gave this law to keep, + That labour should be lightened + By soft and healing sleep. + + But while sweet languor wanders + Through all the pulsing veins, + And, wrapt in dewy slumber, + The heart at rest remains, + + The soul, in wakeful vigour, + Aloft in freedom flies, + And sees in many a semblance + The hidden mysteries. + + For, freed from care, the spirit + That came from out the sky, + Born of the stainless aether, + Can never idle lie. + + A thousand changing phantoms + She fashions through the night, + And 'midst a world of fancy + Pursues her rapid flight. + + But divers are the visions + That night to dreamers shows; + Rare gleams of straying splendour + The future may disclose; + + More oft the truth is darkened, + And lying fantasy + Deceives the affrighted sleeper + With cunning treachery. + + To him whose life is holy + The things that are concealed + Lie open to his spirit + In radiant light revealed; + + But he whose heart is blackened, + With many a sin imbued, + Sees phantoms grim and ghastly + That beckon and delude. + + So in the Egyptian dungeon + The patriarch of old + Unto the king's two servants + Their fateful visions told: + + And one is brought from prison + The monarch's wine to pour, + One, on the gibbet hanging, + Foul birds of prey devour, + + He warned the king, distracted + By riddles of the night, + To hoard the plenteous harvests + Against the years of blight. + + Soon, lord of half a kingdom, + A mighty potentate, + He shares the royal sceptre + And dwells in princely state. + + But ah! how deep the secrets + The holy sleeper sees + To whom Christ shows His highest, + Most sacred mysteries. + + For God's most faithful servant + The clouds were rolled away, + And John beheld the wonders + That sealed from mortals lay. + + The Lamb of God, encrimsoned + With sacrificial stains, + Alone the Book can open + That destiny contains. + + By His strong hand is wielded + A keen, two-edged brand + That, flashing like the lightning, + Smites swift on either hand. + + Before His bar of judgment + Both soul and body lie; + He whom that dread sword smiteth + The second death shall die. + + Yet mercy tempers justice, + And few the Avenger sends + (Whose guilt is past all pardon) + To death that never ends. + + To Him the Father yieldeth + The judgment-seat of Heaven; + To Him a Name excelling + All other names is given. + + For by His strength transcendent + Shall Antichrist be slain, + And from that raging monster + Fair trophies shall He gain: + + That all-devouring Dragon, + With blood of martyrs red, + On whose abhorred power + John's solemn curse is laid. + + And thus the proud usurper + Of His high name is cast + By Him, the true Christ, vanquished + To deepest hell at last. + + Upon the saint heroic + Such wondrous slumber falls + That, in the spirit roaming, + He treads heaven's highest halls. + + We may not, in our weakness, + To dreams like these aspire, + Whose souls are steeped in error + And evil things desire. + + Enough, if weary bodies + In peaceful sleep may rest; + Enough, if no dark powers + Our slumbering souls molest. + + Christian! the font remember, + The sacramental vow, + The holy water sprinkled, + The oil that marked thy brow! + + When at sleep's call thou seekest + To rest in slumber chaste, + Let first the sacred emblem + On breast and brow be traced. + + The Cross dispels all darkness, + All sin before it flies, + And by that sign protected + The mind all fear defies. + + Avaunt! ye fleeting phantoms + That mock our midnight hours; + Avaunt! thou great Deceiver + With all thy guileful powers. + + Thou Serpent, old and crafty, + Who by a thousand arts + And manifold temptations + Dost vex our sleeping hearts, + + Vanish! for Christ is with us; + Away! 'tis Christ the Lord: + The sign thou must acknowledge + Condemns thy hellish horde. + + And, though the weary body + Relaxed in sleep may be, + Our hearts, Lord, e'en in slumber, + Shall meditate on Thee. + + + + + VII. HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM + + + + O Nazarene, lux Bethlem, verbum Patris, + quem partus alvi virginalis protulit, + adesto castis Christe parsimoniis, + festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice, + ieiuniorum dum litamus victimam. 5 + + Nil hoc profecto purius mysterio, + quo fibra cordis expiatur uvidi, + intemperata quo domantur viscera, + arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam + obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat. 10 + + Hinc subiugatur luxus et turpis gula, + vini atque somni degener socordia, + libido sordens, inverecundus lepos, + variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum + parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt. 15 + + Nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo + ieiuna rite membra non coerceas, + sequitur frequenti marcida oblectamine + scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis, + animusque pigris stertat in praecordiis. 20 + + Frenentur ergo corporum cupidines, + detersa et intus emicet prudentia: + sic excitato perspicax acumine + liberque flatu laxiore spiritus + rerum parentem rectius precabitur. 25 + + Elia tali crevit observantia, + vetus sacerdos, ruris hospes aridi: + fragore ab omni quem remotum et segregem + sprevisse tradunt criminum frequentiam, + casto fruentem syrtium silentio. 30 + + Sed mox in auras igneis iugalibus + curruque raptus evolavit praepete, + ne de propinquo sordium contagio + dirus quietum mundus adflaret virum, + olim probatis inclitum ieiuniis. 35 + + Non ante caeli principem septemplicis + Moyses tremendi fidus interpres throni + potuit videre, quam decem recursibus + quater volutis sol peragrans sidera + omni carentem cerneret substantia. 40 + + Victus precanti solus in lacrimis fuit: + nam flendo pernox inrigatum pulverem + humi madentis ore pressit cernuo, + donec loquentis voce praestrictus Dei + expavit ignem non ferendum visibus. 45 + + Ioannis huius artis hand minus potens, + Dei perennis praecucurrit filium, + curvos viarum qui retorsit tramites + et flexuosa conrigens dispendia + dedit sequendam calle recto lineam. 50 + + Hanc obsequelam praeparabat nuntius + mox adfuturo construens iter Deo, + clivosa planis, confragosa ut lenibus + converterentur, neve quidquam devium + inlapsa terris inveniret veritas. 55 + + Non usitatis ortus his natalibus + oblita lactis iam vieto in pectore + matris tetendit serus infans ubera: + nec ante partu de senili effusus est, + quam praedicaret virginem plenam Deo. 60 + + Post in patentes ille solitudines + amictus hirtis bestiarum pellibus + setisve tectus hispida et lanugine + secessit, horrens inquinari et pollui + contaminatis oppidorum moribus. 65 + + Illic dicata parcus abstinentia + potum cibumque vir severae industriae + in usque serum respuebat vesperum, + parvum locustis et favorum agrestium + liquore pastum corpori suetus dare. 70 + + Hortator ille primus et doctor novae + fuit salutis, nam sacrato in flumine + veterum piatas lavit errorum notas: + sed tincta postquam membra defaecaverat, + caelo refulgens influebat spiritus. 75 + + Hoc ex lavacro labe dempta criminum + ibant renati non secus, quam si rudis + auri recocta vena pulchrum splendeat, + micet metalli sive lux argentei, + sudum polito praenitens purgamine. 80 + + Referre prisci stemma mine ieiunii + libet fideli proditum volumine, + ut diruendae civitatis incolis + fulmen benigni mansuefactum Patris + pie repressis ignibus pepercerit. 85 + + Gens insolenti praepotens iactantia + pollebat olim, quam fluentem nequiter + conrupta vulgo solverat lascivia, + et inde bruto contumax fastidio + cultum superni negligebat numinis. 90 + + Offensa tandem iugis indulgentiae + censura iustis excitatur motibus, + dextram perarmat rhompheali incendio + nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines + vibrans tonantum nube flammarum quatit. 95 + + Sed paenitendi dum datur diecula, + si forte vellent inprobam libidinem + veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere, + suspendit ictum terror exorabilis + paullumque dicta substitit sententia. 100 + + Ionam prophetam mitis ultor excitat, + paenae inminentis iret ut praenuntius, + sed nosset ille qui minacem iudicem + servare malle, quam ferire ac plectere, + tectam latenter vertit in Tharsos fugam. 105 + + Celsam paratis pontibus scandit ratem, + udo revincta fune puppis solvitur, + itur per altum, fit procellosum mare: + tum causa tanti quaeritur periculi, + sors in fugacem missa vatem decidit. 110 + + Iussus perire solus e cunctis reus, + cuius voluta crimen urna expresserat, + praeceps rotatur et profundo inmergitur: + exceptus inde beluinis faucibus + alvi capacis vivus hauritur specu. 115 + + * * * * * + + Intactus exin tertiae noctis vice + monstri vomentis pellitur singultibus, + qua murmuranti fine fluctus frangitur, + salsosque candens spuma tundit pumices, + ructatus exit seque servatum stupet. 130 + + In Ninivitas se coactus percito + gressu reflectit, quos ut increpaverat + pudenda censor inputans opprobria; + Inpendet, inquit, ira summi vindicis, + urbemque flamma mox cremabit, credite. 135 + + Apicem deinceps ardui montis petit + visurus inde conglobatum turbidae + fumum ruinae cladis et dirae struem, + tectus flagellis multinodis germinis, + nato et repente perfruens umbraculo. 140 + + Sed maesta postquam civitas vulnus novi + hausit doloris, heu supremum palpitat: + cursant per ampla congregatim moenia + plebs et senatus, omnis aetas civium, + pallens iuventus, eiulantes feminae. 145 + + Placet frementem publicis ieiuniis + placare Christum, mos edendi spernitur, + glaucos amictus induit monilibus + matrona demptis, proque gemma et serico + crinem fluentem sordidus spargit cinis. 150 + + Squalent recincta veste bullati patres, + setasque plangens turba sumit textiles, + inpexa villis virgo bestialibus + nigrante vultum contegit velamine, + iacens arenis et puer provolvitur. 155 + + Rex ipse Coos aestuantem murices + laenam revulsa dissipabat fibula, + gemmas virentes et lapillos sutiles, + insigne frontis exuebat vinculum + turpi capillos inpeditus pulvere. 160 + + Nullus bibendi, nemo vescendi memor, + ieiuna mensas pubis omnis liquerat, + quin et negato lacte vagientium + fletu madescunt parvulorum cunulae, + sucum papillae parca nutrix derogat. 165 + + Greges et ipsos claudit armentalium + sollers virorum cura, ne vagum pecus + contingat ore rorulenta gramina, + potum strepentis neve fontis hauriant, + vacuis querelae personant praesepibus. 170 + + Mollitus his et talibus brevem Deus + iram refrenat temperans oraculum + prosper sinistrum, prona nam clementia + haud difficulter supplicem mortalium + solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium. 175 + + Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor? + pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus + Iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit, + praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico + Emanuel est, sive NOBISCUM DEUS. 180 + + Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter + captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo + virtutis arta lege fecit liberum: + emancipator servientis plasmatis + regnantis ante victor et cupidinis. 185 + + Inhospitali namque secretus loco + quinis diebus octies labentibus + nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam, + firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio + vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis. 190 + + Miratus hostis posse limum tabidum + tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti, + explorat arte sciscitator callida, + Deusne membris sit receptus terreis, + sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit. 195 + + Hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus, + quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis + tuis dedisti Christe sectatoribus, + ut, cum vorandi vicerit libidinem, + late triumphet inperator spiritus. 200 + + Hoc est, quod atri livor hostis invidet, + mundi polique quod gubernator probat, + altaris aram quod facit placabilem, + quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem, + quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem. 205 + + Perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur, + nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives, + ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges + vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio, + si blanda semper misceatur largitas. 210 + + Est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus + operire nudos, indigentes pascere, + opem benignam ferre supplicantibus, + unam paremque sortis humanae vicem + inter potentes atque egenos ducere. 215 + + Satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit, + laudis rapacem, prodigam pecuniae, + cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat: + illum perennes protinus conplent opes, + ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex. 220 + + + + + VII. HYMN FOR THOSE WHO FAST + + + O Jesus, Light of Bethlehem, + True Son of God, Incarnate Word; + Thou offspring of a Virgin's womb, + Be present at our frugal board; + Accept our fast, our sacrifice, + And smile upon us, gracious Lord. + + For by this holiest mystery + The inward parts are cleansed from stain, + And, taming all the unbridled lusts, + Our sinful flesh we thus restrain, + Lest gluttony and drunkenness + Should choke the soul and cloud the brain. + + Hence appetite and luxury + Are forced their empire to resign; + The wanton sport, the jest obscene, + The ignoble sway of sleep and wine, + And all the plagues of languid sense + Feel the strict bonds of discipline. + + For if, full fed with meat and drink, + The flesh thou ne'er dost mortify, + The mind, that spark of sacred flame, + By pleasure dulled, must fail and die, + And pent in its gross prison-house + The soul in shameful torpor lie. + + So be thy carnal lusts controlled, + So be thy judgment clear and bright; + Then shall thy spirit, swift and free, + Be gifted with a keener sight, + And breathing in an ampler air + To the All-Father pray aright. + + Elias by such abstinence, + Seer of the desert, grew in grace, + Who left the madding haunts of men + And found a peaceful resting-place, + Where, far from sinful crowds, he trod + The pure and silent wilderness. + + Till by those fiery coursers drawn + The swift car bore him through the air, + Lest earth's defiling touch should mar + The holiness it might not share, + Or some polluting breath disturb + The peace attained by fast and prayer. + + Moses, through whom from His dread throne + The will of God to man was told, + No food might touch till through the sky + The sun full forty times had rolled, + Ere God before him stood revealed, + Lord of the heavens sevenfold. + + Tears were his meat, while bent in prayer + Through the long night he bowed his head + E'en to the thirsty dust, that drank + The drops in bitter weeping shed; + Till, at God's call, he saw the flame + No eye may bear, and was afraid. + + The Baptist, too, was strong in fast-- + Forerunner in a later day + Of God's Eternal Son--who made + The byepaths plain, the crooked way + A road direct, wherein His feet + Might travel on without delay. + + This was the messenger's great task + Who for God's advent zealously + Prepared the way, the rough made smooth, + The mountain levelled to the sea; + That, when Truth came from heaven to earth, + All fair and straight His path should be. + + He was not born in common wise, + For dry and wrinkled was the breast + Of her that bare him late in years, + Nor found she from her labour rest, + Till she had hailed with lips inspired + The Maid with unborn Godhead blest. + + For him the hairy skins of beasts + Furnished a raiment rude and wild, + As forth into the lonely waste + He fared, an unbefriended child, + Who dwelt apart, lest he should be + By evil city-life defiled. + + There, vowed to abstinence, he grew + To manhood, and with stern disdain + He turned from meat and drink, until + He saw night's shadow fall again; + And locusts and the wild bees' store + Sufficed his vigour to sustain. + + The first was he to testify + Of that new life which man might win; + In Jordan's consecrating stream + He purged the stains of ancient sin, + And, as he made the body clean, + The radiant Spirit entered in. + + Forth from the holy tide they came + Reborn, from guilt's pollution free, + As bright from out the cleansing fire + Flows the rough gold, or as we see + The glittering silver, purged of dross, + Flash into polished purity. + + Now let us tell, from Holy Writ, + Of olden fasts the fairest crown; + How God in pity stayed His hand, + And spared a doomed and guilty town, + In clemency the flames withheld + And laid His vengeful lightnings down. + + A mighty race of ancient time + Waxed arrogant in boastful pride; + Debauched were they, and borne along + On foul corruption's loathsome tide, + Till in their stiff-necked self-conceit + They e'en the God of Heaven denied. + + At last Eternal Mercy turns + To righteous judgment, swift and dire; + He shakes the clouds; the mighty sword + Flames in His hand, and in His ire + He wields the roaring hurricane + 'Mid murky gloom and flashing fire. + + Yet in His clemency He grants + To penitence a brief delay, + That they might burst the bonds of lust + And put their vanities away; + His sentence given, He waits awhile + And stays the hand upraised to slay. + + To warn them of the wrath to come + The Avenger in His mercy sent + Jonah the seer; but,--though he knew + The threatening Judge would fain relent + Nor wished to strike,--towards Tarshish town + The prophet's furtive course was bent. + + As up the galley's side he climbed, + They loosed the dripping rope, and passed + The harbour bar: then on them burst + The sudden fury of the blast; + And when their peril's cause they sought, + The lot was on the recreant cast. + + The man whose guilt the urn declares + Alone must die, the rest to save; + Hurled headlong from the deck, he falls + And sinks beneath the engulfing wave, + Then, seized by monstrous jaws, is plunged + Into a vast and living grave. + + * * * * * + + At last the monster hurls him forth, + As the third night had rolled away; + Before its roar the billows break + And lash the cliffs with briny spray; + Unhurt the wondering prophet stands + And hails the unexpected day. + + Thus turned again to duty's path + To Nineveh he swiftly came, + Their lusts rebuked and boldly preached + God's judgment on their sin and shame; + "Believe!" he cried, "the Judge draws nigh + Whose wrath shall wrap your streets in flame." + + Thence to the lofty mount withdrew, + Where he might watch the smoke-cloud lower + O'er blasted homes and ruined halls, + And rest beneath the shady bower + Upspringing in swift luxury + Of twining tendril, leaf and flower. + + But when the guilty burghers heard + The impending doom, a dull despair + Possessed their souls; proud senators, + Poor craftsmen, throng the highways fair; + Pale youth with tottering age unites, + And women's wailing rends the air. + + A public fast they now decree, + If they may thus Christ's anger stay: + No food they touch: each haughty dame + Puts silken robes and gems away, + In sable garbed, and ashes casts + Upon her tresses' disarray. + + In dark and squalid vesture clad + The Fathers go: the mourning crowd + Dons rough attire: in shaggy skins + Enwrapped, fair maids their faces shroud + With dusky veils, and boyish heads + E'en to the very dust are bowed. + + The King tears off his jewelled brooch + And rends the robe of Coan hue; + Bright emeralds and lustrous pearls + Are flung aside, and ashes strew + The royal head, discrowned and bent, + As low he kneels God's grace to sue. + + None thought to drink, none thought to eat; + All from the table turned aside, + And in their cradles wet with tears + Starved babes in bitter anguish cried, + For e'en the foster-mother stern + To little lips the breast denied. + + The very flocks are closely penned + By careful hands, lest they should gain + Sweet water from the babbling stream + Or wandering crop the dewy plain; + And bleating sheep and lowing kine + Within their barren stalls complain. + + Moved by such penitence, full soon + God's grace repealed the stern decree + And curbed His righteous wrath; for aye, + When man repents, His clemency + Is swift to pardon and to hear + His children weeping bitterly. + + Yet wherefore of that bygone race + Should we anew the story tell? + For Christ's pure soul by fasting long + The clogging bonds of flesh did quell; + He Whom the prophet's voice foretold + As GOD WITH US, Emmanuel. + + Man's body--frail by nature's law + And bound by pleasure's easy chain-- + He freed by virtue's strong restraint, + And gave it liberty again: + He broke the bonds of flesh, and Lust + Was driven from his old domain. + + Deep in the inhospitable wild + For forty days He dwelt alone + Nor tasted food, till, thus prepared, + All human weakness overthrown + By fasting's power, His mortal frame + Rejoiced the spirit's sway to own. + + The Adversary, marvelling + To see this creature of a day + Endure such toil, spent all his guile + To learn if God in human clay + Had come indeed; but soon rebuked + Behind His back fled shamed away. + + Therefore let each with all his might + Follow the way the Master taught, + The law of consecrated life + Which Christ unto His servants brought; + Till, with the lusts of flesh subdued, + The spirit reigns o'er act and thought. + + 'Tis this our jealous foe abhors, + 'Tis this the Lord of earth and sky + Approves; by this the soul is made + Thy holy altar, God Most High: + Faith stirs within the slumbering heart + And sin's corroding power must fly. + + Swifter than water quenches fire, + Swifter than sunshine melts the snow, + Crushed out by soul-restoring fast + Vanish the sins that rankly grow, + If hand in hand with Abstinence + Sweet Charity doth ever go. + + This too is Virtue's noble task, + To clothe the naked, and to feed + The destitute, with kindly care + To visit sufferers in their need; + For king and beggar each must bear + The lot by changeless Fate decreed. + + Happy the man whose good right hand + Seeks but God's praise, and flings his gold + Broadcast, nor lets his left hand know + The gracious deed; for wealth untold + Shall crown him through eternal years + With usury an hundredfold. + + + + + VIII. HYMNUS POST IEIUNIUM + + + Christe servorum regimen tuorum, + mollibus qui nos moderans habenis + leniter frenas facilique septos + lege coerces: + + ipse cum portans onus inpeditum 5 + corporis duros tuleris labores, + maior exemplis famulos remisso + dogmate palpas. + + Nona submissum rotat hora solem + partibus vixdum tribus evolutis, 10 + quarta devexo superest in axe + portio lucis. + + Nos brevis voti dape vindicata + solvimus festum fruimurque mensis + adfatim plenis, quibus inbuatur 15 + prona voluptas. + + Tantus aeterni favor est magistri, + doctor indulgens ita nos amico + lactat hortatu, levis obsequela ut + mulceat artus. 20 + + Addit et, ne quis velit invenusto + sordidus cultu lacerare frontem, + sed decus vultus capitisque pexum + comat honorem. + + Terge ieiunans, ait, omne corpus, 25 + neve subducto faciem rubore + luteus tinguat color aut notetur + pallor in ore. + + Rectius laeto tegimus pudore, + quidquid ad cultum Patris exhibemus: 30 + cernit occultum Deus et latentem + munere donat. + + Ille ovem morbo residem gregique + perditam sano male dissipantem + vellus adfixis vepribus per hirtae 35 + devia silvae. + + Inpiger pastor revocat lupisque + gestat exclusis humeros gravatus, + inde purgatam revehens aprico + reddit ovili: 40 + + Reddit et pratis viridique campo, + vibrat inpexis ubi nulla lappis + spina, nec germen sudibus perarmat + carduus horrens: + + Sed frequens palmis nemus et reflexa 45 + vernat herbarum coma, tum perennis + gurgitem vivis vitreum fluentis + laurus obumbrat. + + Hisce pro donis tibi, fide pastor, + servitus quaenam poterit rependi? 50 + nulla conpensant pretium salutis + vota precantum. + + Quamlibet spreto sine more pastu + sponte confectos tenuemus artus, + teque contemptis epulis rogemus 55 + nocte dieque; + + Vincitur semper minor obsequentum + cura, nec munus genitoris aequat, + frangit et cratem luteam laboris + grandior usus. 60 + + Ergo ne limum fragilem solutae + deserant vires et aquosus albis + humor in venis dominetur aegrum + corpus inervans, + + Laxus ac liber modus abstinendi 65 + ponitur cunctis, neque nos severus + terror inpellit, sua quemque cogit + velle potestas. + + Sufficit, quidquid facias, vocato + numinis nutu prius, inchoare, 70 + sive tu mensam renuas cibumve + sumere temptes. + + Adnuit dexter Deus et secundo + prosperat vultu, velut hoc salubre + fidimus nobis fore, quod dicatas 75 + carpimus escas. + + Sit bonum, supplex precor et medelam + conferat membris, animumque pascat + sparsus in venas cibus obsecrantum + christicolarum. 80 + + + + + VIII. HYMN AFTER FASTING + + + O Christ, of all Thy servants Guide, + Mild is the yoke Thou mak'st us bear, + Leading us gently by Thy side + With gracious care. + + Thy love took up our life's hard load + And spent in grievous toils its might: + Thy bond-slaves tread the easier road + Led by Thy light. + + Nine hours have run their course away, + The sun sped three parts of its race: + And what remains of the short day + Fadeth apace. + + The holy fast hath reached its end; + Our table now Thou loadest, Lord: + With all Thy gifts true gladness send + To grace our board. + + Such is our Master's gentle sway, + So kind the teaching in His school, + That all find rest who will obey + His easy rule. + + Thou would'st not have us scorn the grace + Of cleanliness and vesture fair: + Thou lovest not a soiled face + And unkempt hair. + + Let him that fasts, Thou saidst, be clean, + Nor lose health's fair and ruddy glow: + Let no wan sallowness be seen + Upon his brow. + + 'Tis better in glad modesty + Of our good works to shun display: + God sees what 'scapes our neighbour's eye + And will repay. + + That Shepherd keen seeks one lost sheep + Sickly and weak, strayed from the fold, + Fleece torn with briers of thickets deep, + Foolishly bold. + + He drives the wolves far from the track: + And found He brings on shoulders borne + To sunlit pen the wanderer back, + No more forlorn: + + Yea, to the meads and grassy fields + The lamb restores, where no thorn balks, + No rough burrs tear, no thistle yields + Its bristling stalks: + + But leaves of green herbs brightly glance + And in the grove the palm-trees dream, + And laurels shade the eddying dance + Of crystal stream. + + For all these gifts, O Shepherd dear, + What service can I render Thee? + No grateful vows my debt shall clear + For love so free. + + Though by self-chosen fasts severe + Our strength of limb we waste away: + Though, spurning food, we Thee revere + By night and day: + + Yet our works never can o'ertake + Thy love or with Thy gifts compare: + Our toils this earthen vessel break, + The more we dare. + + Therefore lest failing powers consume + Our fragile life and shrivelled veins + Pale 'neath the tyranny of rheum + And weakening pains: + + Thou dost not rule perpetual Lent + For man, nor modest fare deny: + Fearless may each unto his bent + His wants supply. + + Enough that all our acts by prayer + Be sanctified unto Thy will, + Whether we fast, or with due care + Our needs fulfil. + + Then shall God bless us for our good + And lead us to our soul's true wealth; + For, if but consecrated, food + Shall bring us health. + + O Lord, grant that our feast may spread + Marrow and strength throughout our flesh: + And may all Christly souls be fed + With vigour fresh. + + + + + IX. HYMNUS OMNIS HORAE + + + Da puer plectrum, choreis ut canam fidelibus + dulce carmen et melodum, gesta Christi insignia: + hunc camena nostra solum pangat, hunc laudet lyra. + + Christus est, quem rex sacerdos adfuturum protinus + infulatus concinebat voce, chorda et tympano, 5 + spiritum caelo influentem per medullas hauriens. + + Facta nos et iam probata pangimus miracula, + testis orbis est, nec ipsa terra, quod vidit, negat, + cominus Deum docendis proditum mortalibus. + + Corde natus ex parentis, ante mundi exordium 10 + alpha et _O_ cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula + omnium, quae sunt, fuerunt quaeque post futura sunt. + + Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse, et facta sunt + terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina, + quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo. 15 + + Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia + induit, ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine, + merserat quam lex profundo noxialis tartaro. + + O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera + edidit nostram salutem feta sancto spiritu, 20 + et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit. + + Psallat altitudo caeli, psallite omnes angeli, + quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei: + nulla linguarum silescat, vox et omnis consonet. + + Ecce quem vates vetustis concinebant seculis, 25 + quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant, + emicat promissus olim: cuncta conlaudent eum. + + Cantharis infusa lympha fit Falernum nobile, + nuntiat vinum minister esse promptum ex hydria, + ipse rex sapore tinctis obstupescit poculis. 30 + + Membra morbis ulcerosa, viscerum putredines + mando, ut abluantur, inquit; fit ratum, quod iusserat, + turgidam cutem repurgant vulnerum piamina. + + Tu perennibus tenebris iam sepulta lumina + inlinis limo salubri, sacri et oris nectare, 35 + mox apertis hac medela lux reducta est orbibus. + + Increpas ventum furentem, quod procellis tristibus + vertat aequor fundo ab imo, vexet et vagam ratem: + ille iussis obsecundat, mitis unda sternitur. + + Extimum vestis sacratae furtim mulier attigit, 40 + protinus salus secuta est, ora pallor deserit, + sistitur rivus, cruore qui fluebat perpeti. + + Exitu dulcis iuventae raptum ephebum viderat, + orba quem mater supremis funerabat fletibus: + surge, dixit: ille surgit, matri et adstans redditur. 45 + + Sole iam quarto carentem, iam sepulcro absconditum + Lazarum iubet vigere reddito spiramine: + fetidum iecur reductus rursus intrat halitus. + + Ambulat per stagna ponti, summa calcat fluctuum, + mobilis liquor profundi pendulam praestat viam, 50 + nec fatiscit unda sanctis pressa sub vestigiis. + + Suetus antro bustuali sub catenis frendere, + mentis inpos efferatis percitus furoribus + prosilit ruitque supplex, Christum adesse ut senserat. + + Pulsa pestis lubricorum milleformis daemonum 55 + conripit gregis suilli sordida spurcamina, + seque nigris mergit undis et pecus lymphaticum. + + Quinque panibus peresis et gemellis piscibus + adfatim refecta iam sunt adcubantum milia, + fertque qualus ter quaternus ferculorum fragmina. 60 + + Tu cibus panisque noster, tu perennis suavitas; + nescit esurire in aevum, qui tuam sumit dapem, + nec lacunam ventris inplet, sed fovet vitalia. + + Clausus aurium meatus et sonorum nescius + purgat ad praecepta Christi crassa quaeque obstacula, 65 + vocibus capax fruendis ac susurris pervius. + + Omnis aegritudo cedit, languor omnis pellitur, + lingua fatur, quam veterna vinxerant silentia, + gestat et suum per urbem laetus aeger lectulum. + + Quin et ipsum, ne salutis inferi expertes forent, 70 + tartarum benignus intrat, fracta cedit ianua, + vectibus cadit revulsis cardo indissolubilis. + + Illa prompta ad inruentes, ad revertentes tenax, + obice extrorsum repulso porta reddit mortuos: + lege versa et limen atrum iam recalcandum patet. 75 + + Sed Deus dum luce fulva mortis antra inluminat, + dum stupentibus tenebris candidum praestat diem, + tristia squalentis aethrae palluerunt sidera. + + Sol refugit et lugubri sordidus ferrugine + igneum reliquit axem seque maerens abdidit: 80 + fertur horruisse mundus noctis aeternae chaos. + + Solve vocem mens sonoram, solve linguam mobilem, + dic tropaeum passionis, dic triumphalem crucem, + pange vexillum, notatis quod refulget frontibus. + + O novum caede stupenda vulneris miraculum! 85 + hinc cruoris fluxit unda, lympha parte ex altera: + lympha nempe dat lavacrum, tum corona ex sanguine est. + + Vidit anguis inmolatam corporis sacri hostiam, + vidit et fellis perusti mox venenum perdidit, + saucius dolore multo colla fractus sibilat. 90 + + Quid tibi, profane serpens, profuit, rebus novis + plasma primum perculisse versipelli hortamine? + diluit culpam recepto forma mortalis Deo. + + Ad brevem se mortis usum dux salutis dedidit, + mortuos olim sepultos ut redire insuesceret, 95 + dissolutis pristinorum vinculis peccaminum. + + Tunc patres sanctique multi conditorem praevium + iam revertentem secuti tertio demum die + carnis indumenta sumunt, eque bustis prodeunt. + + Cerneres coire membra de favillis aridis, 100 + frigidum venis resumptis pulverem tepescere, + ossa, nervos, ac medullas glutino cutis tegi. + + Post, ut occasum resolvit vitae et hominem reddidit, + arduum tribunal victor adscendit Patris, + inclitam caelo reportans passionis gloriam. 105 + + Macte index mortuorum, macte rex viventium, + dexter in parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus + omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum. + + Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus, + turba matrum virginumque simplices puellulae, 110 + voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus. + + Fluminum lapsus et undae, littorum crepidines, + imber, aestus, nix, pruina, silva, et aura, nox, dies, + omnibus te concelebrent seculorum seculis. + + + + + IX. HYMN FOR ALL HOURS + + + Let me chant in sacred numbers, as I strike each sounding string, + Chant in sweet, melodious anthems, glorious deeds of Christ our King; + He, my Muse, shall be thy story; with His praise my lyre shall ring. + + When the king in priestly raiment sang the Christ that was to be, + Voice and lute and clashing cymbal joined in joyous harmony, + While the Spirit, heaven-descended, touched his lips to prophecy. + + Sing we now the works sure proven, wrought of God in mystic wise; + Heaven is witness; earth confesses how she saw with wondering eyes + God Himself with mortals mingling, man to teach in human guise. + + Of the Father's heart begotten, ere the world from chaos rose, + He is Alpha; from that Fountain all that is and hath been flows; + He is Omega, of all things yet to come the mystic Close. + + By His word was all created; He commands and lo! 'tis done; + Earth and sky and boundless ocean, universe of three in one, + All that sees the moon's soft radiance, all that breathes beneath the sun. + + He assumed this mortal body, frail and feeble, doomed to die, + That the race from dust created might not perish utterly, + Which the dreadful Law had sentenced in the depths of Hell to lie. + + O how blest that wondrous birthday, when the Maid the curse retrieved, + Brought to birth mankind's salvation, by the Holy Ghost conceived; + And the sacred Babe, Redeemer of the world, her arms received. + + Sing, ye heights of heaven, His praises; angels and archangels, sing! + Wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful, let your joyous anthems ring, + Every tongue His name confessing, countless voices answering. + + This is He whom seer and sibyl sang in ages long gone by; + This is He of old revealed in the page of prophecy; + Lo! He comes, the promised Saviour; let the world His praises cry! + + In the urns the clear, cold water turns to juice of noblest vine, + And the servant, drawing from them, starts to see the generous wine, + While the host, its savour tasting, wonders at the draught divine. + + To the leper worn and wasted, white with many a loathsome sore, + "Be thou cleansed," He said; "I bid it!" swift 'tis done, His words restore; + To the priest the gift he offers, clean and healthful as of yore. + + On the eyes long sealed in darkness, buried in unbroken night, + Thou didst spread Thy lips' sweet nectar, mixed with clay: then came the sight, + As Thy gracious touch all-healing brought to those dark orbs the light. + + Thou didst chide the raging tempest, when the waves with foaming crest + Leaped about the fragile vessel, buffeted and sore distressed; + Wind and wave, their fury stilling, sank to calm at Thy behest. + + Once a woman's timid fingers touched Thy garment's lowest braid, + And the pallor left her visage, healing power the touch conveyed, + For the years of pain were ended and the flow of blood was stayed. + + Thou didst see men bear to burial one struck down in youth's glad tide, + While a widowed mother followed, wailing for her boy that died; + "Rise!" Thou saidst, and led him gently to his weeping mother's side. + + Lazarus, who lay in darkness till three nights had passed away, + At Thy voice awoke to soundness, rising to the light of day, + As the breath his frame re-entered touched already with decay. + + See, He walks upon the waters, treads the billow's rolling crest; + O'er the shifting depths of ocean firm and sure His footsteps rest, + And the wave parts not asunder where those holy feet are pressed. + + And the madman, chained and tortured by dark powers, from whom all fly, + As the tombs, that were his dwelling, echo to his savage cry, + Rushes forth and falls adoring, when he sees that Christ is nigh. + + Then the legion of foul spirits, driven from their human prey, + Seize the noisome swine, that feeding high upon the hillside stray, + And the herd, in sudden frenzy, plunges in the waters grey. + + "Gather in twelve woven baskets all the fragments that remain:" + He hath fed the weary thousands, resting o'er the grassy plain, + And His power hath stayed their hunger with five loaves and fishes twain. + + Thine, O Christ, is endless sweetness; Thou art our celestial Bread: + Nevermore he knoweth hunger, who upon Thy grace hath fed, + Grace whereby no mortal body but the soul is nourished. + + They that knew not speech nor language, closed to every sound their ears, + To the Master's call responding break the barriers of years; + Now the deaf holds joyous converse and the lightest whisper hears. + + Sickness at His word departed, pain and pallid languor fled, + Many a tongue, long chained in silence, words of praise and blessing said; + And the palsied man rejoicing through the city bore his bed. + + Yea, that they might know salvation who in Hades' prison were pent, + In His mercy condescending through Hell's gloomy gates He went; + Bolt and massy hinge were shattered, adamantine portals rent. + + For the door that all receiveth, but releaseth nevermore, + Opens now and, slowly turning, doth the ghosts to light restore, + Who, the eternal laws suspended, tread again its dusky floor. + + But, while God with golden glory floods the murky realms of night, + And upon the startled shadows dawns a day serene and bright, + In the darkened vault of heaven stars forlorn refuse their light. + + For the sun in garb of mourning veiled his radiant orb and passed + From his flaming path in sorrow, hiding till mankind aghast + Deemed that o'er a world of chaos Night's eternal pall was cast. + + Now, my soul, in liquid measures let the sounding numbers flow; + Sing the trophy of His passion, sing the Cross triumphant now; + Sing the ensign of Christ's glory, marked on every faithful brow. + + Ah! how wondrous was the fountain flowing from His pierced side, + Whence the blood and water mingled in a strange and sacred tide,-- + Water, sign of mystic cleansing; blood, the martyr's crown of pride. + + In that hour the ancient Serpent saw the holy Victim slain, + Saw, and shed his hate envenomed, all his malice spent in vain; + See! the hissing neck is broken as he writhes in sullen pain. + + Aye, what boots it, cursed Serpent, that the man God made from clay, + Victim of thy baleful cunning, by thy lies was led astray? + God hath ta'en a mortal body and hath washed the guilt away. + + Christ, our Captain, for a season deigned to dwell in Death's domain, + That the dead, long time imprisoned, might return to life again, + Breaking by His great example ancient sins' enthralling chain. + + Thus, upon the third glad morning, patriarchs and saints of yore, + As the risen Lord ascended, followed Him who went before, + From forgotten graves proceeding, habited in flesh once more. + + Limb to limb unites and rises from the ashes dry and cold, + And the life-blood courses warmly through the frames long turned to mould, + Skin and flesh, anew created, muscle, bone and nerve enfold. + + Then, mankind to life restoring, Death downtrodden 'neath His feet, + Lo! the Victor mounts triumphant to the Father's judgment-seat, + Bringing back to heaven the glory by His passion made complete. + + Hail! Thou Judge of souls departed: hail! of all the living King! + On the Father's right hand throned, through His courts Thy praises ring, + Till at last for all offences righteous judgment Thou shalt bring. + + Now let old and young uniting chant to Thee harmonious lays, + Maid and matron hymn Thy glory, infant lips their anthem raise, + Boys and girls together singing with pure heart their song of praise. + + Let the storm and summer sunshine, gliding stream and sounding shore, + Sea and forest, frost and zephyr, day and night their Lord adore; + Let creation join to laud Thee through the ages evermore. + + + + + X. HYMNUS AD EXEQUIAS DEFUNCTI + + + Deus ignee fons animarum, + duo qui socians elementa + vivum simul ac moribundum + hominem Pater effigiasti: + + Tua sunt, tua rector utraque, 5 + tibi copula iungitur horum, + tibi, dum vegetata cohaerent, + et spiritus et caro servit. + + Rescissa sed ista seorsum + solvunt hominera perimuntque, 10 + humus excipit arida corpus, + animae rapit aura liquorem. + + Quia cuncta creata necesse est + labefacta senescere tandem, + conpactaque dissociari, 15 + et dissona texta retexi. + + Hanc tu, Deus optime, mortem + famulis abolere paratus + iter inviolabile monstras, + quo perdita membra resurgant: 20 + + Ut, dum generosa caducis + ceu carcere clausa ligantur, + pars illa potentior extet, + quae germen ab aethere traxit. + + Si terrea forte voluntas 25 + luteum sapit et grave captat, + animus quoque pondere victus + sequitur sua membra deorsum. + + At si generis memor ignis + contagia pigra recuset, 30 + vehit hospita viscera secum, + pariterque reportat ad astra. + + Nam quod requiescere corpus + vacuum sine mente videmus, + spatium breve restat, ut alti 35 + repetat conlegia sensus. + + Venient cito secula, cum iam + socius calor ossa revisat + animataque sanguine vivo + habitacula pristina gestet. 40 + + Quae pigra cadavera pridem + tumulis putrefacta iacebant, + volucres rapientur in auras + animas comitata priores. + + Hinc maxima cura sepulcris 45 + inpenditur: hinc resolutos + honor ultimus accipit artus + et funeris ambitus ornat. + + Candore nitentia claro + praetendere lintea mos est, 50 + adspersaque myrrha Sabaeo + corpus medicamine servat. + + Quidnam sibi saxa cavata, + quid pulchra volunt monumenta, + nisi quod res creditur illis 55 + non mortua, sed data somno? + + Hoc provida Christicolarum + pietas studet, utpote credens + fore protinus omnia viva, + quae nunc gelidus sopor urget. 60 + + Qui iacta cadavera passim + miserans tegit aggere terrae, + opus exhibet ille benignum + Christo pius omnipotenti: + + Quin lex eadem monet omnes 65 + gemitum dare sorte sub una, + cognataque funera nobis + aliena in morte dolere. + + Sancti sator ille Tobiae + sacer ac venerabilis heros, 70 + dapibus iam rite paratis + ius praetulit exequiarum. + + Iam stantibus ille ministris + cyathos et fercula liquit, + studioque accinctus humandi 75 + fleto dedit ossa sepulcro. + + Veniunt mox praemia caelo + pretiumque rependitur ingens: + nam lumina nescia solis + Deus inlita felle serenat. 80 + + Iam tunc docuit Pater orbis, + quam sit rationis egenis + mordax et amara medela, + cum lux animum nova vexat. + + Docuit quoque non prius ullum 85 + caelestia cernere regna, + quam nocte et vulnere tristi + toleraverit aspera mundi. + + Mors ipsa beatior inde est, + quod per cruciamina leti 90 + via panditur ardua iustis + et ad astra doloribus itur. + + Sic corpora mortificata + redeunt melioribus annis, + nec post obitum recalescens 95 + conpago fatiscere novit. + + Haec, quae modo pallida tabo + color albidus inficit ora, + tunc flore venustior omni + sanguis cute tinget amoena. 100 + + Iam nulla deinde senectus + frontis decus invida carpet, + macies neque sicca lacertos + suco tenuabit adeso. + + Morbus quoque pestifer, artus 105 + qui nunc populatur anhelos, + sua tunc tormenta resudans + luet inter vincula mille. + + Hunc eminus aere ab alto + victrix caro iamque perennis 110 + cernet sine fine gementem + quos moverat ipse dolores. + + Quid turba superstes inepta + clangens ululamina miscet, + cur tam bene condita iura 115 + luctu dolor arguit amens? + + Iam maesta quiesce querela, + lacrimas suspendite matres, + nullus sua pignora plangat, + mors haec reparatio vitae est. 120 + + Sic semina sicca virescunt + iam mortua iamque sepulta, + quae reddita caespite ab imo + veteres meditantur aristas. + + Nunc suscipe terra fovendum, 125 + gremioque hunc concipe molli: + hominis tibi membra sequestro + generosa et fragmina credo. + + Animae fuit haec domus olim + factoris ab ore creatae, 130 + fervens habitavit in istis + sapientia principe Christo. + + Tu depositum tege corpus, + non inmemor illa requiret + sua munera fictor et auctor 135 + propriique aenigmata vultus. + + Veniant modo tempora iusta, + cum spem Deus inpleat omnem; + reddas patefacta necesse est, + qualem tibi trado figuram. 140 + + Non, si cariosa vetustas + dissolverit ossa favillis, + fueritque cinisculus arens + minimi mensura pugilli. + + Nec, si vaga flamina et aurae 145 + vacuum per inane volantes + tulerint cum pulvere nervos, + hominem periisse licebit. + + Sed dum resolubile corpus + revocas, Deus, atque reformas, 150 + quanam regione iubebis + animam requiescere puram? + + Gremio senis addita sancti + recubabit, ut est Eleazar, + quem floribus undique septum 155 + Dives procul adspicit ardens. + + Sequimur tua dicta redemptor, + quibus atra morte triumphans + tua per vestigia mandas + socium crucis ire latronem. 160 + + Patet ecce fidelibus ampli + via lucida iam paradisi, + licet et nemus illud adire, + homini quod ademerat anguis. + + Illic precor, optime ductor, 165 + famulam tibi praecipe mentem + genitali in sede sacrari, + quam liquerat exul et errans. + + Nos tecta fovebimus ossa + violis et fronde frequenti, 170 + titulumque et frigida saxa + liquido spargemus odore. + + + + + X. HYMN FOR THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD + + + Fountain of life, supernal Fire, + Who didst unite in wondrous wise + The soul that lives, the clay that dies, + And mad'st them Man: eternal Sire, + + Both elements Thy will obey, + Thine is the bond that joins the twain, + And, while united they remain, + Spirit and body own Thy sway. + + Yet they must one day disunite, + Sunder in death this mortal frame; + Dust to the dust from whence it came, + The spirit to its heavenward flight. + + For all created things must wane, + And age must break the bond at last; + The diverse web that Life held fast + Death's fingers shall unweave again. + + Yet, gracious God, Thou dost devise + The death of Death for all Thine own; + The path of safety Thou hast shown + Whereby the doomed limbs may rise: + + So that, while fragile bonds of earth + Man's noblest essence still enfold, + That part may yet the sceptre hold + Which from pure aether hath its birth. + + For if the earthy will hold sway, + By gross desires and aims possessed, + The soul, too, by the weight oppressed, + Follows the body's downward way. + + But if she scorn the guilt that mars-- + Still mindful of her fiery sphere-- + She bears the flesh, her comrade here, + Back to her home beyond the stars. + + The lifeless body we restore + To earth, must slumber free from pain + A little while, that it may gain + The spirit's fellowship once more. + + The years will pass with rapid pace + Till through these limbs the life shall flow, + And the long-parted spirit go + To seek her olden dwelling-place. + + Then shall the body, that hath lain + And turned to dust in slow decay, + On airy wings be borne away + And join its ancient soul again. + + Therefore our tenderest care we spend + Upon the grave: and mourners go + With solemn dirge and footstep slow-- + Love's last sad tribute to a friend. + + With fair white linen we enfold + The dear dead limbs, and richest store + Of Eastern unguents duly pour + Upon the body still and cold. + + Why hew the rocky tomb so deep, + Why raise the monument so fair, + Save that the form we cherish there + Is no dead thing, but laid to sleep? + + This is the faithful ministry + Of Christian men, who hold it true + That all shall one day live anew + Who now in icy slumber lie. + + And he whose pitying hand shall lay + Some friendless outcast 'neath the sod, + E'en to the almighty Son of God + Doth that benignant service pay. + + For this same law doth bid us mourn + Man's common fate, when strangers die, + And pay the tribute of a sigh, + As when our kin to rest are borne. + + Of holy Tobit ye have read, + (Grave father of a pious son), + Who, though the feast was set, would run + To do his duty by the dead. + + Though waiting servants stood around, + From meat and drink he turned away + And girt himself in haste to lay + The bones with weeping in the ground. + + Soon Heaven his righteous zeal repays + With rich reward; the eyes long blind + In bitter gall strange virtue find + And open to the sun's clear rays. + + Thus hath our Heavenly Father shown + How sharp and bitter is the smart + When sudden on the purblind heart + The Daystar's healing light is thrown. + + He taught us, too, that none may gaze + Upon the heavenly demesne + Ere that in darkness and in pain + His feet have trod the world's rough ways. + + So unto death itself is given + Strange bliss, when mortal agony + Opens the way that leads on high + And pain is but the path to Heaven. + + Thus to a far serener day + Our body from the grave returns; + Eternal life within it burns + That knows nor languor nor decay. + + These faces now so pinched and pale, + That marks of lingering sickness show, + Then fairer than the rose shall glow + And bloom with youth that ne'er shall fail. + + Ne'er shall crabbed age their beauty dim + With wrinkled brow and tresses grey, + Nor arid leanness eat away + The vigour of the rounded limb. + + Racked with his own destroying pains + Shall fell Disease, who now attacks + Our aching frames, his force relax + Fast fettered in a thousand chains: + + While from its far celestial throne + The immortal body, victor now, + Shall watch its old tormentor bow + And in eternal tortures groan. + + Why do the clamorous mourners wail + In bootless sorrow murmuring? + And why doth grief unreasoning + God's righteous ordinance assail? + + Hushed be your voices, ye that mourn; + Ye weeping mothers, dry the tear; + Let none lament for children dear, + For man through Death to Life is born. + + So do dry seeds grow green again, + Now dead and buried in the earth, + And rising to a second birth + Clothe as of old the verdant plain. + + Take now, O earth, the load we bear, + And cherish in thy gentle breast + This mortal frame we lay to rest, + The poor remains that were so fair. + + For they were once the soul's abode, + That by God's breath created came; + And in them, like a living flame, + Christ's precious gift of wisdom glowed. + + Guard thou the body we have laid + Within thy care, till He demand + The creature fashioned by His hand + And after His own image made. + + The appointed time soon may we see + When God shall all our hopes fulfil, + And thou must render to His will + Unchanged the charge we give to thee. + + For though consumed by mould and rust + Man's body slowly fades away, + And years of lingering decay + Leave but a handful of dry dust; + + Though wandering winds, that idly fly, + Should his disparted ashes bear + Through all the wide expanse of air, + Man may not perish utterly. + + Yet till Thou dost build up again + This mortal structure by Thy hand, + In what far world wilt Thou command + The soul to rest, now free from stain? + + In Abraham's bosom it shall dwell + 'Mid verdant bowers, as Lazarus lies + Whom Dives sees with longing eyes + From out the far-off fires of hell. + + We trust the words our Saviour said + When, victor o'er grim Death, he cried + To him who suffered at His side + "In Mine own footsteps shalt thou tread." + + See, open to the faithful soul, + The shining paths of Paradise; + Now may they to that garden rise + Which from mankind the Serpent stole. + + Guide him, we pray, to that blest bourn, + Who served Thee truly here below; + May he the bliss of Eden know, + Who strayed in banishment forlorn. + + But we will honour our dear dead + With violets and garlands strown, + And o'er the cold and graven stone + Shall fragrant odours still be shed. + + + + + XI. HYMNUS VIII. KALENDAS IANUARIAS + + + Quid est, quod artum circulum + sol iam recurrens deserit? + Christusne terris nascitur, + qui lucis auget tramitem? + + Heu quam fugacem gratiam 5 + festina volvebat dies, + quam pene subductam facem + sensim recisa extinxerat! + + Caelum nitescat laetius, + gratetur et gaudens humus, 10 + scandit gradatim denuo + iubar priores lineas. + + Emerge dulcis pusio, + quem mater edit castitas, + parens et expers coniugis, 15 + mediator et duplex genus. + + Ex ore quamlibet Patris + sis ortus et verbo editus, + tamen paterno in pectore + sophia callebas prius. 20 + + Quae prompta caelum condidit, + caelum diemque et cetera, + virtute verbi effecta sunt + haec cuncta: nam verbum Deus. + + Sed ordinatis seculis, 25 + rerumque digesto statu + fundator ipse et artifex + permansit in Patris sinu, + + donec rotata annalium + transvolverentur milia, 30 + atque ipse peccantem diu + dignatus orbera viseret. + + Nam caeca vis mortalium + venerans inanes nenias + vel aera vel saxa algida, 35 + vel ligna credebat Deum. + + Haec dum sequuntur, perfidi + praedonis in ius venerant, + et mancipatam fumido + vitam barathro inmerserant: 40 + + Stragem sed istam non tulit + Christus cadentum gentium + inpune ne forsan sui + Patris periret fabrica. + + Mortale corpus induit, 45 + ut excitato corpore + mortis catenam frangeret + hominemque portaret Patri. + + Hic ille natalis dies, + quo te creator arduus 50 + spiravit et limo indidit + sermone carnem glutinans. + + Sentisne, virgo nobilis, + matura per fastidia + pudoris intactum decus 55 + honore partus crescere? + + O quanta rerum gaudia + alvus pudica continet, + ex qua novellum seculum + procedit et lux aurea! 60 + + Vagitus ille exordium + vernantis orbis prodidit, + nam tunc renatus sordidum + mundus veternum depulit. + + Sparsisse tellurem reor 65 + rus omne densis floribus, + ipsasque arenas syrtium + fragrasse nardo et nectare. + + Te cuncta nascentem puer + sensere dura et barbara, 70 + victusque saxorum rigor + obduxit herbam cotibus. + + Iam mella de scopulis fluunt, + iam stillat ilex arido + sudans amomum stipite, 75 + iam sunt myricis balsama. + + O sancta praesepis tui, + aeterne rex, cunabula, + populisque per seclum sacra + mutis et ipsis credita. 80 + + Adorat haec brutum pecus + indocta turba scilicet, + adorat excors natio, + vis cuius in pastu sita est. + + Sed cum fideli spiritu 85 + concurrat ad praesepia + pagana gens et quadrupes, + sapiatque quod brutum fuit: + + Negat patrum prosapia + perosa praesentem Deum: 90 + credas venenis ebriam + furiisve lymphatam rapi. + + Quid prona per scelus ruis? + agnosce, si quidquam tibi + mentis resedit integrae, 95 + ducem tuorum principum. + + Hunc, quem latebra et obstetrix, + et virgo feta, et cunulae + et inbecilla infantia + regem dederunt gentibus, 100 + + peccator intueberis + celsum coruscis nubibus, + deiectus ipse et inritus + plangens reatum fletibus: + + Cum vasta signum bucina 105 + terris cremandis miserit, + et scissus axis cardinem + mundi ruentis solverit: + + Insignis ipse et praeminens + meritis rependet congrua, 110 + his lucis usum perpetis, + illis gehennam et tartarum. + + Iudaea tunc fulmen crucis + experta, qui sit, senties, + quem te furoris praesule 115 + mors hausit et mox reddidit. + + + + + XI. HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS-DAY + + + Why doth the sun re-orient take + A wider range, his limits break? + Lo! Christ is born, and o'er earth's night + Shineth from more to more the light! + + Too swiftly did the radiant day + Her brief course run and pass away: + She scarce her kindly torch had fired + Ere slowly fading it expired. + + Now let the sky more brightly beam, + The earth take up the joyous theme: + The orb a broadening pathway gains + And with its erstwhile splendour reigns. + + Sweet babe, of chastity the flower, + A virgin's blest mysterious dower! + Rise in Thy twofold nature's might: + Rise, God and man to reunite! + + Though by the Father's will above + Thou wert begot, the Son of Love, + Yet in His bosom Thou didst dwell, + Of Wisdom the eternal Well; + + Wisdom, whereby the heavens were made + And light's foundations first were laid: + Creative Word! all flows from Thee! + The Word is God eternally. + + For though with process of the suns + The ordered whole harmonious runs, + Still the Artificer Divine + Leaves not the Father's inmost shrine. + + The rolling wheels of Time had passed + O'er their millennial journey vast, + Before in judgment clad He came + Unto the world long steeped in shame. + + The purblind souls of mortals crass + Had trusted gods of stone and brass, + To things of nought their worship paid + And senseless blocks of wood obeyed. + + And thus employed, they fell below + The sway of man's perfidious foe: + Plunged in the smoky sheer abyss + They sank bereft of their true bliss. + + But that sore plight of ruined man + Christ's pity could not lightly scan: + Nor let God's building nobly wrought + Ingloriously be brought to nought. + + He wrapped Him in our fleshly guise, + That from the tomb He might arise, + And man released from death's grim snare + Home to His Father's bosom bear. + + This is the day of Thy dear birth, + The bridal of the heaven and earth, + When the Creator breathed on Thee + The breath of pure humanity. + + Ah! glorious Maid, dost thou not guess + What guerdon thy chaste soul shall bless, + How by thy ripening pangs is bought + An honour greater than all thought? + + O what a load of joy untold + Thy womb inviolate doth hold! + Of thee a golden age is born, + The brightness of the earth's new morn! + + Hearken! doth not the infant's wail + The universal springtide hail? + For now the world re-born lays by + Its gloomy, frost-bound apathy. + + Methinks in all her rustic bowers + The earth is spread with clustering flowers: + Odours of nard and nectar sweet + E'en o'er the sands of Syrtes fleet. + + All places rough and deserts wild + Have felt from far Thy coming, Child: + Rocks to Thy gentle empire bow + And verdure clothes the mountain brow. + + Sweet honey from the boulder leaps: + The sere and leafless oak-bough weeps + A strange rich attar: tamarisks too + Of balsam pure distil the dew. + + Blessed for ever, cradle dear, + The lowly stall, the cavern drear! + Men to this shrine, Eternal King, + With dumb brutes adoration bring. + + The ox and ass in homage low + Obedient to their Maker bow: + Bows too the unlearn'd heartless crowd + Whose minds the sensual feast doth cloud. + + Though, by the faithful Spirit impelled, + Shepherds and brutes, unreasoning held, + Yea, folk that did in darkness dwell + Discern their God in His poor cell: + + Yet children of the sacred race + Blindly abhor the Incarnate grace: + By philtres you might deem them lulled + Or by some bacchic phrenzy dulled. + + Why headlong thus to ruin stride? + If aught of soundness in you bide, + Behold in Him the Lord divine + Of all your patriarchal line. + + Mark you the dim-lit cave, the Maid, + The humble nurse, the cradle laid, + The helpless infancy forlorn: + Yet thus the Gentiles' King was born! + + Ah sinner, thou shalt one day see + This Child in dreadful majesty, + See Him in glorious clouds descend, + While thou thy guilty heart shalt rend. + + Vain all thy tears, when loud shall sound + The trump, when flames shall scorch the ground, + When from its hinge the cloven world + Is loosed, in horrid tumult hurled. + + Then throned on high, the Judge of all + Shall mortals to their reckoning call: + To these shall grant the prize of light, + To those Gehenna's gloomy night. + + Then, Israel, shalt thou learn at length + The Cross hath, as the lightning, strength: + Doomed by thy wrath, He now is Lord, + Whom Death once grasped but soon restored. + + + + + XII. HYMNUS EPIPHANIAE + + + Quicumque Christum quaeritis, + oculos in altum tollite, + illic licebit visere + signum perennis gloriae. + + Haec stella, quae solis rotam 5 + vincit decore ac lumine, + venisse terris nuntiat + cum carne terrestri Deum. + + Non illa servit noctibus + secuta lunam menstruam, 10 + sed sola caelum possidens + cursum dierum temperat. + + Arctoa quamvis sidera + in se retortis motibus + obire nolint, attamen 15 + plerumque sub nimbis latent. + + Hoc sidus aeternum manet, + haec stella nunquam mergitur, + nec nubis occursu abdita + obumbrat obductam facem. 20 + + Tristis cometa intercidat, + et si quod astrum Sirio + fervet vapore, iam Dei + sub luce destructum cadat. + + En Persici ex orbis sinu, 25 + sol unde sumit ianuam, + cernunt periti interpretes + regale vexillum Magi. + + Quod ut refulsit, ceteri + cessere signorum globi, 30 + nec pulcher est ausus suam + conferre formam Lucifer. + + Quis iste tantus, inquiunt, + regnator astris inperans, + quem sic tremunt caelestia, 35 + cui lux et aethra inserviunt. + + Inlustre quiddam cernimus, + quod nesciat finem pati, + sublime, celsum, interminum, + antiquius caelo et chao. 40 + + Hic ille rex est gentium + populique rex Iudaici, + promissus Abrahae patri + eiusque in aevum semini. + + Aequanda nam stellis sua 45 + cognovit olim germina + primus sator credentium, + nati inmolator unici. + + Iam flos subit Davidicus + radice Iesse editus, 50 + sceptrique per virgam virens + rerum cacumen occupat. + + Exin sequuntur perciti + fixis in altum vultibus, + qua stella sulcum traxerat 55 + claramque signabat viam. + + Sed verticem pueri supra + signum pependit inminens, + pronaque submissum face + caput sacratum prodidit. 60 + + Videre quod postquam Magi, + eoa promunt munera, + stratique votis offerunt + tus, myrrham, et aurum regium. + + Agnosce clara insignia 65 + virtutis ac regni tui, + puer o, cui trinam Pater + praedestinavit indolem. + + Regem Deumque adnuntiant + thesaurus et fragrans odor 70 + turis Sabaei, ac myrrheus + pulvis sepulcrum praedocet. + + Hoc est sepulcrum, quo Deus, + dum corpus extingui sinit + atque id sepultum suscitat, 75 + mortis refregit carcerem. + + O sola magnarum urbium + maior Bethlem, cui contigit + ducem salutis caelitus + incorporatum gignere. 80 + + Altrice te summo Patri + haeres creatur unicus, + homo ex tonantis spiritu + idemque sub membris Deus. + + Hunc et prophetis testibus 85 + isdemque signatoribus, + testator et sator iubet + adire regnum et cernere: + + Regnum, quod ambit omnia + diva et marina et terrea 90 + a solis ortu ad exitum + et tartara et caelum supra. + + Audit tyrannus anxius + adesse regum principem, + qui nomen Israel regat 95 + teneatque David regiam. + + Exclamat amens nuntio, + successor instat, pellimur; + satelles i, ferrum rape, + perfunde cunas sanguine. 100 + + Mas omnis infans occidat, + scrutare nutricum sinus, + interque materna ubera + ensem cruentet pusio. + + Suspecta per Bethlem mihi 105 + puerperarum est omnium + fraus, ne qua furtim subtrahat + prolem virilis indolis. + + Transfigit ergo carnifex + mucrone destricto furens 110 + effusa nuper corpora, + animasque rimatur novas. + + Locum minutis artubus + vix interemptor invenit, + quo plaga descendat patens 115 + iuguloque maior pugio est. + + O barbarum spectaculum! + inlisa cervix cautibus + spargit cerebrum lacteum + oculosque per vulnus vomit. 120 + + Aut in profundum palpitans + mersatur infans gurgitem, + cui subter artis faucibus + singultat unda et halitus. + + Salvete flores martyrum, 125 + quos lucis ipso in limine + Christi insecutor sustulit, + ceu turbo nascentes rosas. + + Vos prima Christi victima, + grex inmolatorum tener, 130 + aram ante ipsam simplices + palma et coronis luditis. + + Quid proficit tantum nefas, + quid crimen Herodem iuvat? + unus tot inter funera 135 + inpune Christus tollitur. + + Inter coaevi sanguinis + fluenta solus integer + ferrum, quod orbabat nurus, + partus fefellit virginis. 140 + + Sic stulta Pharaonis mali + edicta quondam fugerat + Christi figuram praeferens + Moyses, receptor civium. + + Cautum et statutum ius erat, 145 + quo non liceret matribus, + cum pondus alvi absolverent, + puerile pignus tollere. + + Mens obstetricis sedulae + pie in tyrannum contumax 150 + ad spem potentis gloriae + furata servat parvulum: + + Quem mox sacerdotem sibi + adsumpsit orbis conditor, + per quem notatam saxeis 155 + legem tabellis traderet. + + Licetne Christum noscere + tanti per exemplum viri? + dux ille caeso Aegyptio + absolvit Israel iugo. 160 + + At nos subactos iugiter + erroris inperio gravi + dux noster hoste saucio + mortis tenebris liberat. + + Hic expiatam fluctibus 165 + plebem marino in transitu + repurgat undis dulcibus, + lucis columnam praeferens: + + Hic praeliante exercitu, + pansis in altum brachiis, 170 + sublimis Amalech premit, + crucis quod instar tunc fuit. + + Hic nempe Iesus verior, + qui longa post dispendia + victor suis tribulibus 175 + promissa solvit iugera. + + Qui ter quaternas denique + refluentis amnis alveo + fundavit et fixit petras, + apostolorum stemmata. 180 + + Iure ergo se Iudae ducem + vidisse testantur Magi, + cum facta priscorum ducum + Christi figuram finxerint. + + Hic rex priorum iudicum, 185 + rexere qui Iacob genus, + dominaeque rex ecclesiae, + templi et novelli et pristini. + + Hunc posteri Efrem colunt, + hunc sancta Manasse domus 190 + omnesque suspiciunt tribus + bis sena fratrum semina. + + Quin et propago degener + ritum secuta inconditum, + quaecumque dirum fervidis 195 + Baal caminis coxerat, + + fumosa avorum numina + saxum, metallum, stipitem, + rasum, dolatum, sectile, + in Christi honorem deserit. 200 + + Gaudete quidquid gentium est, + Iudaea, Roma, et Graecia, + Aegypte, Thrax, Persa, Scytha, + rex unus omnes possidet. + + Laudate vestrum principem 205 + omnes beati, ac perditi, + vivi, inbecilli ac mortui: + iam nemo posthac mortuus. + + + + + XII. HYMN FOR THE EPIPHANY + + + Lift up your eyes, whoe'er ye be + That fare the new-born Christ to see: + For yonder is the shining sign + Of grace perennial and divine. + + What means this star, whose piercing rays + Outshine the sun's resplendent blaze? + 'Tis token sure that God is come + In mortal flesh to make His home. + + No courtier of the realms of night + Nor monthly moon's bright acolyte, + This star directs the course of day, + Sole sovereign of the heavenly way. + + Although the Bears their track retrace, + Nor wholly their clear beams efface, + Yet ofttimes 'neath the dun cloud's haze + They hide themselves from mortal gaze. + + But yon Star's glory hath no end, + Nor to the depths can it descend: + It ne'er is whelmed by envious cloud + That seeks its beauty to enshroud. + + Now let the baleful comet die, + The brood of blazing Sirius fly: + God's orb shall quench their sultry heats + And drive them from their haughty seats. + + Lo! from the regions of the morn + Wherein the radiant sun is born, + The Persian sages see on high + God's ensign shining in the sky. + + Soon as its rising beams prevail + The starry hosts in order pale: + E'en Lucifer durst not upraise + The silvery splendours of his face. + + Who is this sovereign (they enquire) + That lords it o'er the ethereal choir? + 'Fore whom the heavens bow down afraid, + Of all the worlds of light obeyed? + + Sure 'tis the sign most reverend + Of Being that doth know no end: + Of One in state sublime arrayed + Ere sky and chaos yet were made. + + This is the King of Israel, + Of all in Gentile lands that dwell: + The King to Abram and his seed + Throughout all ages erst decreed. + + To him 'twas given his progeny + As stars innumerous to see: + First of believers! moved to slay + His only son, so God to obey. + + Behold the Flower of David shine, + Of Jesse's root the Branch benign: + The sceptre spread with blossoms rare + Wields o'er the world its lordship fair. + + Roused by the portent of the sky + The sages fix their gaze on high, + And speed them 'neath the furrowed way + Marked by the star's effulgent ray. + + At length its flaming steps it stayed + Poised over where the Child was laid: + Straightway with downcast mien it shed + Its splendours on the sacred Head. + + Whereat the travellers outpour + Of Eastern gifts their treasure-store, + Myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense, + Gold meet for regal opulence. + + Behold herein the triple sign + Of Thy pure being, King divine: + Seeing the Father willed in Thee + To plant a threefold majesty. + + The gift of gold thee King proclaims: + Thee God the fragrant incense names: + The myrrh declares that Death shall thrust + Within the tomb Thy body's dust. + + Ah! that dark sepulchre, whose fold + God's body quenched in death doth hold: + Yet shall He from that durance wake + And Death's strong prison-fetters break. + + O Bethlehem! no longer thou + The least of cities: all shall vow + That thou art greatest on the earth: + For thou man's King didst bring to birth. + + Yea thou didst on thy bosom bear + The All-loving Father's only heir: + Man of the Thunderer's Spirit made + And God in human flesh arrayed. + + The prophets witnessed to the bond + Which sealed to Him the realm profound: + The Father's Kingdom He received + And the vast legacy perceived. + + All things are His in sea and sky, + In hell beneath, in heaven on high: + From East to setting sun, in fee + He holds the earth's immensity. + + Distraught, the tyrant base doth hear + That now the King of Kings draws near + To reign in David's seat of state + And Israel's empire dominate. + + "Betrayed are we," he maddened cries, + "Our throne's usurper doth arise: + Go, soldiers, go with sword in hand + And slay all babes within my land. + + "Spare no male child: each nurse's robe + Your scrutinizing steel must probe: + Spare not the suckling infant, though + O'er mother's breast its life-blood flow. + + "On Bethlehem our suspicion falls, + On every hearth within its walls: + Lest mothers with love's tender zeal + Some manly scion may conceal." + + With daggers drawn the infuriate crew + Upon their murderous errand flew: + Each latest offspring of the womb + To bloody death they foully doom. + + Ah tiny limbs! 'twas hard to know + How best to strike the fatal blow: + Too wide the sword-blades are to smite + Those throats so silken-fragile, slight. + + O horrid sight! the tender bones + Are dashed against the jagged stones: + Sightless and mangled there they lie, + Poor babes! untimely doomed to die. + + Perchance the still deep river laves + Their bodies thrust into the waves: + The current with their sighing sighs, + Sobs with their latest, broken cries. + + Ye flowers of martyrdom, all hail! + Of rising morn pure blossoms frail! + By Jesu's foe were ye downcast, + Like budding roses by the blast. + + Lambs of the flock too early slain, + Ye first fruits of Christ's bitter pain! + Close to His very altar, gay + With palms and crowns, ye now do play. + + Of what avail is deed so vile? + Doth Herod gain by murderous guile? + Of all to death so foully done + Escapes triumphant Christ alone. + + Amidst that tide of infant gore + Alone He wins the sheltering shore: + The virgin's Child survives the stroke, + When every mother's heart was broke. + + Thus Moses 'scaped the mad decree + Of evil Pharaoh and set free + The flock of God, prefiguring so + Christ spared from fate's malignant blow. + + Vain too the king's hostility + Who framed the pitiless decree + That Israel's mothers should not rear + To manhood's strength their offspring dear. + + Quickened by love, a woman's mind + Found means to thwart that law unkind, + And, falsely true, the child concealed + Destined to be his people's Shield. + + On him it was that God did place + The august priesthood's holy grace, + The law on stony tablets writ + Did to his trembling hands commit. + + And may we not with prophet's eye + In such a hero Christ descry? + The proud Egyptian's might he broke + And freed his kinsmen from the yoke. + + So we by Error's might hemmed round + Were by our Captain's strength unbound: + His foe He wounded in the fight + And saved us from Death's horrid night. + + Cheering by sign of flame their feet, + Moses renewed with waters sweet + His folk, albeit purified + From stain, what time they crossed the tide. + + And he, remote on peaceful height, + Amalek's banded hosts did smite: + He prayed with arms stretched out above, + Foreshadowing the Cross of Love. + + Yet truer Jesus surely he, + Who after many a victory + And labours long the tribes' renown + With promised heritage did crown; + + Who when the waters rose on high + And now the Jordan's bed was dry, + Set up twelve stones of memory, + Types of apostles yet to be. + + Rightly the Wise Men said, I ween, + That they Judaea's King had seen, + Since noble deeds of other days + Prophetic chant the Saviour's praise. + + Of those old rulers He is King + Who did to Jacob judgment bring, + King of the Mother Church divine, + God's ancient and God's present Shrine. + + Of Ephraim's sons He is adored: + Manasseh's sacred house as Lord + Reveres Him: to His might the seed + Of brethren twelve their fealty plead. + + Nay, each degenerate race hath fled + Its shameful rites and orgies dread: + Grim Baal in glowing furnace cast + Sinks to the earth, forsook at last. + + Idols smoke-blackened, wooden-hewn, + Of brass and stone, in dust are strewn: + The chiselled deities downtrod: + For all confess in Christ their God. + + Rejoice all peoples, Jewry, Rome, + Fair Hellas, Thrace, Aegyptus' home: + Persians and Scythian land forlorn, + Rejoice: the world's great King is born! + + Behold your Chief! His praise forth tell: + Ye sick, ye hale, all heaven and hell: + Ay, you whose vital spark hath sped: + For lo! in Him e'en Death is dead. + + + + + EPILOGUS + + + Inmolat Deo Patri + pius, fidelis, innocens, pudicus + dona conscientiae, + quibus beata mens abundat intus: + alter et pecuniam 5 + recidit, unde victitent egeni. + Nos citos iambicos + sacramus et rotatiles trochaeos, + sanctitatis indigi + nec ad levamen pauperum potentes; 10 + adprobat tamen Deus + pedestre carmen, et benignus audit. + Multa divitis domo + sita est per omnes angulos supellex. + Fulget aureus scyphus, 15 + nec aere defit expolita pelvis: + est et olla fictilis, + gravisque et ampla argentea est parabsis. + Sunt eburna quaepiam, + nonnulla quercu sunt cavata et ulmo: 20 + omne vas fit utile, + quod est ad usum congruens herilem, + Instruunt enim domum + ut empta magno, sic parata ligno. + Me paterno in atrio 25 + ut obsoletum vasculum caducis + Christus aptat usibus, + sinitque parte in anguli manere. + Munus ecce fictile + inimus intra regiam salutis; 30 + attamen vel infimam + Deo obsequelam praestitisse prodest. + Quidquid illud accidit, + iuvabit ore personasse Christum. + + + + + EPILOGUE + + + The pure and faithful saint, whose heart is whole, + To God the Father makes his sacrifice + From out the treasures of a stainless soul, + Glad gifts of innocence, beyond all price: + Another with free hand bestows his gold, + Whereby his needy neighbour may be fed. + No wealth of holiness my heart doth hold, + No store have I to buy my brothers bread: + So here I humbly dedicate to Thee + The rolling trochee and iambus swift; + Thou wilt approve my simple minstrelsy, + Thine ear will listen to Thy servant's gift. + The rich man's halls are nobly furnished; + Therein no nook or corner empty seems; + Here stands the brazen laver burnished, + And there the golden goblet brightly gleams; + Hard by some crock of clumsy earthen ware, + Massive and ample lies a silver plate; + And rough-hewn cups of oak or elm are there + With vases carved of ivory delicate. + Yet every vessel in its place is good, + So be it for the Master's service meet; + The priceless salver and the bowl of wood + Alike He needs to make His home complete. + Therefore within His Father's spacious hall + Christ fits me for the service of a day, + Mean though I be, a vessel poor and small,-- + And in some lowly corner lets me stay. + Lo in the palace of the King of Kings + I play the earthen pitcher's humble part; + Yet to have done Him meanest service brings + A thrill of rapture to my thankful heart: + Whate'er the end, this thought will joy afford, + My lips have sung the praises of my Lord. + + + + +_This edition of the_ Cathemerinon of Prudentius _has been prepared for +the Temple Classics by_ Rev. R. MARTIN POPE, M.A. (_St John's College, +Cambridge, translator of the_ "Letters of John Hus"), _who has done the +translation of the_ Praefatio _and_ Hymns i., ii., iii., viii., xi., +xii., _with notes thereon and the note on_ Prudentius. _For the rendering +of_ Hymns iv., v., vi., vii., ix., x., _and the_ Epilogus _with notes +thereon,_ Mr R.F. DAVIS, M.A. (_St John's College, Cambridge_), _is +responsible. The text, with some minor alterations in orthography and +punctuation, is that of_ Dressel (Lipsiae, 1860). _The frontispiece is +due to the kind suggestion of_ Dr SANDYS, _Public Orator of Cambridge +University, to whom the thanks of the translators are hereby presented._ + + + + + TRANSLATOR'S NOTE + + +AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS (to give his full title) was born, probably +at Saragossa (Caesaraugusta), in Spain, in the year of our Lord 348. The +fourth century exercised a profound influence alike on the destiny of +the Roman Empire and of the Christian Church. After a long discipline, +strangely alternating between fiery persecution and contemptuous +toleration, the Church entered upon a new era, when in 323 Constantine, +the first Christian emperor, became master of the Roman world. Two +years later the Council of Nicaea met to utter its verdict on the +Arian controversy and to establish the terms of the orthodox symbol. A +generation later Julian took up the reins of empire and commenced his +quixotic and fruitless attempt to revive the glories of Paganism. +Athanasius died in 373: but fourteen years later Augustine, his successor +in the championship of the faith, was baptized, and in 395, at the death +of Theodosius, when the Empire was divided between Honorius and Arcadius, +he became Bishop of Hippo, and was marked out by his saintliness and +learning as the leader of the Western Church, which he shaped by his +splendid ideal of the _Civitas Dei_ into unity and stability, when +the secular empire was falling into decay. + +We know little more of the life of Prudentius than he himself has +disclosed. The _Preface_, which stands as an introduction to his poems, +is a miniature autobiography of great interest. M. Boissier in his _Fin du +Paganisme_ calls it _melancolique_: though it is rather the retrospect +of a serious and awakened, but not morbid, conscience. Prudentius views +his past years in the light of that new spiritual truth to which he has +opened his soul. We gather that he received a liberal education and was +called to the bar. We need not misunderstand the allusion to the +deceitfulness of the barrister life, seeing that the ordinary arts of +rhetoric stand condemned by his recently adopted ethical standard. He held +two important judicial posts and was promoted to a high position, probably +in the civil service and not outside the limits of his native province, the +_provincia Tarraconensis_. + +He speaks of himself as having reached the age of fifty-seven, which +brings us down to 405, and as intending to consecrate his remaining years +to the poetic treatment of religious subjects. When and how he became a +Christian we do not know, and it were vain to guess, although the +suggestion that he may have owed his conversion to the influence of some +Christian family of his acquaintance is at least interesting. It is +unlikely that he took up poetry for the first time in his old age. His +mastery of all kinds of metre--heroic and lyric--prove the practised hand. +The probability is that in the years of repose after a busy career his +desire to redeem an unspiritual past suggested for the exercise of his +natural gifts a field hitherto unoccupied by any of the writers of his +age. Why not consecrate his powers to the task of interesting the literary +circles of the Empire in the evangel of Christ? Why not present the truths +of Christianity in a poetic guise, wrought into forms of beauty and set +forth in the classical metres of Roman literature? This became the passion +of his life, and however we may view the results of his toil, the spirit +in which he went to work, as described in the touching _Epilogue_, +cannot but evoke our profound admiration. He is but a vessel of earth, but +whatever the issue may be, it will be a lasting joy to have sounded forth +the praise of Christ in song. + +This then is how Prudentius becomes the first poet of the Christian Church, +or, as Bentley called him, "the Virgil and Horace of the Christians." +Doubtless there were other influences at work to determine the sphere to +which he was naturally attract. Ambrose, who was Bishop of Milan when +Prudentius was twenty-six years of age, had written the first Latin hymns +to be sung in church. Augustine in a familiar passage of the _Confessions_ +(ix. 7.) describes how "the custom arose of singing hymns and psalms, after +the use of the Eastern provinces, to save the people from being utterly +worn out by their long and sorrowful vigils." "From that day to this," he +adds, "it has been retained and, many might say, all Thy flocks throughout +the rest of the world now follow our example." To Ambrose and Augustine the +Church of Christ is for ever indebted: to the latter for a devotional +treatise which is the most familiar of all the writings of the fourth +century: to the former for the hymns of praise which he composed and the +practice of singing which he thus inaugurated in the worship of the +Western Church. But the Church owes something also to Prudentius, a much +more gifted poet than Ambrose. The collection of hymns known as the +_Cathemerinon_ or _Hymns for the day_ is as little adapted for +ecclesiastical worship as Keble's _Christian Year_, although excerpts +from these poems have passed into the hymnology of the Church, just as +portions of Keble's work have passed into most hymn books. For example, +seven of these excerpts in the form of hymns are to be found in the Roman +Breviary, and thus for centuries the lyrics of Prudentius have been sung in +the daily services of the Church. + +Seeing that Prudentius must address himself to most English readers through +the imperfect medium of a translation, it may be well to remind those who +make their first acquaintance with him that a historical imagination is an +indispensable condition of interest and sympathy. If Prudentius has a habit +of leaving the main issue and making lengthy and tedious _detours_ into +the picturesque parables and miraculous incidents of the Old Testament, +there is method in his digressiveness. He knows that one of the charms of +Paganism lies in its rich and variegated mythology. Yet Christianity +also can point to an even nobler inheritance of the supernatural and the +wonderful in the mysterious evolutions of its history. Hence the stories +of the early patriarchs, of the Israelites and Moses, of Daniel and Jonah, +are imported by the poet as pictorial illustrations of his theme. If +occasionally the details border on the grotesque, he certainly reveals a +striking knowledge of the Old Testament. + +The New Testament is also adequately represented. In one poem (ix.) the +miracles of Christ in His earthly ministry and His descent into Hades are +narrated with considerable spirit and eloquence. Besides being a student +of the Bible, Prudentius is a theologian. His theology is that of the +Nicene Creed. The Fall of man, the personality of the Tempter, the mystery +of the Trinity and of the Incarnation, the Virgin-birth, the Death and +Resurrection of Christ, the pains of the lost and the bliss of the saints, +the resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting--these are the themes +of his pen, the themes too of the theology of his age. If the poet's +treatment of these truths occasionally appears antiquated and crude to +modern ideas, it is at least dignified and intelligent. His mind has +absorbed the Christian religion and the Christian theology, and he not +unfrequently rises to noble heights in the interpretation of their +mysteries. His didactic poems, the _Hamartigenia_ or the _Origin of Evil_ +and the _Apotheosis_, a treatise on the Person of Christ, prove him to be +a theologian of no mean calibre. He is also an allegorist, as is proved by +the _Psychomachia_ or the _Battle of the Soul_, a kind of _Holy War_ +which was very popular in the Middle Ages. He is a martyrologist: as +witness the _Peristephanon_, a series of poems on Christian, principally +Spanish, martyrs. Moreover, he is an undoubted patriot, and in the _Contra +Symmachum_, which he wrote on the famous affair of the Altar of Victory, +he proves that, while a Christian, he is also _civis Romanus_, loyal to +the Empire and the powers that be. He is a skilful versifier, and in this +connection the quatrains of the _Dittochaeon_, verses on themes of the Old +and New Testaments, may be mentioned in order to complete the list of his +works. His mastery of his very varied metres--hexameter, iambic, trochaic +and sapphic--is undoubted: everywhere we note the influence of Virgil and +Horace, even when these poets are not recalled by echoes of their diction +which are constantly greeting the reader of his poems. + +Reference has already been made to the influence of Ambrose of Milan upon +the thought and style of Prudentius. But there is a second and even more +powerful influence that deserves at least briefly to be noted--namely, the +Christian art of the Catacombs. Apart from such definite statements as +_e.g._ are found in _Peristephanon_ xi., it is obvious that Prudentius +had a first-hand knowledge of Rome and particularly of the Catacombs. +Everywhere in his poems we find evidences of the deep impression made upon +his imagination by the paintings and sculptures of subterranean Rome. The +now familiar representations which decorate the remains of the Catacombs +suggested to him many of the allusions, the picturesque vignettes and +glowing descriptions to be found in his poetry. Thus, the story of Jonah--a +common theme typifying the Resurrection--the story of Daniel with its +obvious consolations for an age of martyrs, the Good Shepherd and the +denial of Peter may be mentioned among the numerous subjects which were +reproduced in early Christian art and transferred by the poet to his verse. +The symbolism of the Cock, the Dove, and the Lamb borne on the shoulders +of the Good Shepherd is a perpetually recurring feature in the lyrics and +martyr-hymns of Prudentius, who thus becomes one of our most valuable +authorities on the Christian art of the fourth century. + +The poems, of which a new English rendering is presented in this volume, +are acknowledged by most critics to illustrate some of his best qualities, +his brightness and dignity, his touches of nature-painting and his capacity +for sustained and well-wrought narrative. As we study these lyrics of the +early Church, we feel anew the mighty change that Christianity wrought in +Roman life by its doctrine of immortality, and we note the curious +fascination which the circumstances of the Nativity and especially the +Adoration of the Magi had for the Western world. Prudentius had a +great vogue in the Middle Ages, and the modern renewal of interest in +mediaevalism invests with fresh dignity a poet whose works at the Revival +of learning provoked the admiration of Erasmus[1] and the researches of +numerous scholars and editors. But it is undoubtedly to the student of +ecclesiastical history and dogma and to the lovers of Christian art and +antiquities that Prudentius most truly appeals. He claims our interest, +not merely because he reflects the Christian environment of his days, but +because his poetry represents an attempt to preach Christ to a world still +fascinated by Paganism, while conscious that the old order was changing +and yielding place to new. + +[1] _Prudentium, unum inter Christianos vere facundum poetam._ + + + + + + NOTES + + HYMNS + + + + THE TITLE + +The word _Cathemerinon_ is taken from the Greek and is the genitive of +_chathemerina_ "daily things": the whole title _Liber Cathemerinon_ +is equivalent to "Book of daily hymns," and may be rendered "Hymns for +the Christian's day." + + + + THE PREFACE + +In one or two of the MSS. this introductory poem is stated to be a preface +of the _Cathemerinon_ only: but the great majority of the codices support +the view which is undoubtedly suggested by internal evidence, that the poem +is a general introduction to the whole of Prudentius' works. It is inserted +together with the _Epilogus_ in this volume, because of the intrinsic +interest of both poems. + +Line + +8 The reference is to the _toga virilis_, the ordinary + white-coloured garb of a Roman citizen who at his sixteenth year + laid aside the purple-edged _toga praetexta_, which was worn + during the days of boyhood. + +16 ff. The cities referred to are unknown: but it is probable that + they were two _municipia_ in Northern Spain, and that the office + held by Prudentius was that of duumvir or prefect. Provision was made + by the twenty-fourth clause of the law of Salpensa (a town in the + _provincia Baetica_ of Spain) by which the emperor could be elected + first magistrate of a _municipium_, and could thereupon appoint a + prefect to take his place. This would explain the language of the + text as to the semi-imperial nature of the post. The phrase + _militiae gradus_ need only be taken to indicate advancement in the + _civil_ service. But the words have been interpreted in accordance + with the more familiar and definite meaning of _militia_, and + understood to refer to a purely military post. Dressel thinks that + Prudentius was a _miles Palatinus_, that is, a member of the + best-paid and most highly-privileged imperial troops, who furnished + officers for some of the most lucrative posts in the provinces. + Though in the translation the usual meaning has been given to + _militia_, it must be regarded as uncertain in the absence of + more definite information regarding the office held by Prudentius. + +24 The consulship of Salia (or Salias) belongs to the year 348, the + date of the birth of Prudentius. An inscription (quoted by Migne from + Muratorius, _Nov. Thes. Inscrip._, i. 379) has been found in the + monastery of St. Paul's outside the city bearing the words + + FILIPPO . ET . SALLIA . COSS + + + + I + +1 Of this poem lines 1-8, 81-84, 97-100, were included in the Roman + Breviary as a hymn to be sung at Lauds, on Tuesday. + +2 The allusions to the cock in this and the following poem (ii. 37-55) + were doubtless inspired by the lines of Ambrose in his morning hymn + beginning _Aeterne rerum conditor_. Cf. ll. 5-8 and 16-24: + + _"praeco diei iam sonat + noctis profundae pervigil, + nocturna lux viantibus + a nocte noctem segregans._ + + * * * * * + + _surgamus ergo strenue: + gallus iacentes excitat, + et somnolentos increpat: + gallus negantes arguit._ + + _gallo canente spes redit, + aegris salus refunditur, + mucro latronis conditur, + lapsis fides revertitur."_ + + _Translation._ + + "Dawn's herald now begins to cry, + Lone watcher of the nightly sky: + Light of the dark to pilgrims dear, + Speeding successive midnights drear. + + * * * * * + + Brisk from our couch let us arise! + Hark to the cock's arousing cries! + He chides the sluggard's slumbrous ease, + And shames his unconvincing pleas. + + At cock-crow Hope revives again, + Health banishes the stress of pain, + Sheathed is the nightly robber's sword, + And Faith to fallen hearts restored." + + See also Ambrose, _Hexaem._, v. 24, for an eloquent passage in + the same strain. The cock was the familiar Christian symbol of early + rising or vigilance, and numerous representations of it are found in + the Catacombs. Cf. the painting from the Catacomb of St. Priscilla + reproduced in Bottari's folio of 1754, where the Good Shepherd is + depicted as feeding the lambs, with a crowing cock on His right and + left hand. It is also a symbol of the Resurrection, our Lord being + supposed to have risen from the grave at the early cockcrowing: see + l. 65 _et seq._ In l. 16 the first bird-notes are interpreted + by the poet as a summons to the general judgment. Cf. Mark xiii. 35: + "Ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or + at midnight, or _at cockcrowing_, or in the morning." This + passage serves as a kind of text for Prudentius' first two hymns, + and perhaps explains why he has one for cockcrowing and another for + morning. + +26 A common idea in all literatures. Cf. Virg., _Aen._, vi. 278 + (taken from Homer), _tum consanguineus Leti Sopor_, and Tennyson's + "Sleep, Death's twin-brother" (_In Memoriam_, 68). + +44 Cf. Augustine, _Serm._ 103: "These evil spirits seek to seduce + the soul: but when the sun has arisen, they take to flight." + +59 The denial of Peter forms a subject of Christian casuistry in + patristic literature, and this passage recalls the famous classical + parallel in Euripides (_Hipp._ 612), "the tongue hath sworn: yet + unsworn is the heart." Cf. Augustine, _cont. mendacium_: "In that + denial he held fast the truth in his heart, while with his lips he + uttered falsehood." For a striking representation of Peter and the + cock, on a sarcophagus discovered in the Catacombs and now deposited + in the Vatican library, see Maitland's _Church in the Catacombs_, + p. 347. The closing words of the passage in Ambrose's _Hexaemeron_, + already referred to under l. 2, may here be quoted: "As the cock + peals forth his notes, the robber leaves his plots: Lucifer himself + awakes and lights up the sky: the distressful sailor lays aside his + gloom, and all the storms and tempests that have risen in fury under + the winds of the evening begin to die down: the soul of the saint + leaps to prayer and renews the study of the written word: and + finally, the very Rock of the Church is cleansed of the stain he had + contracted by his denials before the cock crew." + +81 ff. The best commentary on these words is to be found in the + following passage from the second epistle of Basil to Gregory + Nazianzen: "What can be more blessed than to imitate on earth the + angelic host by giving oneself at the peep of dawn to prayer and by + turning at sunrise to work with hymns and songs: yea, all the day + through to make prayer the accompaniment of our toils and to season + them with praise as with salt? For the solace of hymns changes the + soul's sadness into mirth." + + + + II + +1 This poem furnishes two hymns to the Roman Breviary, one to be sung + on Wednesday at Lauds, and consisting of ll. 1-8, 48-53 (omitting l. + 50), 57, 59, 60, 67 (_tu vera lux caelestium_) and 68: the other + for Thursday at Lauds, consisting of ll. 25 (_lux ecce surgit + aurea_), 93-108. + +17 Cf. Ambrose, ii. 8, _de Cain et Abel_: "The thief shuns the day + as the witness of his crime: the adulterer is abashed by the dawn + as the accomplice of his adultery." + +51 The practice of praying on bended knees is frequently referred to + in early Christian writers. Cf. Clem., 1 Ad. Cor. cc. xlviii.: "Let + us fall down before the Lord," and Shepherd of Hermas, vis. 1. i.: + "After I had crossed that river I came unto the banks and there + knelt down and began to pray." Dressel quotes from Juvencus (iv. + 648), a Spanish poet and Christian contemporary of Prudentius, + _genibus nixi regem dominumque salutant_, "on bended knees they + make obeisance unto their King and Lord." + +63 The Jordan is a poetical figure for baptism, suggested doubtless +by the baptism of our Lord in that river. Cf. vii. 73-75. + +67 Cf. Milton, _Paradise Regained_, i. 293: "So spake our Morning + Star, then in his rise." The figure is suggested by Rev. xxii. 16: + "I am ... the bright, the morning star." + +105 The conception of God as _speculator_ may be paralleled by a + passage in the epistle of Polycarp _ad Philipp._ iv., where God is + described as the Arch-critic (_panta momoschopeitai_) and subsequently + (vii.) as _ton pantepopten theon_, "the All-witnessing God." The + last verse contains a distinct echo of the closing words of the + fourth chapter of Polycarp: "None of the reasonings or thoughts, + nor any of the hidden things of the heart escape His notice." + + + + III + +2 _Word-begot._ The original _verbigena_, on the analogy of such + words (cf. _terrigena_, _Martigena_, etc.), can only mean "begotten + of the Word." It is evident, therefore, the "Word" in this connection + is not the Johannine Logos or Second Person in the Trinity. + Prudentius cannot be guilty of the error which he expressly + condemns (_Apoth._ 249) as _perquam ridiculum_ and regard the + Logos as begetting Himself. Consequently, both in this passage and + in xi. 18 (_verbo editus_) the "Word" must be taken as approximating + rather to the Alexandrian conception of the Logos as the Divine + Reason. In this way Christ is expressly described as the offspring + of the _Intellectus Dei_, the immanent Intelligence of the Deity. + If this conception is considered to be beyond Prudentius, we can only + suppose that both here and in xi. 18, his language is theologically + loose. Some excuse may be offered for this on the ground that the + Latin language is ill-adapted for expressing metaphysical truths. + The late Bishop Westcott remarked on the inadequacy of the Latin + original of "the Word was made flesh" (_verbum caro factum est_), + both substantive and verb falling short of the richness of their + Greek equivalents. (_Vid._ also note on iv. 15.) + +11 Cf. Ambrose, _Hymn_ vii.:-- + + _"Christusque nobis sit cibus + Potusque noster sit fides; + Laeti bibamus sobriam + Ebrietatem Spiritus."_ + + _Translation._ + + "May Christ be now the Bread we eat, + Be simple Faith our potion sweet: + Let our intoxication be + The Spirit's calm sobriety." + + The idea is familiar to readers of Herbert and Herrick, though it + is elaborated by them with quaint conceits somewhat foreign to the + Latin poet. Cf. Herbert, _The Banquet_:-- + + "O what sweetnesse from the bowl + Fills my soul! + + * * * * * + + Is some starre (fled from the sphere) + Melted there, + As we sugar melt in wine? + + * * * * * + + Doubtless neither starre nor flower + Hath the power + Such a sweetnesse to impart: + Only God, Who gives perfumes, + Flesh assumes, + And with it perfumed my heart." + + Also Herrick, _A Thanksgiving to God_:-- + + "Lord, I confess too, when I dine, + The pulse is thine. + + * * * * * + + 'Tis thou that crown'st my glittering hearth + With guiltless mirth, + And giv'st me wassail bowls to drink, + Spiced to the brink." + +28 The original _dactylico_ refers to the metre of the Latin of this + poem. For a rendering of ll. 1-65 in the metre of the original see + Glover, _Life and Letters in the Fourth Century_, pp. 267-269. + +58 This and the following lines should satisfy the most ardent + vegetarian who seeks to uphold his abstinence from animal food by + the customs of the early Church. In Christian circles, however, the + abstinence was practised on personal and spiritual grounds, _e.g._, + Jerome (_de Regul. Monach._, xi.) says, "The eating of flesh is the + seed-plot of lust" (_seminarium libidinis_): so also Augustine (_de + moribus Ecc. Cath._, i. 33), who supports what doubtless was the + view of Prudentius, namely that the avoidance of animal flesh was a + safe-guard but not a binding Christian duty. + +75 _Unwed._ Prudentius thus adopts the view of the ancient world on + the question of the generation of bees. Cf. Virgil, _Geo._ iv. 198, + and Pliny, _Nat. Hist._, xi. 16. Dryden's translation of Virgil + (_l.c._) is as follows:-- + + "But (what's more strange) their modest appetites, + Averse from Venus, fly the nuptial rights; + No lust enervates their heroic mind, + Nor wastes their strength on wanton womankind, + But in their mouths reside their genial powers, + They gather children from the leaves and flowers." + +86 Cf. Ps. liv. 18, 19 (Vulg.): _Vespere et mane et meridie narrabo + et annuntiabo et exaudiet vocem meam._ "In the evening and morning + and at noonday will I pray, and that instantly and he shall hear my + voice" (P. B. Version). + +127 This is, strictly speaking, an error: it is the woman's seed + which is to bruise the serpent's head. The error was perpetuated + in the Latin Church by the Vulgate of Gen. iii. 15, _ipsa conteret + caput tuum_, where _ipsa_ refers to the woman (= she herself). + +157 The epithet "white-robed" refers to the newly-baptized converts + who received the white robe as a symbol of their new nature. Cf. + _Perist._ i. 67: _Christus illic candidatis praesidet cohortibus_, + and Ambrose (_de Mysteriis_, vii.): "Thou didst receive (that is, + after baptism) white garments as a sign that thou hast doffed the + covering of thy sins and put on the chaste raiment (_velamina_) of + innocence, whereof the prophet spake (Ps. li. 7), 'Thou shalt purge + me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I + shall be whiter than snow'" (Vulg.). + +199 Phlegethon (rendered "Hell"), one of the rivers of the Virgilian + Hades, is used to express the abode of the lost. Cf. Milton, _P. L._, + ii. 580:-- + + "... fierce Phlegethon, + Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage." + + The subject of the _descensus ad inferos_ was evidently a favourite + one with Prudentius and his contemporaries. It has been suggested + that apart from the scriptural basis of this conception Prudentius + was influenced by the so-called _Gospel of Nicodemus_, which embodies + two books, the _Acts of Pilate_ and the _Descent into Hell_. The + latter is assigned by several critics to 400 or thereabouts, and + gives a graphic account of Christ's doings in Hades. Synesius deals + with the subject in one of his hymns (ix.), and Mrs Browning's + translation (see the essay on _The Greek Christian Poets_) of a + passage in that poem may be quoted:-- + + "Down Thou earnest, low as earth, + Bound to those of mortal birth; + Down Thou earnest, low as hell, + Where Shepherd-Death did tend and keep + A thousand nations like to sheep, + While weak with age old Hades fell + Shivering through his dark to view Thee. + + * * * * * + + So, redeeming from their pain + Chains of disembodied ones, + Thou didst lead whom thou didst gather + Upward in ascent again, + With a great hymn to the Father, + Upward to the pure white thrones!" + + For a modern treatment of the theme see _Christ in Hades_, by + Stephen Phillips. + +202 The words suggest the Catacombs, and perhaps refer to the custom + of placing in the tomb a small cup or vase containing spices, of + which myrrh (a symbol of death, according to Gregory of Nyssa, cf. + xii. 71) was most usually employed. Or the allusion may be to the + practice of embalming. (See note on x. 51.) The body was placed + not only in an actual sarcophagus or stone coffin, as expressly + mentioned in the text, but in hollow places cut out of rock or + earth (_loculus_). The _sarcophagus_ method seems to have been the + earlier, but was superseded by that of the _loculus_, except in the + case of the very wealthy. + +205 The concluding line is beautifully illustrated by the epitaph + on the martyr Alexander, found over one of the graves in the cemetery + of Callixtus in the Catacombs:-- + + ALEXANDER MORTVVS NON EST SED VIVIT + SVPER ASTRA ET CORPVS IN HOC TVMVLO + QVIESCIT ... + + "Alexander is not dead, but lives above the stars + and his body rests in this tomb." + + + + IV + +15 Prudentius here, as again in v. 160, emphasises his belief in + the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son. The + "filioque" clause was not actually added to the Nicene Creed till + the Council of Toledo (589 A.D.), but the doctrine was expressly + maintained by Augustine, and occurs in a Confession of Faith of an + earlier Synod of Toledo (447 A.D.?), and in the words of Leo I. + (_Ep. ad Turib._, c. 1), "_de utroque processit._" The addition + was not embodied into the Creed as used at Rome as late as the + beginning of the ninth century. (_Vid._ Harnack, _Hist. of Dogma_, + iv. 132.) Prudentius probably followed, as regards the Trinity, + the doctrine generally held by the Spanish Church of his day; in + many points it is difficult (cf. note on iii. 2), but appears to be + derived partly from Tertullian and partly from Marcellus. + +59 The identification of the Habakkuk of this legend (_vid._ the + Apocryphal "Bel and the Dragon") with the O. T. prophet is erroneous. + This version of the story of Daniel is sometimes represented in the + frescoes of the Catacombs, where the subject is a very favourite + one, as is natural in an age when the cry "_Christiani ad leones_" + so often rang through the streets of Rome. + + + + V + +1 There has been much doubt as to the title and scope of this hymn. + Some early editors (_e.g._, Fabricius and Arevalus) adopt the title + "_ad incensum cerei Paschalis_," or "_de novo lumine Paschalis + Sabbati_," and confine its object to the ceremonial of Easter Eve, + which is specially alluded to in ll. 125 _et seq._ Others, following + the best MSS., give the simpler title used in this text, and regard + it as a hymn for daily use. This view is supported by the weight + of evidence: the position of the hymn among the first six (none of + which are for special days), and the fact that the Benediction of + the Paschal Candle was not in use, at any rate in Rome, in the + pontificate of Zacharias (_ob._ 752 A.D.) point in this direction. + In the Spanish Church particularly the very ancient custom of + praying at the hour when the evening lamps were lighted had developed + into the regular office of the _lucernarium_, as distinct from + Vespers. The Mozarabic Breviary (seventh century) contains the + prayers and responses for this service, and the Rule of St. Isidore + runs: "In the evening offices, first the lucernarium, then two + psalms, one responsory and lauds, a hymn and prayer are to be + said." St. Basil also writes: "It seemed good to our fathers not + to receive in silence the gift of the evening light, but to give + thanks as soon as it appeared." It is probable, therefore, that + Prudentius intended the hymn for daily use, and that after speaking + of God as the source of light, and His manifestations in the form + of fire to Moses and the Israelites, his thoughts pass naturally, + though somewhat abruptly, to the special festival--Easter Eve--on + which the sanctuaries were most brilliantly illuminated. The + question is fully discussed by Brockhaus (_A. Prudentius Clemens + in seiner Bedeutung fuer die Kirche seiner Zeit_), and Roesler (_Der + catholische Dichter A. Prudentius_). Part of this hymn is used in + the Mozarabic Breviary for the First Sunday after Epiphany, at + Vespers, being stanzas 1, 7, 35, 38-41. + +7 The words _incussu silicis_ are perhaps reminiscent of the Spanish + ceremonial of Easter Eve, when the bishop struck the flint, lighting + from it first a candle, then a lamp, from which the deacons lighted + their candles; these were blessed by the bishop, and the procession + from the _processus_ into the church followed. + +21 Cf. Vaughan, _The Lampe_:-- + + "Then thou dost weepe + Still as thou burn'st, and the warm droppings creepe + To measure out thy length." + +119 The _folium_ here is probably the ancient _malobathrum_, generally + identified as the Indian cinnamon. The Arab traders who brought this + valuable product into the Western markets, surrounded its origin with + much mystery. + +125 The following stanzas, in which Prudentius elaborates the + beautiful fancy that the sufferings of lost spirits are alleviated + at Eastertide, have incurred the severe censure of some of the + earlier editors. Fabricius calls it "a Spanish fabrication," while + others, as Cardinal Bellarmine, declare that the author is speaking + "poetically and not dogmatically." That such a belief, however, was + actually held by some section of the ancient Church is evident from + the words of St. Augustine (_Encheiridion_, c. 112): _Paenas + damnatorum certis temporum intervallis existiment, si hoc eis placet, + aliquatenus mitigari, dummodo intelligatur in eis manere ira Dei, hoc + est ipsa damnatio._ "Let men believe, if it so please them, that at + certain intervals the pains of the damned are somewhat alleviated, + provided that it be understood that the wrath of God, that is + damnation itself, abides upon them." + +140 It is somewhat startling to find Prudentius speaking of the Holy + Eucharist in terms which would recall to his contemporary readers + Virgilian phraseology and the honeyed cake (_liba_) used in pagan + sacrifice. It must be remembered, however, that in the early days of + the Church paganism and Christianity flourished side by side for a + considerable period; and we find various pagan practices allowed + to continue, where they were innocent. Thus the bride-cake and the + bridal-veil are of heathen origin; the mirth of the Saturnalia + survives, in a modified form, in some of the rejoicings of Christmas; + and the flowers, which had filled the pagan temples during the + Floralia, were employed to adorn God's House at the Easter festival. + +141 The brilliant illumination of churches on Easter Eve is very + ancient. According to Eusebius, Constantine "turned the mystical + vigil into the light of day by means of lamps suspended in every + part, setting up also great waxen tapers, as large as columns, + throughout the city." Gregory of Nyssa also speaks of "the cloud + of fire mingling with the rays of the rising sun, and making the eve + and the festival one continuous day without interval of darkness." + +153 Cf. _Paradise Lost_, iii. 51:-- + + "So much the rather thou, Celestial Light, + Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers + Irradiate." + + + VI + + The last seven stanzas of this hymn are used in the Moz. Brev. at + Compline on Passion Sunday, and daily until Maundy Thursday. + +56 Cf. Job. vii. 14: "Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest + me through visions." + +95 In the translation of this stanza the explanation of Nebrissensis + is adopted, an early editor of Prudentius (1512) and one of the + leaders of the Renaissance in Spain. He considers that "the few of + the impious who are condemned to eternal death" are the incurable + sinners, _immedicabiles_. Others attempt to reconcile these words + with the general belief of the early Church by maintaining that + _non pii_ is not equivalent to _impii_, but rather refers to the + class that is neither decidedly good nor definitely bad, and that + the mercy of God is extended to the majority of these. A third view + is that the poet is speaking relatively, and means that few are + condemned in proportion to the number that deserve condemnation. + In whatever way the words are explained, it is interesting to find + an advocate of "the larger hope" in the fourth century. + +105 Cf. Rev. xvii. 8: "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; + and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition." + +109 Cf. 2 Thess. ii. 4: "The son of perdition, who opposeth and + exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; + so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that + he is God." + +127 The phrase _rorem subisse sacrum_ would suggest baptism by + sprinkling, except that Prudentius uses the word loosely elsewhere. + Immersion was undoubtedly the general practice of the early Church, + "clinical" baptism being allowed only in cases of necessity. + +128 The anointing with oil showed that the catechumen was enrolled + among the spiritual priesthood, and with the unction was joined the + sign of the Cross on the forehead. + + + + VII + +1 This entire hymn is used in the Moz. Brev., divided into fifteen + portions for use during Lent. + +27 The word _sacerdos_ here, as in ix. 4, is used in the sense of + "prophet"; but in both passages there is some idea of the exercise + of priestly functions. Elijah may be called "priest" from his having + offered sacrifice on Mount Carmel, and David from his wearing the + priestly ephod as he danced before the Ark. + +69 The old editors discuss these lines with much gravity, and mostly + come to the conclusion that "locusts" were "a kind of bird, of + the length of a finger, with quick, short flight"; while the "wild + honey" was not actual honey at all, but "the tender leaves of + certain trees, which, when crushed by the fingers, had the pleasant + savour of honey." + +76 A gloss on one of the Vat. MSS. adds: "This is not authorised; for + John merely baptized with water, and not in the name of the Father, + Son and Holy Ghost; therefore his baptism was of no avail, save that + it prepared the way for Christ to baptize." Many of the Fathers, + however, while expressly affirming that John's baptism differed + from that of Christ, allowed that the stains of sin were washed + away by the former. St. Chrysostom draws this distinction: "There + was in John's baptism pardon, but not without repentance; remission + of sins, but only attained by grief." + +100 The story of Jonah, as a type of the Resurrection, is one of the + most frequent subjects of the frescoes of the Catacombs. In one very + ancient picture, a man in a small boat is depicted in the act of + placing the prophet in the very jaws of the whale. + +115 Two stanzas are omitted in the text, which depict the sufferings + of Jonah with a wealth of detail not in accordance with modern + taste. For the sake of giving a complete text, we append them here:-- + + "_Transmissa raptim praeda cassos dentium + eludit ictus incruentam transvolans + inpune linguam, ne retentam mordicus + offam molares dissecarent uvidi, + os omne transit et palatum praeterit._ + + _Ternis dierum ac noctium processibus + mansit ferino devoratus gutture, + errabat illic per latebras viscerum, + ventris recessus circumibat tortiles + anhelus extis intus aestuantibus._" + +194 Prudentius appears to have believed that the mystery of the + Incarnation was concealed from Satan, and that the Temptation + was an endeavour to ascertain whether Jesus was the Son of God + or no. Cf. Milton, _Par. Reg._ i.:-- + + "Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems + In all his lineaments, though in his face + The glimpses of his Father's glory shine." + + + + VIII + +9 The day of twelve hours appears to have been adopted by the + Romans about B.C. 291. Ambrose (_de virginibus_, iii. 4), commenting + on Ps. cxix. and the words "Seven times a day do I praise thee," + declares that prayers are to be offered up with thanksgiving when + we rise from sleep, when we go forth, when we prepare to take food, + when we have taken it, at the hour of incense, and lastly, when we + retire to rest. He probably alludes to private prayer. The stanza + here indicates that the second hour after midday has arrived, when + the fasting ended and the midday meal was taken. + +14 The word _festum_, as in vii. 4, indicates a special fast day. + Until the sixth century, fasting was simply a penitential discipline + and was not used as a particular mode of penance. In the fourth + century it was a fairly common practice as a preparation for Holy + Communion. Fasting before Baptism was a much earlier practice. + The stated fasts of the Western Church were (1) _annual_, that + is, ante-paschal or Lent; (2) _monthly_, or the fasts of the four + seasons in the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th months; (3) _weekly_, on + Wednesday and Friday. There was also the fast of the Rogations and + the Vigils or Eves of holy days. It is doubtful whether all these + were in vogue as early as Prudentius. + +33 This passage on the Shepherd reminds us of one of the most common + pictorial representations of the Catacombs. Christian art owed + something to paganism in this matter; ancient sculptures represent + the god Pan with a goat thrown across his shoulders and a Pan's + pipe in his hand; while the poets Calpurnius and Tibullus both + refer to the custom of carrying a stray or neglected lamb on the + shoulders of the shepherd. Going further back, the figure is common + in the O. T. to express God's care over His people. Our Lord + therefore used for His own purpose and transfigured with new + meaning a familiar figure. The gradual transition from paganism + to Christianity is curiously illustrated by the fact that in several + of the Catacomb bas-reliefs and paintings the Good Shepherd holds in + His outstretched hand a Pan's pipe. See Maitland's _Church in the + Catacombs_, p. 315, for a woodcut of the Good Shepherd with a lamb + over His shoulders, two sheep at His feet, a palm tree (or poplar) + on either side, and a Pan's pipe in His right hand; and also the + frontispiece for a reproduction from the Cemetery of St. Peter and + St. Marcellinus. + + + IX + +1 This hymn, which first introduced into sacred song the trochaic + metre familiar in Greek Tragedy and the Latin adaptations of it, + supplies the Moz. Brev. with some stanzas for use during Holy Week. + The lines selected are 22-24, 1-21. + +11 The use of the symbol _O_, (pronounced here as a single + syllable), appears to indicate that the names Omega and Omikron + came into use at a later date than Prudentius' time. In Rev. i. 8, + the best MSS. read _ego eimi to alpha kai to o_. + +33 The words _vulnerum piamina_ are generally supposed to refer to + the "gifts which Moses commanded" to be offered by those healed of + leprosy (Lev. xiv. 2). If so, Prudentius' language may imply that + the cure was not actually complete until the offering of these gifts, + and is at variance with St. Matthew, viii. 43, "and forthwith his + leprosy was cleansed." Probably, however, his idea is rather that + the gifts to the priest formally marked the leper as a clean man. + +71 Cf. note on iii. 199. + + + X + +1 Parts of this hymn are used in the Moz. Brev. in the Office of the + Dead, being ll. 1-16, 45-48, 57-68, 157-168. + + The burial rites of the primitive Church were simple, and marked by + an absence of the ostentatious expression of grief which the pagan + peoples displayed. The general practice of cremation was rejected, + partly owing to the new belief in the resurrection of the body, and + partly from a desire to imitate the burial of the Lord. At Rome, + during the first three centuries, the dead were laid in the + Catacombs, in which Prudentius took conspicuous interest (see + Translator's Note), but after 338 A.D. this practice became less + frequent, and was completely abandoned after 410 A.D. Elsewhere, + from the earliest times, the Christians purchased special enclosures + (_areae_), which were often attacked and rifled by angry mobs in the + days of persecution. The body was frequently embalmed (_cf._ ll. 51, + 52), swathed in white linen (l. 49), and placed in a coffin; vigils + and hymns continued for three or four days, but hired mourners were + forbidden (l. 113), and instead of the dirges of the heathens, + chants expressive of triumphant faith were sung as the body was + carried to the grave, where a simple service was held, and evergreens + and flowers were strewn about the tomb (ll. 169, 170). The earliest + inscriptions are often roughly scratched on plaster, and consist + merely of a name and age, or simple words like-- + + GEMELLA DORMIT IN PACE + + but later (cf. l. 171), they were engraved on small marble slabs. + +25 In both thought and language this stanza, as vii. 16 _et seq._, is + evidently reminiscent of Horace (_Sat._ 2, ii. 77): _Quin corpus + onustum_, etc. + + "The Body, too, with Yesterday's excess + Burthened and tired, shall the pure Soul depress, + Weigh down this Portion of celestial Birth, + This Breath of God, and fix it to the Earth." + (Francis). + +51 Boldetti, in his work on the Catacombs (lib. i. cap. 59), says + that on many occasions, when he was present at the opening of a + grave, the assembled company were conscious of a spicy odour + diffusing itself from the tomb. Cf. Tertullian (_Apol._ 42): "The + Arabs and Sabaeans knew well that we consume more of their precious + merchandise for our dead than do the heathen for their gods." + +57 Prudentius' firm faith in the resurrection of the body is also + nobly expressed in the _Apotheosis_ (ll. 1063 _et seq._):-- + + "_Nosco meum in Christo corpus resurgere; quid me + Desperare iubes? veniam, quibus ille revenit + Calcata de morte viis: quod credimus hoc est._ + + * * * * * + + _Pellite corde metum, mea membra, et credite vosmet + Cum Christo reditura Deo; nam vos gerit ille + Et secum revocat: morbos ridete minaces: + Inflictos casus contemnite; tetra sepulcra + Despuite; exsurgens quo Christus provocat, ite._" + + _Translation._ + + "I know in Christ my body shall arise; + Why bid me, then, despair? for I shall go + By that same path whereby my Lord returned, + Death trodden 'neath His feet: this is my creed. + Banish, my limbs, all terror; and believe + That ye with Christ our God shall yet return; + He beareth you and with Himself recalls. + Laugh at the threats of sickness; scorn the blows + Of fate; despise the horrors of the tomb; + And fare ye where the risen Christ doth call." + +61 The poet expresses as a duty owed to Christ Himself the heathen + obligation of casting three handfuls of earth upon a body discovered + dead. + +69 For the incident referred to in these lines, see the Apocryphal + book of Tobias, cc. ii. and xi. Tobit, a pious Israelite captive + in Nineveh, was reduced to beggary as the result of his zeal in + burying those of his countrymen who had been killed and exposed by + royal command. He also lost his sight, which was eventually restored + by the application of the gall of a fish which attacked his son + Tobias, and was killed by him. The "fish" of the legend is probably + the crocodile, whose gall was credited with medicinal properties by + various Greek and Latin writers. Cf. Pliny, _N. H._ xxviii. 8: "They + say that nothing avails more against cataract than to anoint the eyes + with its gall mixed with honey." + +113 Cf. Cyprian (_De Mortal._ 20): "We must not lament our brethren + whom the Lord's summons has freed from the world, for we know that + they are not lost, but gone before. We may not wear the black robes + of mourning while they have put on the white raiment of joy. Nor + may we grieve for those as lost whom we know to be living with God." + +171 Cf. _Perist._ vii.:-- + + "_Nos pio fletu, date, perluamus + Marmorum sulcos._" + + The early Christian epitaphs, of which many thousands exist, are + instinct with a faith which is in striking contrast to the unrelieved + gloom or sullen resignation of paganism. We may compare with the + common + + AVE ATQVE VALE + + "Hail and farewell" + + or inscriptions like + + INFANTI DVLCISSIMO QVEM DI IRATI AETERNO SOMNO DEDERUNT + + "To a very sweet babe, whom the angry gods gave to unending + sleep." + + the Christian + + DVLCIS ET INNOCENS HIC DORMIT SEVERIANVS SOMNO PACIS CVIVS + SPIRITVS IN LVCE DOMINI SVSCEPTVS EST (A.D. 393) + + "Here slumbers in the sleep of peace the sweet and innocent + Severianus, whose spirit is received in the light of the Lord" + + or + + NATVS EST LAVRENTIVS IN ETERNVM ANN. XX. DORMIT IN PACE (A.D. 329) + + "Laurentius was born into eternity in his twentieth year. He + sleeps in peace." + + See also note on iii. 205. + + + XI + +1 Virgil's Fourth Eclogue known as the "Pollio" has undoubtedly + influenced the thought and style of this poem: the more noticeable + parallels will be pointed out as they occur. In Milton's ode _On + the Morning of Christ's Nativity_ there are several passages which + recall Prudentius' treatment of the theme in this and the succeeding + hymn; but curiously enough, the Puritan poet in alluding to the + season of the Nativity takes an opposite line of thought, and + regards the diminished sunshine of winter as a veiling of an inferior + flame before the light of "a greater Sun." Prudentius proclaims the + increase of the sun's light, which begins after the winter solstice, + as symbolic of the ever-widening influence of the True Light. The + idea is given in a terse form by St. Peter Chrysologus, _Serm._ 159: + _Crescere dies coepit, quia verus dies illuxit_. "The day begins to + lengthen out, inasmuch as the true Day hath shone forth." + +18 For the somewhat obscure phrase _verbo editus_, see note on iii. 2. + +20 For "Sophia" or the Divine Creative Wisdom, see Prov. iii. 19, 20, + and especially viii. 27-31, where the language "has been of signal + importance in the history of thought, helping, as it does, to make + a bridge between Eastern and Greek ideas, and to prepare the way + for the Incarnation" (Davison, _Wisdom-Literature of the O. T._, pp. + 5, 6). In Alexandrian theology the conception of God's transcendence + gave rise to the doctrine of an intermediate power or _logos_, by + which creation was effected. In the Prologue of the fourth Gospel + the idea was set forth in its purely Christian form. See 1, 3, where + the Logos or the pre-incarnate Christ is described as the maker of + all things--an idea which is also illustrated by the language of St. + Paul in such passages as Col. i. 6. + +59 Cf. for the conception of a golden age, Virg., _Ecl._, iv. 5 + _et seq._: _Magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo_, etc. + +65 Reminiscences of ancient prophecy appear to be embodied in this + and following lines. Cf. Joel iii. 18: "And it shall come to pass + in that day that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine and the + hills shall flow with milk." Amos ix. 13: "The mountains shall drop + sweet wine and all the hills shall melt." But cf. especially Virg., + _Ecl._, iv. 18-30: _At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscula cultu_, etc. + + "Unbidden earth shall wreathing ivy bring, + And fragrant herbs (the promises of spring) + As her first off'rings to her infant king. + + * * * * * + + Unlaboured harvest shall the fields adorn, + And clustered grapes shall blush on every thorn; + The knotted oaks shall showers of honey weep, + And through the matted grass the liquid gold shall creep." + (Dryden's Trans.) + +81 The legend of the ox and ass adoring our Lord arose from an + allegorical interpretation of Isa. i. 3: "The ox knoweth his owner, + the ass his master's crib." Origen (_Homilies on St. Luke_ xiii.) + is the first to allegorise on the passage in Isaiah, where the word + for "crib" in the Greek translation of the O. T. is identical with + St. Luke's word for "manger" (_phatne_). After referring to the + circumstances of the Nativity, Origen proceeds to say: "That was + what the prophet foretold, saying, 'The ox knoweth,' etc. The Ox is + a clean animal: the Ass an unclean one. The Ass knew his master's + crib (_praesepe domini sui_): not the people of Israel, but the + unclean animal out of pagan nations knew its master's crib. 'But + Israel hath not known me: and my people hath not understood.' Let us + understand this and press forward to the crib, recognise the Master + and be made worthy of his knowledge." The thought that the Ox = the + Jews and the Ass = Pagans, reappears in Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrose + and Jerome. See an interesting article by Mr. Austin West (_Ox and + Ass Legend of the Nativity_. _Cont. Review_, Dec. 1903), who notes + the further impetus given to the legend by the Latin rendering of + Habb. iii. 2 (LXX.) which in the _Vetus Itala_ version appears as + "in medio duorum animalium in notesceris," "in the midst of two + animals shalt thou be known" (R.V., _in the midst of the years make + it known_). The legend does not appear in apocryphal Christian + literature earlier than in the _Pseudo-Matthew Gospel_, which + belongs to the later fifth century. It is interesting to note that + with St. Francis and the Franciscans the ox and the ass are merely + animals: the allegorical interpretation of Origen had vanished from + Christendom: and in its place we find St. Francis (see _Life of St. + Francis_ by St. Bonaventura, "Temple Classics" edition, p. 111) + making a _presepio_ at Greccio, to which a living ox and ass are + brought, in order that a visible representation of the manger-scene + might kindle the devotion of the Brethren and the assembled + townsfolk. This act of St. Francis inaugurated the custom, still + observed in the Roman Church, of representing by means of waxen + images the whole of the Nativity manger-scene, Mother and Child + together with the adoring animals. + +97 For the _obstetrix_, cf. _Proto-Evangelium of the Pseudo-James_ (a + Greek romance of the fourth century), Sec. 18 _et seq._, where Joseph + is represented as seeking and finding a Hebrew midwife. + +100 Cf. Milton's _Ode on the Nativity_, ll. 157-164:-- + + "With such a horrid clang + As on Mount Sinai rang + While the red fire and smould'ring clouds outbrake: + The aged earth aghast + With terror of that blast, + Shall from the surface to the centre shake; + When at the world's last session + The dreadful Judge in middle air shall spread his throne." + + + XII + +1 This poem has given four hymns to the Roman Breviary:-- + (1) For the Feast of the Transfiguration, Vespers and Matins + consisting of ll. 1-4, 37-40, 41-44, 85-88. + (2) For the Epiphany at Lauds, beginning _O sola magnarum urbium_, + ll. 77-80, 5-8, 61-72. + (3) For the Feast of Holy Innocents at Matins, beginning _Audit + tyrannus anxius_, ll. 93-100, 133-136. + (4) Also the Feast of Holy Innocents at Lauds, beginning _Salvete + flores martyrum_, ll. 125-132. + +5 For a curious parallel to these opening lines see Henry Vaughan's + _Pious Thoughts and Ejaculations_ (the Nativity):-- + + "But stay! what light is that doth stream + And drop here in a gilded beam? + It is Thy star runs Page and brings + Thy tributary Eastern kings. + Lord! grant some light to us that we + May find with them the way to Thee!" + +12 Cf. Ignatius, _Ep. ad Ephes. xix._: "All the other stars, together + with the Sun and Moon, became a chorus to the Star, which in its + light excelled them all." + +15 Prudentius mentions the constellations of Ursa Major and Ursa + Minor (to which latter the Pole Star belongs) as examples of stars + in constant apparition. All the Little Bear stars are within about + 24 deg. from the Pole; hence, if viewed from Saragossa, the birthplace + of Prudentius, the lowest altitude of any of them would be 18 deg. + above the north horizon. The same applies to the majority of the + stars in the Great Bear. Some few would sink below the horizon + for a brief time in each twenty-four hours; but the greater number, + especially the seven principal stars known as the "Plough," would + be sufficiently high up at their lowest northern altitudes to be in + perpetual apparition. [My friend, Rev. R. Killip, F.R.A.S., has + kindly furnished me with these particulars.] Allusions to the Bears + are constantly recurring in the classical poets (cf. _e.g._ Ovid., + _Met._ xiii. 293, _immunemque aequoris Arcton_, "the Bear that never + touches the sea"). The idea that these stars are mostly hidden by + clouds, though perpetually in view, is a poetic hyperbole intended + to enhance the uniqueness of the Star of Bethlehem. + +49 Jerome (_ad Eustoch._ Ep. 22) commenting on the passage in Isa. + xi. 1, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, + and a flower shall rise up out of his root" (Vulg.), remarks: "The + rod (_virga_) is the mother of the Lord, simple, pure, sincere ... + the flower of the rod is Christ, who saith, 'I am the flower of the + field and the lily of the valleys.'" + +69 This symbolism of the gifts of the Magi is also found in Juvencus + (I. 250): "Frankincense, gold and myrrh they bring as gifts to a + King, a Man and a God," and is again alluded to by Prudentius in + _Apoth._ 631 _et seq._ The idea is expressed in the hymn of Jacopone + da Todi, beginning _Verbum caro factum est_ (Mone, _Hymni Latini_, + Vol. 2): + + "Gold to the kingly, + Incense to the priestly, + Myrrh to the mortal:" + + and it has passed into the Office for Epiphany in the Roman Breviary: + "There are three precious gifts which the Magi offered to their Lord + that day, and they contain in themselves sacred mysteries: in the + gold, that the power of a king may be displayed: in the frankincense, + consider the great high priest: in the myrrh, the burial of the Lord" + _et passim_. + +172 The idea that Moses defeated the Amalekites because his arms were + outstretched in the form of a cross is found also in one of the hymns + (lxi.) of Gregory Nazianzen. The symbol of the Christian religion, + the cross, "was fancifully traced by the Fathers throughout the + universe: the four points of the compass, the 'height, breadth, + length and depth' of the Apostle expressed, or were expressed by, + the cross.... The cross explained everything" (Maitland, _Church in + the Catacombs_, p. 202). + +193 The discomfiture of the heathen gods wrought by the Incarnation + is elaborated by Milton, whose lines recall this and similar passages + in Prudentius:-- + + "Peor, and Baaelim + Forsake their temples dim + + * * * * * + + And sullen Moloch fled, + Hath left in shadows dread, + His burning idol all of blackest hue. + + Our Babe, to show his Godhead true, + Can in his swaddling bands control the damned crew." + + + + FINIS + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hymns of Prudentius +by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HYMNS OF PRUDENTIUS *** + +***** This file should be named 14959.txt or 14959.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/9/5/14959/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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