| Christe servorum regimen tuorum, mollibus qui nos moderans habenis leniter frenas facilique septos lege coerces: 5ipse cum portans onus inpeditum corporis duros tuleris labores, maior exemplis famulos remisso dogmate palpas. Nona submissum rotat hora [solem] 10partibus vixdum tribus evolutis, quarta devexo superest in axe portio lucis. Nos brevis voti dape vindicata solvimus festum fruimurque [mensis] 15adfatim plenis, quibus inbuatur prona voluptas. Tantus aeterni favor est magistri, doctor indulgens ita nos amico lactat hortatu, levis obsequela ut 20mulceat artus. Addit et, ne quis velit invenusto sordidus cultu lacerare frontem, sed decus vultus capitisque pexum comat honorem. 25Terge ieiunans, ait, omne corpus, neve subducto faciem rubore luteus tinguat color aut notetur pallor in ore. Rectius laeto tegimus pudore, 30quidquid ad cultum Patris exhibemus: cernit occultum Deus et latentem munere donat. Ille ovem morbo residem [gregique] perditam sano male dissipantem 35vellus adfixis vepribus per hirtae devia silvae. Inpiger pastor revocat lupisque gestat exclusis humeros gravatus, inde purgatam revehens aprico 40reddit ovili: Reddit et pratis viridique campo, vibrat inpexis ubi nulla lappis spina, nec germen sudibus perarmat carduus horrens: 45Sed frequens palmis nemus et reflexa vernat herbarum coma, tum perennis gurgitem vivis vitreum fluentis laurus obumbrat. Hisce pro donis tibi, fide pastor, 50servitus quaenam poterit rependi? nulla conpensant pretium salutis vota precantum. Quamlibet spreto sine more pastu sponte confectos tenuemus artus, 55teque contemptis epulis rogemus nocte dieque; Vincitur semper minor obsequentum cura, nec munus genitoris aequat, frangit et cratem luteam laboris 60grandior usus. Ergo ne limum fragilem solutae deserant vires et aquosus albis humor in venis dominetur aegrum corpus inervans, 65Laxus ac liber modus abstinendi ponitur cunctis, neque nos severus terror inpellit, sua quemque cogit velle potestas. Sufficit, quidquid facias, vocato 70numinis nutu prius, inchoare, sive tu mensam renuas cibumve sumere temptes. Adnuit dexter Deus et secundo prosperat vultu, velut hoc salubre 75fidimus nobis fore, quod dicatas carpimus escas. Sit bonum, supplex precor et medelam conferat membris, animumque pascat sparsus in venas cibus obsecrantum 80christicolarum. |
[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 soilèd 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 5infulatus concinebat voce, chorda et tympano, 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. 10Corde natus ex parentis, ante mundi exordium alpha et Ω 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, 15quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo. 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 20edidit nostram salutem feta sancto spiritu, 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. 25Ecce quem vates vetustis concinebant seculis, quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant, emicat promissus olim: cuncta conlaudent eum. Cantharis infusa lympha fit Falernum nobile, nuntiat vinum minister esse promptum ex hydria, 30ipse rex sapore tinctis obstupescit poculis. Membra morbis ulcerosa, viscerum putredines mando, ut abluantur, inquit; fit ratum, quod iusserat, turgidam cutem repurgant vulnerum [piamina.] Tu perennibus tenebris iam sepulta lumina 35inlinis limo salubri, sacri et oris nectare, 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. 40Extimum vestis sacratae furtim mulier attigit, 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: 45surge, dixit: ille surgit, matri et adstans redditur. 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, 50mobilis liquor profundi pendulam praestat viam, 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. 55Pulsa pestis lubricorum milleformis daemonum conripit gregis suilli sordida spurcamina, seque nigris mergit undis et pecus lymphaticum. Quinque panibus peresis et gemellis piscibus adfatim refecta iam sunt adcubantum milia, 60fertque qualus ter quaternus ferculorum fragmina. 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 65purgat ad praecepta Christi crassa quaeque obstacula, 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. 70Quin et ipsum, ne salutis inferi expertes forent, tartarum benignus intrat, fracta cedit [ianua,] vectibus cadit revulsis cardo indissolubilis. Illa prompta ad inruentes, ad revertentes tenax, obice extrorsum repulso porta reddit mortuos: 75lege versa et limen atrum iam recalcandum patet. 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 80igneum reliquit axem seque maerens abdidit: 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. 85O novum caede stupenda vulneris miraculum! 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, 90saucius dolore multo colla fractus sibilat. 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, 95mortuos olim sepultos ut redire insuesceret, dissolutis pristinorum vinculis peccaminum. Tunc patres sanctique multi conditorem praevium iam revertentem secuti tertio demum die carnis indumenta sumunt, eque bustis prodeunt. 100Cerneres coire membra de favillis aridis, 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, 105inclitam caelo reportans passionis gloriam. 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, 110turba matrum virginumque simplices puellulae, 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 revealèd 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 nourishèd. 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 piercèd 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, cursèd 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 thronèd, 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: 5Tua sunt, tua rector utraque, tibi copula iungitur horum, tibi, dum vegetata cohaerent, et spiritus et caro servit. Rescissa sed ista seorsum 10solvunt hominera perimuntque, humus excipit arida corpus, animae rapit aura liquorem. Quia cuncta creata necesse est labefacta senescere tandem, 15conpactaque dissociari, et dissona texta retexi. Hanc tu, Deus optime, mortem famulis abolere paratus iter inviolabile monstras, 20quo perdita membra resurgant: Ut, dum generosa caducis ceu carcere clausa ligantur, pars illa potentior extet, quae germen ab aethere traxit. 25Si terrea forte [voluntas] luteum sapit et grave captat, animus quoque pondere victus sequitur sua membra deorsum. At si generis memor ignis 30contagia pigra recuset, vehit hospita viscera secum, pariterque reportat ad astra. Nam quod requiescere corpus vacuum sine mente videmus, 35spatium breve restat, ut alti repetat conlegia sensus. Venient cito secula, cum iam socius calor ossa revisat animataque sanguine vivo 40habitacula pristina gestet. Quae pigra cadavera pridem tumulis putrefacta iacebant, volucres rapientur in auras animas comitata priores. 45[Hinc] maxima cura sepulcris inpenditur: hinc resolutos honor ultimus accipit artus et funeris ambitus ornat. [Candore] nitentia claro 50praetendere lintea mos est, adspersaque myrrha [Sabaeo] corpus medicamine servat. Quidnam sibi saxa cavata, quid pulchra volunt monumenta, 55nisi quod res creditur illis non mortua, sed data somno? Hoc provida [Christicolarum] pietas studet, utpote credens fore protinus omnia viva, 60quae nunc gelidus sopor urget. Qui iacta cadavera [passim] miserans tegit aggere terrae, opus exhibet ille benignum Christo pius omnipotenti: 65Quin lex eadem monet omnes gemitum dare sorte sub una, cognataque funera nobis aliena in morte dolere. Sancti sator ille [Tobiae] 70sacer ac venerabilis heros, dapibus iam rite paratis ius praetulit exequiarum. Iam stantibus ille ministris cyathos et fercula liquit, 75studioque accinctus humandi fleto dedit ossa sepulcro. Veniunt mox praemia caelo pretiumque rependitur ingens: nam lumina nescia solis 80Deus inlita felle serenat. Iam tunc docuit Pater orbis, quam sit rationis egenis mordax et amara medela, cum lux animum nova vexat. 85Docuit quoque non prius ullum caelestia cernere regna, quam nocte et vulnere tristi toleraverit aspera mundi. Mors ipsa beatior inde est, 90quod per cruciamina leti via panditur ardua iustis et ad astra doloribus itur. Sic corpora mortificata redeunt melioribus annis, 95nec post obitum recalescens conpago fatiscere novit. Haec, quae modo pallida tabo color albidus inficit ora, tunc flore venustior omni 100sanguis cute tinget amoena. Iam nulla deinde senectus frontis decus invida carpet, macies neque sicca lacertos suco tenuabit adeso. 105Morbus quoque pestifer, artus qui nunc populatur anhelos, sua tunc tormenta resudans luet inter vincula mille. Hunc eminus aere ab alto 110victrix caro iamque perennis cernet sine fine gementem quos moverat ipse dolores. Quid turba superstes [inepta] clangens ululamina miscet, 115cur tam bene condita iura luctu dolor arguit amens? Iam maesta quiesce querela, lacrimas suspendite matres, nullus sua pignora plangat, 120mors haec reparatio vitae est. Sic semina sicca virescunt iam mortua iamque sepulta, quae reddita caespite ab imo veteres meditantur aristas. 125Nunc suscipe terra fovendum, gremioque hunc concipe molli: hominis tibi membra sequestro generosa et fragmina credo. Animae fuit haec domus olim 130factoris ab ore creatae, fervens habitavit in istis sapientia principe Christo. Tu depositum tege corpus, non inmemor illa requiret 135sua munera fictor et auctor propriique aenigmata vultus. Veniant modo tempora iusta, cum spem Deus inpleat omnem; reddas patefacta necesse est, 140qualem tibi trado figuram. Non, si cariosa vetustas dissolverit ossa favillis, fueritque cinisculus arens minimi mensura pugilli. 145Nec, si vaga flamina et aurae vacuum per inane volantes tulerint cum pulvere nervos, hominem periisse licebit. Sed dum resolubile corpus 150revocas, Deus, atque reformas, quanam regione iubebis animam requiescere puram? Gremio senis addita sancti recubabit, ut est Eleazar, 155quem floribus undique septum Dives procul adspicit ardens. [Sequimur] tua dicta redemptor, quibus atra morte triumphans tua per vestigia mandas 160socium crucis ire latronem. Patet ecce fidelibus ampli via lucida iam paradisi, licet et nemus illud adire, homini quod ademerat anguis. 165Illic precor, optime ductor, famulam tibi praecipe mentem genitali in sede sacrari, quam liquerat exul et errans. [Nos] tecta fovebimus ossa 170violis et fronde frequenti, titulumque et frigida [saxa] liquido spargemus odore. |