| Full fifty years my span of life hath run, Unless I err, and seven revolving years Have further sped while I the sun enjoy. Yet now the end draws nigh, and by God's will Old age's bound is reached: how have I spent And with what fruit so wide a tract of days? I wept in boyhood 'neath the sounding rod: Youth's toga donned, the rhetorician's arts I plied and with deceitful pleadings sinned: Anon a wanton life and dalliance gross (Alas! the recollection stings to shame!) Fouled and polluted manhood's opening bloom: And then the forum's strife my restless wits Enthralled, and the keen lust of victory Drove me to many a bitterness and fall. Twice held I in fair cities of renown The reins of office, and administered To good men justice and to guilty doom. At length the Emperor's will beneficent Exalted me to military power And to the rank that borders on the throne. The years are speeding onward, and gray hairs Of old have mantled o'er my brows And Salia's consulship from memory dies. What frost-bound winters since that natal year Have fled, what vernal suns reclothed The meads with roses,--this white crown declares. Yet what avail the prizes or the blows Of fortune, when the body's spark is quenched And death annuls whatever state I held? This sentence I must hear: "Whate'er thou art, Thy mind hath lost the world it loved: not God's The things thou soughtest, Whose thou now shalt be." Yet now, ere hence I pass, my sinning soul Shall doff its folly and shall praise my Lord If not by deeds, at least with humble lips. Let each day link itself with grateful hymns And every night re-echo songs of God: Yea, be it mine to fight all heresies, Unfold the meanings of the Catholic faith, Trample on Gentile rites, thy gods, O Rome, Dethrone, the Martyrs laud, th' Apostles sing. O while such themes my pen and tongue employ, May death strike off these fetters of the flesh And bear me whither my last breath shall rise! |
[I. HYMNUS AD GALLI CANTUM]
| Ales diei [nuntius] lucem propinquam [praecinit;] nos excitator mentium iam Christus ad vitam vocat. 5Auferte, clamat, lectulos aegros, soporos, desides: castique recti ac sobrii vigilate, iam sum proximus. Post solis ortum fulgidi 10serum est cubile spernere, ni parte noctis addita tempus labori adieceris. Vox ista, qua strepunt aves stantes sub ipso culmine 15paulo ante quam lux emicet, [nostri] figura est iudicis. Tectos tenebris horridis stratisque opertos segnibus suadet quietem linquere 20iam iamque venturo die. Ut, cum coruscis flatibus aurora caelum sparserit, omnes labore exercitos confirmet ad spem luminis. 25Hic somnus ad tempus datus est forma mortis [perpetis,] peccata ceu nox horrida cogunt iacere ac stertere. Sed vox ab alto culmine 30Christi docentis praemonet, adesse iam lucem prope, ne mens sopori serviat: Ne somnus usque ad terminos vitae socordis opprimat 35pectus sepultum crimine et lucis oblitum suae. Ferunt vagantes daemonas laetos tenebris noctium, gallo canente exterritos 40sparsim timere et cedere. Invisa nam vicinitas lucis, salutis, numinis rupto tenebrarum situ noctis fugat [satellites.] 45Hoc esse signum praescii norunt repromissae spei, qua nos soporis liberi speramus adventum Dei. Quae vis sit huius alitis, 50salvator ostendit Petro, ter antequam gallus canat sese negandum praedicans. Fit namque peccatum prius, quam praeco lucis proximae 55inlustret humanum genus finemque peccandi ferat. Flevit negator denique ex ore prolapsum nefas, cum mens maneret [innocens,] 60animusque servaret fidem. Nec tale quidquam postea linguae locutus lubrico est, cantuque galli cognito peccare iustus destitit. 65[Inde] est quod omnes credimus, illo quietis tempore quo gallus exsultans canit Christum redisse ex inferis. Tunc mortis oppressus vigor, 70tunc lex subacta est tartari, tunc vis diei fortior noctem coegit cedere. Iam iam quiescant inproba, iam culpa furva obdormiat, 75iam noxa letalis suum perpessa somnum marceat. Vigil vicissim spiritus quodcumque restat temporis, dum meta noctis clauditur, 80stans ac laborans excubet. Iesum ciamus [vocibus] flentes, precantes, sobrii: intenta supplicatio dormire cor mundum vetat. 85Sat convolutis artubus sensum profunda oblivio pressit, gravavit, obruit vanis vagantem somniis. Sunt nempe falsa et frivola, 90quae mundiali gloria ceu dormientes egimus: vigilemus, hic est veritas. Aurum, voluptas, gaudium, opes, honores, prospera, 95quaecumque nos inflant mala, fit mane, nil sunt omnia. [Tu,] Christe, somnum dissice, tu rumpe noctis vincula, tu solve peccatum vetus 100novumque lumen ingere. |
[I. HYMN AT COCK-CROW]
| Awake! the shining day is born! The herald cock proclaims the morn: And Christ, the soul's Awakener, cries, Bidding us back to life arise. Away the sluggard's bed! away The slumber of the soul's decay! Ye chaste and just and temperate, Watch! I am standing at the gate. After the sun hath risen red 'Tis late for men to scorn their bed, Unless a portion of the night They seize for labours of the light. Mark ye, what time the dawn draws nigh, How 'neath the eaves the swallows cry? Know that by true similitude Their notes our Judge's voice prelude. When hid by shades of dark malign On beds of softness we recline, They call us forth with music clear Warning us that the day is near. When breezes bright of orient morn With rosy hues the heavens adorn, They cheer with hope of gladdening light The hearts that spend in toil their might. Though sleep be but a passing guest 'Tis type of death's perpetual rest: Our sins are as a ghastly night, And seal with slumbers deep our sight. But from the wide roof of the sky Christ's voice peals forth with urgent cry, Calling our sleep-bound hearts to rise And greet the dawn with wakeful eyes. He bids us fear lest sensual ease Unto life's end the spirit seize And in the tomb of shame us bind, Till we are to the true light blind. 'Tis said that baleful spirits roam Abroad beneath the dark's vast dome; But, when the cock crows, take their flight Sudden dispersed in sore affright. For the foul votaries of the night Abhor the coming of the light, And shamed before salvation's grace The hosts of darkness hide their face. They know the cock doth prophesy Of Hope's long-promised morning sky, When comes the Majesty Divine Upon awakened worlds to shine. The Lord to Peter once foretold What meaning that shrill strain should hold, How he before cock-crow would lie And thrice his Master dear deny. For 'tis a law that sin is done Before the herald of the sun To humankind the dawn proclaims And with his cry the sinner shames. Then wept he bitter tears aghast That from his lips the words had passed, Though guileless he his soul possessed And faith still reigned within his breast. Nor ever reckless word he said Thereafter, by his tongue betrayed, But at the cock's familiar cry Humbled he turned from vanity. Therefore it is we hold to-day That, as the world in stillness lay, What hour the cock doth greet the skies, Christ from deep Hades did arise. Lo! then the bands of death were burst, Shattered the sway of hell accurst: Then did the Day's superior might Swiftly dispel the hosts of Night. Now let base deeds to silence fall, Black thoughts be stilled beyond recall: Now let sin's opiate spell retire To that deep sleep it doth inspire. For all the hours that still remain Until the dark his goal attain, Alert for duty's stern command Let every soul a sentry stand. With sober prayer on Jesus call; Let tears with our strong crying fall; Sleep cannot on the pure soul steal That supplicates with fervent zeal. Too long did dull oblivion cloud Our motions and our senses shroud: Lulled by her numbing touch, we stray In dreamland's ineffectual way. Bound by the dazzling world's soft chain 'Tis false and fleeting gauds we gain, Like those who in deep slumbers lie:-- Let us awake! the truth is nigh. Gold, honours, pleasure, wealth and ease, And all the joys that mortals please, Joys with a fatal glamour fraught-- When morning comes, lo! all are nought. But thou, O Christ, put sleep to flight And break the iron bands of night, Free us from burden of past sin And shed Thy morning rays within. |
[II. HYMNUS MATUTINUS]
| Nox et tenebrae et [nubila,] confusa mundi et turbida, lux intrat, albescit polus, Christus venit, discedite. 5Caligo terrae scinditur percussa solis spiculo, rebusque iam color redit vultu nitentis sideris. Sic nostra mox obscuritas 10fraudisque pectus conscium ruptis retectum nubibus regnante pallescit Deo. Tunc non licebit claudere quod quisque fuscum cogitat, 15sed mane clarescent novo secreta mentis prodita. Fur ante lucem [squalido] inpune peccat tempore, sed lux dolis contraria 20latere furtum non sinit. Versuta fraus et callida amat tenebris obtegi, aptamque noctem turpibus adulter occultus fovet. 25[Sol] ecce surgit igneus, piget, pudescit, paenitet, nec teste quisquam lumine peccare constanter potest. Quis mane sumptis nequiter 30non erubescit poculis, cum fit libido temperans castumque nugator sapit? Nunc, nunc severum vivitur, nunc nemo tentat ludicrum, 35inepta nunc omnes sua vultu colorant serio. [Haec] hora cunctis utilis, qua quisque, quod studet, gerat, miles, togatus, navita, 40opifex, arator, institor. Illum forensis gloria, hunc triste raptat classicum, mercator hinc ac rusticus avara suspirant lucra. 45At nos lucelli ac faenoris fandique prorsus nescii, nec arte fortes bellica, [te,] Christe, solum novimus. Te mente pura et simplici, 50te voce, te cantu pio rogare curvato [genu] flendo et canendo discimus. His nos lucramur quaestibus, hac arte tantum vivimus, 55haec inchoamus munera, cum sol resurgens emicat. [Intende] nostris sensibus, vitamque totam dispice, sunt multa fucis inlita, 60quae luce purgentur tua. Durare nos tales iube, quales, remotis sordibus nitere pridem [iusseras,] Iordane tinctos flumine. 65Quodcumque nox mundi dehinc infecit atris nubibus, tu, rex Eoi [sideris,] vultu sereno inlumina. Tu sancte, qui taetram picem 70candore tingis lacteo ebenoque crystallum facis, delicta terge livida. Sub nocte Iacob caerula luctator audax angeli, 75eo usque dum lux surgeret, sudavit inpar praelium. Sed cum iubar claresceret, lapsante claudus poplite femurque victus debile 80culpae vigorem perdidit. Nutabat inguen saucium, quae corporis pars vilior longeque sub cordis loco diram fovet libidinem. 85Hae nos docent imagines, hominem tenebris obsitum, si forte non cedat Deo, vires rebellis perdere. Erit tamen beatior, 90intemperans membrum cui luctando claudum et tabidum dies oborta invenerit. [Tandem] facessat caecitas, quae nosmet in praeceps diu 95lapsos sinistris gressibus errore traxit devio. Haec lux serenum conferat purosque nos praestet sibi: nihil loquamur subdolum, 100volvamus obscurum nihil. Sic tota decurrat dies, ne lingua mendax, ne manus, oculive peccent lubrici, ne noxa corpus inquinet. 105Speculator adstat [desuper,] qui nos diebus omnibus actusque nostros prospicit a luce prima in vesperum. Hic testis, hic est arbiter, 110his intuetur quidquid est, humana quod mens concipit; hunc nemo fallit iudicem. |
[II. MORNING HYMN]
| Ye clouds and darkness, hosts of night That breed confusion and affright, Begone! o'erhead the dawn shines clear, The light breaks in and Christ is here. Earth's gloom flees broken and dispersed, By the sun's piercing shafts coerced: The daystar's eyes rain influence bright And colours glimmer back to sight. So shall our guilty midnight fade, The sin-stained heart's gross dusky shade: So shall the King's All-radiant Face Sudden unveil our deep disgrace. No longer then may we disguise Our dark intents from those clear eyes: Yea, at the dayspring's advent blest Our inmost thoughts will stand confest. The thief his hidden traffic plies Unmarked before the dawn doth rise: But light, the foe of guile concealed, Lets no ill craft lie unrevealed. Fraud and Deceit love only night, Their wiles they practise out of sight; Curtained by dark, Adultery too Doth his foul treachery pursue, But slinks abashed and shamed away Soon as the sun rekindles day, For none can damning light resist And 'neath its rays in sin persist. Who doth not blush o'ertook by morn And his long night's carousal scorn? For day subdues the lustful soul, And doth all foul desires control. Now each to earnest life awakes, Now each his wanton sport forsakes; Now foolish things are put away And gravity resumes her sway. It is the hour for duty's deeds, The path to which our labour leads, Be it the forum, army, sea, The mart or field or factory. One seeks the plaudits of the bar, One the stern trumpet calls to war: Those bent on trade and husbandry At greed's behest for lucre sigh. Mine is no rhetorician's fame, No petty usury I claim; Nor am I skilled to face the foe: 'Tis Thou, O Christ, alone I know. Yea, I have learnt to wait on Thee With heart and lips of purity, Humbly my knees in prayer to bend, And tears with songs of praise to blend. These are the gains I hold in view And these the arts that I pursue: These are the offices I ply When the bright sun mounts up the sky. Prove Thou my heart, my every thought, Search into all that I have wrought: Though I be stained with blots within, Thy quickening rays shall purge my sin. O may I ever spotless be As when my stains were cleansed by Thee, Who bad'st me 'neath the Jordan's wave Of yore my soilëd spirit lave. If e'er since then the world's gross night Hath cast its curtain o'er my sight, Dispel the cloud, O King of grace, Star of the East! with thy pure face. Since Thou canst change, O holy Light, The blackest hue to milky white, Ebon to clearness crystalline, Wash my foul stains and make me clean. 'Twas 'neath the lonely star-blue night That Jacob waged the unequal fight, Stoutly he wrestled with the Man In darkness, till the day began. And when the sun rose in the sky He halted on his shrivelled thigh: His natural might had ebbed away, Vanquished in that tremendous fray. Not wounded he in nobler part Nor smitten in life's fount, the heart: But lust was shaken from his throne And his foul empire overthrown. Whereby we clearly learn aright That man is whelmed by deadly night, Unless he own God conqueror And strive against His will no more. Yet happier he whom rising morn Shall find of nature's strength forlorn, Whose warring flesh hath shrunk away, Palsied by virtue's puissant sway. And then at length let darkness flee, Which all too long held us in fee, 'Mid wildering shadows made us stray And led in devious tracks our way. We pray Thee, Rising Light serene, E'en as Thyself our hearts make clean: Let no deceit our lips defile Nor let our souls be vexed by guile. O keep us, as the hours proceed, From lying word and evil deed, Our roving eyes from sin set free, Our body from impurity. For thou dost from above survey The converse of each fleeting day: Thou dost foresee from morning light Our every deed, until the night. Justice and judgment dwell with Thee, Whatever is, Thine eye doth see: Thou know'st what human hearts conceive And none Thy wisdom may deceive. |