,,the ,,hymns of ,,prudentius ,,translated by ,r4 ,,martin ,,pope4 ,,mdccccv ,,published ,,by ,j4,m4 ,,dent ,,and ,,co3 ,,aldine ,,house ,,london ,w ,c ,,cathemerinon ,,liber ,,of ,,prudentius ,,hymns ,,for ,,the ,,christian',s ,,day ,,newly ,,translated ,,into ,,english ,,verse ,,praefatio ,per quinquennia iam decem1 ni fallor1 fuimus3 septimus insuper annum cardo rotat1 dum fruimur sole volubili4 ,instat terminus et diem vicinum senio iam ,deus adplicat4 #e ,quid nos utile tanti spatio temporis egimus8 ,aetas prima crepantibus flevit sub ferulis3 mox docuit toga infectum vitiis falsa loqui1 non sine crimine4 ,tum lasciva protervitas1 #aj et luxus petulans 7heu pudet ac piget7 foedavit iuvenem nequitiae sordibus ac luto4 ,exin iurgia turbidos armarunt animos et male pertinax vincendi studium subiacuit casibus asperis4 #ae ,bis legum moderamine frenos nobilium reximus urbium1 ius civile bonis reddidimus1 terruimus reos4 ,tandem militiae gradu evectum pietas principis extulit #bj adsumptum propius stare iubens ordine proximo4 ,haec dum vita volans agit1 inrepsit subito canities seni oblitum veteris me ,saliae consulis arguens3 ex quo prima dies mihi #be quam multas hiemes volverit et rosas pratis post glaciem reddiderit1 nix capitis probat4 ,numquid talia proderunt carnis post obitum vel bona vel mala1 cum iam1 quidquid id est1 quod fueram1 mors aboleverit8 #cj ,dicendum mihi2 ,quisquis es1 mundum1 quem coluit1 mens tua perdidit3 non sunt illa ,dei1 quae studuit1 cuius habeberis4 ,atqui fine sub ultimo peccatrix anima stultitiam exuat3 #ce saltem voce ,deum concelebret1 si meritis nequit3 hymnis continuet dies1 nec nox ulla vacet1 quin ,dominum canat3 pugnet contra hereses1 catholicam discutiat fidem1 conculcet sacra gentium1 #dj labem1 ,roma1 tuis inferat idolis1 carmen martyribus devoveat1 laudet apostolos4 ,haec dum scribo vel eloquor1 vinclis o utinam corporis emicem liber1 quo tulerit lingua sono mobilis ultimo4 #de ,,preface ,full fifty years my span of life hath run1 ,unless ,i err1 and seven revolving years ,have further sped while ,i the sun enjoy4 ,yet now the end draws nigh1 and by ,god's will ,old age's bound is reached3 how have ,i spent ,and with what fruit so wide a tract of days8 ,i wept in boyhood 'neath the sounding rod3 ,youth's toga donned1 the rhetorician's arts ,i plied and with deceitful pleadings sinned3 ,anon a wanton life and dalliance gross 7,alas6 the recollection stings to shame67 ,fouled and polluted manhood's opening bloom3 ,and then the forum's strife my restless wits ,enthralled1 and the keen lust of victory ,drove me to many a bitterness and fall4 ,twice held ,i in fair cities of renown ,the reins of office1 and administered ,to good men justice and to guilty doom4 ,at length the ,emperor's will beneficent ,exalted me to military power ,and to the rank that borders on the throne4 ,the years are speeding onward1 and gray hairs ,of old have mantled o'er my brows ,and ,salia's consulship from memory dies4 ,what frost-bound winters since that natal year ,have fled1 what vernal suns reclothed ,the meads with roses1--this white crown declares4 ,yet what avail the prizes or the blows ,of fortune1 when the body's spark is quenched ,and death annuls whatever state ,i held8 ,this sentence ,i must hear3 ,whate'er thou art1 ,thy mind hath lost the world it loved3 not ,god's ,the things thou soughtest1 ,whose thou now shalt be4 ,yet now1 ere hence ,i pass1 my sinning soul ,shall doff its folly and shall praise my ,lord ,if not by deeds1 at least with humble lips4 ,let each day link itself with grateful hymns ,and every night re-echo songs of ,god3 ,yea1 be it mine to fight all heresies1 ,unfold the meanings of the ,catholic faith1 ,trample on ,gentile rites1 thy gods1 ,o ,rome1 ,dethrone1 the ,martyrs laud1 th' ,apostles sing4 ,o while such themes my pen and tongue employ1 ,may death strike off these fetters of the flesh ,and bear me whither my last breath shall rise6 ,i4 ,,hymnus ,,ad ,,galli ,,cantum ,ales diei nuntius lucem propinquam praecinit2 nos excitator mentium iam ,christus ad vitam vocat4 ,auferte1 clamat1 lectulos #e aegros1 soporos1 desides3 castique recti ac sobrii vigilate1 iam sum proximus4 ,post solis ortum fulgidi serum est cubile spernere1 #aj ni parte noctis addita tempus labori adieceris4 ,vox ista1 qua strepunt aves stantes sub ipso culmine paulo ante quam lux emicet1 #ae nostri figura est iudicis4 ,tectos tenebris horridis stratisque opertos segnibus suadet quietem linquere iam iamque venturo die4 #bj ,ut1 cum coruscis flatibus aurora caelum sparserit1 omnes labore exercitos confirmet ad spem luminis4 ,hic somnus ad tempus datus #be est forma mortis perpetis1 peccata ceu nox horrida cogunt iacere ac stertere4 ,sed vox ab alto culmine ,christi docentis praemonet1 #cj adesse iam lucem prope1 ne mens sopori serviat3 ,ne somnus usque ad terminos vitae socordis opprimat pectus sepultum crimine #ce et lucis oblitum suae4 ,ferunt vagantes daemonas laetos tenebris noctium1 gallo canente exterritos sparsim timere et cedere4 #dj ,invisa nam vicinitas lucis1 salutis1 numinis rupto tenebrarum situ noctis fugat satellites4 ,hoc esse signum praescii #de norunt repromissae spei1 qua nos soporis liberi speramus adventum ,dei4 ,quae vis sit huius alitis1 salvator ostendit ,petro1 #ej ter antequam gallus canat sese negandum praedicans4 ,fit namque peccatum prius1 quam praeco lucis proximae inlustret humanum genus #ee finemque peccandi ferat4 ,flevit negator denique ex ore prolapsum nefas1 cum mens maneret innocens1 animusque servaret fidem4 #fj ,nec tale quidquam postea linguae locutus lubrico est1 cantuque galli cognito peccare iustus destitit4 ,inde est quod omnes credimus1 #fe illo quietis tempore quo gallus exsultans canit ,christum redisse ex inferis4 ,tunc mortis oppressus vigor1 tunc lex subacta est tartari1 #gj tunc vis diei fortior noctem coegit cedere4 ,iam iam quiescant inproba1 iam culpa furva obdormiat1 iam noxa letalis suum #ge perpessa somnum marceat4 ,vigil vicissim spiritus quodcumque restat temporis1 dum meta noctis clauditur1 stans ac laborans excubet4 #hj ,iesum ciamus vocibus flentes1 precantes1 sobrii3 intenta supplicatio dormire cor mundum vetat4 ,sat convolutis artubus #he sensum profunda oblivio pressit1 gravavit1 obruit vanis vagantem somniis4 ,sunt nempe falsa et frivola1 quae mundiali gloria #ij ceu dormientes egimus3 vigilemus1 hic est veritas4 ,aurum1 voluptas1 gaudium1 opes1 honores1 prospera1 quaecumque nos inflant mala1 #ie fit mane1 nil sunt omnia4 ,tu1 ,christe1 somnum dissice1 tu rumpe noctis vincula1 tu solve peccatum vetus novumque lumen ingere4 #ajj ,i4 ,,hymn ,,at ,,cock-,,crow ,awake6 the shining day is born6 ,the herald cock proclaims the morn3 ,and ,christ1 the soul's ,awakener1 cries1 ,bidding us back to life arise4 ,away the sluggard's bed6 away ,the slumber of the soul's decay6 ,ye chaste and just and temperate1 ,watch6 ,i am standing at the gate4 ,after the sun hath risen red ',tis late for men to scorn their bed1 ,unless a portion of the night ,they seize for labours of the light4 ,mark ye1 what time the dawn draws nigh1 ,how 'neath the eaves the swallows cry8 ,know that by true similitude ,their notes our ,judge's voice prelude4 ,when hid by shades of dark malign ,on beds of softness we recline1 ,they call us forth with music clear ,warning us that the day is near4 ,when breezes bright of orient morn ,with rosy hues the heavens adorn1 ,they cheer with hope of gladdening light ,the hearts that spend in toil their might4 ,though sleep be but a passing guest ',tis type of death's perpetual rest3 ,our sins are as a ghastly night1 ,and seal with slumbers deep our sight4 ,but from the wide roof of the sky ,christ's voice peals forth with urgent cry1 ,calling our sleep-bound hearts to rise ,and greet the dawn with wakeful eyes4 ,he bids us fear lest sensual ease ,unto life's end the spirit seize ,and in the tomb of shame us bind1 ,till we are to the true light blind4 ',tis said that baleful spirits roam ,abroad beneath the dark's vast dome2 ,but1 when the cock crows1 take their flight ,sudden dispersed in sore affright4 ,for the foul votaries of the night ,abhor the coming of the light1 ,and shamed before salvation's grace ,the hosts of darkness hide their face4 ,they know the cock doth prophesy ,of ,hope's long-promised morning sky1 ,when comes the ,majesty ,divine ,upon awakened worlds to shine4 ,the ,lord to ,peter once foretold ,what meaning that shrill strain should hold1 ,how he before cock-crow would lie ,and thrice his ,master dear deny4 ,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 shames4 ,then wept he bitter tears aghast ,that from his lips the words had passed1 ,though guileless he his soul possessed ,and faith still reigned within his breast4 ,nor ever reckless word he said ,thereafter1 by his tongue betrayed1 ,but at the cock's familiar cry ,humbled he turned from vanity4 ,therefore it is we hold to-day ,that1 as the world in stillness lay1 ,what hour the cock doth greet the skies1 ,christ from deep ,hades did arise4 ,lo6 then the bands of death were burst1 ,shattered the sway of hell accurst3 ,then did the ,day's superior might ,swiftly dispel the hosts of ,night4 ,now let base deeds to silence fall1 ,black thoughts be stilled beyond recall3 ,now let sin's opiate spell retire ,to that deep sleep it doth inspire4 ,for all the hours that still remain ,until the dark his goal attain1 ,alert for duty's stern command ,let every soul a sentry stand4 ,with sober prayer on ,jesus call2 ,let tears with our strong crying fall2 ,sleep cannot on the pure soul steal ,that supplicates with fervent zeal4 ,too long did dull oblivion cloud ,our motions and our senses shroud3 ,lulled by her numbing touch1 we stray ,in dreamland's ineffectual way4 ,bound by the dazzling world's soft chain ',tis false and fleeting gauds we gain1 ,like those who in deep slumbers lie3-- ,let us awake6 the truth is nigh4 ,gold1 honours1 pleasure1 wealth and ease1 ,and all the joys that mortals please1 ,joys with a fatal glamour fraught-- ,when morning comes1 lo6 all are nought4 ,but thou1 ,o ,christ1 put sleep to flight ,and break the iron bands of night1 ,free us from burden of past sin ,and shed ,thy morning rays within4 ,,ii4 ,,hymnus ,,matutinus ,nox et tenebrae et nubila1 confusa mundi et turbida1 lux intrat1 albescit polus1 ,christus venit1 discedite4 ,caligo terrae scinditur #e percussa solis spiculo1 rebusque iam color redit vultu nitentis sideris4 ,sic nostra mox obscuritas fraudisque pectus conscium #aj ruptis retectum nubibus regnante pallescit ,deo4 ,tunc non licebit claudere quod quisque fuscum cogitat1 sed mane clarescent novo #ae secreta mentis prodita4 ,fur ante lucem squalido inpune peccat tempore1 sed lux dolis contraria latere furtum non sinit4 #bj ,versuta fraus et callida amat tenebris obtegi1 aptamque noctem turpibus adulter occultus fovet4 ,sol ecce surgit igneus1 #be piget1 pudescit1 paenitet1 nec teste quisquam lumine peccare constanter potest4 ,quis mane sumptis nequiter non erubescit poculis1 #cj cum fit libido temperans castumque nugator sapit8 ,nunc1 nunc severum vivitur1 nunc nemo tentat ludicrum1 inepta nunc omnes sua #ce vultu colorant serio4 ,haec hora cunctis utilis1 qua quisque1 quod studet1 gerat1 miles1 togatus1 navita1 opifex1 arator1 institor4 #dj ,illum forensis gloria1 hunc triste raptat classicum1 mercator hinc ac rusticus avara suspirant lucra4 ,at nos lucelli ac faenoris #de fandique prorsus nescii1 nec arte fortes bellica1 te1 ,christe1 solum novimus4 ,te mente pura et simplici1 te voce1 te cantu pio #ej rogare curvato genu flendo et canendo discimus4 ,his nos lucramur quaestibus1 hac arte tantum vivimus1 haec inchoamus munera1 #ee cum sol resurgens emicat4 ,intende nostris sensibus1 vitamque totam dispice1 sunt multa fucis inlita1 quae luce purgentur tua4 #fj ,durare nos tales iube1 quales1 remotis sordibus nitere pridem iusseras1 ,iordane tinctos flumine4 ,quodcumque nox mundi dehinc #fe infecit atris nubibus1 tu1 rex ,eoi sideris1 vultu sereno inlumina4 ,tu sancte1 qui taetram picem candore tingis lacteo #gj ebenoque crystallum facis1 delicta terge livida4 ,sub nocte ,iacob caerula luctator audax angeli1 eo usque dum lux surgeret1 #ge sudavit inpar praelium4 ,sed cum iubar claresceret1 lapsante claudus poplite femurque victus debile culpae vigorem perdidit4 #hj ,nutabat inguen saucium1 quae corporis pars vilior longeque sub cordis loco diram fovet libidinem4 ,hae nos docent imagines1 #he hominem tenebris obsitum1 si forte non cedat ,deo1 vires rebellis perdere4 ,erit tamen beatior1 intemperans membrum cui #ij luctando claudum et tabidum dies oborta invenerit4 ,tandem facessat caecitas1 quae nosmet in praeceps diu lapsos sinistris gressibus #ie errore traxit devio4 ,haec lux serenum conferat purosque nos praestet sibi3 nihil loquamur subdolum1 volvamus obscurum nihil4 #ajj ,sic tota decurrat dies1 ne lingua mendax1 ne manus1 oculive peccent lubrici1 ne noxa corpus inquinet4 ,speculator adstat desuper1 #aje qui nos diebus omnibus actusque nostros prospicit a luce prima in vesperum4 ,hic testis1 hic est arbiter1 his intuetur quidquid est1 #aaj humana quod mens concipit2 hunc nemo fallit iudicem4 ,,ii4 ,,morning ,,hymn ,ye clouds and darkness1 hosts of night ,that breed confusion and affright1 ,begone6 o'erhead the dawn shines clear1 ,the light breaks in and ,christ is here4 ,earth's gloom flees broken and dispersed1 ,by the sun's piercing shafts coerced3 ,the daystar's eyes rain influence bright ,and colours glimmer back to sight4 ,so shall our guilty midnight fade1 ,the sin-stained heart's gross dusky shade3 ,so shall the ,king's ,all-radiant ,face ,sudden unveil our deep disgrace4 ,no longer then may we disguise ,our dark intents from those clear eyes3 ,yea1 at the dayspring's advent blest ,our inmost thoughts will stand confest4 ,the thief his hidden traffic plies ,unmarked before the dawn doth rise3 ,but light1 the foe of guile concealed1 ,lets no ill craft lie unrevealed4 ,fraud and ,deceit love only night1 ,their wiles they practise out of sight2 ,curtained by dark1 ,adultery too ,doth his foul treachery pursue1 ,but slinks abashed and shamed away ,soon as the sun rekindles day1 ,for none can damning light resist ,and 'neath its rays in sin persist4 ,who doth not blush o'ertook by morn ,and his long night's carousal scorn8 ,for day subdues the lustful soul1 ,and doth all foul desires control4 ,now each to earnest life awakes1 ,now each his wanton sport forsakes2 ,now foolish things are put away ,and gravity resumes her sway4 ,it is the hour for duty's deeds1 ,the path to which our labour leads1 ,be it the forum1 army1 sea1 ,the mart or field or factory4 ,one seeks the plaudits of the bar1 ,one the stern trumpet calls to war3 ,those bent on trade and husbandry ,at greed's behest for lucre sigh4 ,mine is no rhetorician's fame1 ,no petty usury ,i claim2 ,nor am ,i skilled to face the foe3 ',tis ,thou1 ,o ,christ1 alone ,i know4 ,yea1 ,i have learnt to wait on ,thee ,with heart and lips of purity1 ,humbly my knees in prayer to bend1 ,and tears with songs of praise to blend4 ,these are the gains ,i hold in view ,and these the arts that ,i pursue3 ,these are the offices ,i ply ,when the bright sun mounts up the sky4 ,prove ,thou my heart1 my every thought1 ,search into all that ,i have wrought3 ,though ,i be stained with blots within1 ,thy quickening rays shall purge my sin4 ,o may ,i ever spotless be ,as when my stains were cleansed by ,thee1 ,who bad'st me 'neath the ,jordan's wave ,of yore my soiled spirit lave4 ,if e'er since then the world's gross night ,hath cast its curtain o'er my sight1 ,dispel the cloud1 ,o ,king of grace1 ,star of the ,east6 with thy pure face4 ,since ,thou canst change1 ,o holy ,light1 ,the blackest hue to milky white1 ,ebon to clearness crystalline1 ,wash my foul stains and make me clean4 ',twas 'neath the lonely star-blue night ,that ,jacob waged the unequal fight1 ,stoutly he wrestled with the ,man ,in darkness1 till the day began4 ,and when the sun rose in the sky ,he halted on his shrivelled thigh3 ,his natural might had ebbed away1 ,vanquished in that tremendous fray4 ,not wounded he in nobler part ,nor smitten in life's fount1 the heart3 ,but lust was shaken from his throne ,and his foul empire overthrown4 ,whereby we clearly learn aright ,that man is whelmed by deadly night1 ,unless he own ,god conqueror ,and strive against ,his will no more4 ,yet happier he whom rising morn ,shall find of nature's strength forlorn1 ,whose warring flesh hath shrunk away1 ,palsied by virtue's puissant sway4 ,and then at length let darkness flee1 ,which all too long held us in fee1 ',mid wildering shadows made us stray ,and led in devious tracks our way4 ,we pray ,thee1 ,rising ,light serene1 ,e'en as ,thyself our hearts make clean3 ,let no deceit our lips defile ,nor let our souls be vexed by guile4 ,o keep us1 as the hours proceed1 ,from lying word and evil deed1 ,our roving eyes from sin set free1 ,our body from impurity4 ,for thou dost from above survey ,the converse of each fleeting day3 ,thou dost foresee from morning light ,our every deed1 until the night4 ,justice and judgment dwell with ,thee1 ,whatever is1 ,thine eye doth see3 ,thou know'st what human hearts conceive ,and none ,thy wisdom may deceive4 ,,iii4 ,,hymnus ,,ante ,,cibum ,o crucifer bone1 lucisator1 omniparens1 pie1 verbigena1 edite corpore virgineo1 sed prius in genitore potens1 astra1 solum1 mare quam fierent3 #e ,huc nitido precor intuitu flecte salutiferam faciem1 fronte serenus et inradia1 nominis ut sub honore tui has epulas liceat capere4 #aj ,te sine dulce nihil1 ,domine1 nec iuvat ore quid adpetere1 pocula ni prius atque cibos1 ,christe1 tuus favor inbuerit omnia sanctificante fide4 #ae ,fercula nostra ,deum sapiant1 ,christus et influat in pateras3 seria1 ludicra1 verba1 iocos1 denique quod sumus aut agimus1 trina superne regat pietas4 #bj ,hic mihi nulla rosae spolia1 nullus aromate fragrat odor1 sed liquor influit ambrosius nectareamque fidem redolet fusus ab usque ,patris gremio4 #be ,sperne camena leves hederas1 cingere tempora quis solita es1 sertaque mystica dactylico texere docta liga strophio1 laude ,dei redimita comas4 #cj ,quod generosa potest anima1 lucis et aetheris indigena1 solvere dignius obsequium1 quam data munera si recinat artificem modulata suum8 #ce ,ipse homini quia cuncta dedit1 quae capimus dominante manu1 quae polus aut humus aut pelagus aere1 gurgite1 rure creant1 haec mihi subdidit et sibi me4 #dj ,callidus inlaqueat volucres aut pedicis dolus aut maculis1 inlita glutine corticeo vimina plumigeram seriem inpediunt et abire vetant4 #de ,ecce per aequora fluctivagos texta greges sinuosa trahunt3 piscis item sequitur calamum raptus acumine vulnifico credula saucius ora cibo4 #ej ,fundit opes ager ingenuas dives aristiferae segetis3 his ubi vitea pampineo brachia palmite luxuriant1 pacis alumna ubi baca viret4 #ee ,haec opulentia ,christicolis servit et omnia suppeditat3 absit enim procul ilia fames1 caedibus ut pecudum libeat sanguineas lacerare dapes4 #fj ,sint fera gentibus indomitis prandia de nece quadrupedum3 nos oleris coma1 nos siliqua feta legumine multimodo paverit innocuis epulis4 #fe ,spumea mulctra gerunt niveos ubere de gemino latices1 perque coagula densa liquor in solidum coit et fragili lac tenerum premitur calatho4 #gj ,mella recens mihi ,cecropia nectare sudat olente favus3 haec opifex apis aerio rore liquat tenuique thymo1 nexilis inscia connubii4 #ge ,hinc quoque pomiferi nemoris munera mitia proveniunt1 arbor onus tremefacta suum deciduo gravis imbre pluit puniceosque iacit cumulos4 #hj ,quae veterum tuba1 quaeve lyra flatibus inclita vel fidibus divitis omnipotentis opus1 quaeque fruenda patent homini laudibus aequiparare queat8 #he ,te ,pater optime mane novo1 solis et orbita cum media est1 te quoque luce sub occidua sumere cum monet hora cibum1 nostra ,deus canet harmonia4 #ij ,quod calet halitus interior1 corde quod abdita vena tremit1 pulsat et incita quod resonam lingua sub ore latens caveam1 laus superi ,patris esto mihi4 #ie ,nos igitur tua sancte manus caespite conposuit madido effigiem meditata suam1 utque foret rata materies flavit et indidit ore animam4 #ajj ,tunc per amoena vireta iubet frondicomis habitare locis1 ver ubi perpetuum redolet prataque multicolora latex quadrifluo celer amne rigat4 #aje ,haec tibi nunc famulentur1 ait1 usibus omnia dedo tuis3 sed tamen aspera mortifero stipite carpere poma veto1 qui medio viret in nemore4 #aaj ,hic draco perfidus indocile virginis inlicit ingenium1 ut socium malesuada virum mandere cogeret ex vetitis ipsa pari peritura modo4 #aae ,corpora mutua--nosse nefas-- post epulas inoperta vident1 lubricus error et erubuit3 tegmina suta parant foliis1 dedecus ut pudor occuleret4 #abj ,conscia culpa ,deum pavitans sede pia procul exigitur4 innuba fernina quae fuerat1 coniugis excipit inperium1 foedera tristia iussa pati4 #abe ,auctor et ipse doli coluber plectitur inprobus1 ut mulier colla trilinguia calce terat3 sic coluber muliebre solum suspicit atque virum mulier4 #acj ,his ducibus vitiosa dehinc posteritas ruit in facinus1 dumque rudes imitatur avos1 fasque nefasque simul glomerans inpia crimina morte luit4 #ace ,ecce venit nova progenies1 aethere proditus alter homo1 non luteus1 velut ille prior3 sed ,deus ipse gerens hominem1 corporeisque carens vitiis4 #adj ,fit caro vivida sermo ,patris1 numine quam rutilante gravis non thalamo1 neque iure tori1 nec genialibus inlecebris intemerata puella parit4 #ade ,hoc odium vetus illud erat1 hoc erat aspidis atque hominis digladiabile discidium1 quod modo cernua femineis vipera proteritur pedibus4 #aej ,edere namque ,deum merita omnia virgo venena domat3 tractibus anguis inexplicitis virus inerme piger revomit1 gramine concolor in viridi4 #aee ,quae feritas modo non trepidat1 territa de grege candidulo8 inpavidas lupus inter oves tristis obambulat et rabidum sanguinis inmemor os cohibet4 #afj ,agnus enim vice mirifica ecce leonibus inperitat3 exagitansque truces aquilas per vaga nubila1 perque notos sidere lapsa columba fugat4 #afe ,tu mihi ,christe columba potens1 sanguine pasta cui cedit avis1 tu niveus per ovile tuum agnus hiare lupum prohibes1 sub iuga tigridis ora premens4 #agj ,da locuples ,deus hoc famulis rite precantibus1 ut tenui membra cibo recreata levent1 neu piger inmodicis dapibus viscera tenta gravet stomachus4 #age ,haustus amarus abesto procul1 ne libeat tetigisse manu exitiale quid aut vetitum3 gustus et ipse modum teneat1 sospitet ut iecur incolume4 #ahj ,sit satis anguibus horrificis1 liba quod inpia corporibus ah miseram peperere necem1 sufficiat semel ob facinus plasma ,dei potuisse mori4 #ahe ,oris opus1 vigor igneolus non moritur1 quia flante ,deo conpositus superoque fluens de solio ,patris artificis vim liquidae rationis habet4 #aij ,viscera mortua quin etiam post obitum reparare datur1 eque suis iterum tumulis prisca renascitur effigies pulvereo coeunte situ4 #aie ,credo equidem1 neque vana fides1 corpora vivere more animae3 nam modo corporeum memini de ,phlegethonte gradu facili ad superos remeasse ,deum4 #bjj ,spes eadem mea membra manet1 quae redolentia funereo iussa quiescere sarcophago dux parili redivivus humo ignea ,christus ad astra vocat4 #bje ,,iii4 ,,hymn ,,before ,,meat ,blest ,cross-bearer1 ,source of good1 ,light-creating1 ,word-begot1 ,gracious child of maidenhood1 ,bosomed in the ,fatherhood1 ,when earth1 sea and stars were not4 ,with ,thy cloudless1 healing gaze ,shine upon me from above3 ,let ,thine all-enlightening rays ,bless this meal and quicken praise1 ,praise unto ,thy name of ,love4 ,lord1 without ,thee nought is sweet1 ,nought my life can satisfy1 ,if ,thy favour make not meet ,what ,i drink and what ,i eat2 ,let faith all things sanctify6 ,o'er this bread ,god's grace be poured1 ,christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl6 ,rule my converse1 ,triune ,lord1 ,sober thought and sportive word1 ,all my acts and all my soul4 ,spoils of rose-trees are not spent1 ,nor rich unguents on my board3 ,but ambrosial sweets are sent1 ,of faith's nectar redolent1 ,from the bosom of my ,lord4 ,scorn1 my ,muse1 light ivy-leaves ,wherewith custom wreathed thy brow3 ,love a mystic crown conceives ,and a rhythmic garland weaves3 ,bind on thee ,god's praises now4 ,what more worthy gift can ,i1 ,child of light and aether1 bring ,than for boons the ,maker high ,from ,his bounty doth supply ,lovingly my thanks to sing8 ,he hath set 'neath our command ,all that ever rose to be1 ,all that sky and sea and land ,breed in air1 in glebe and sand1 ,made my slaves1 ,his own made me4 ,fowler's craft with gin and net ,feathered tribes of heaven ensnares3 ,osier twigs with lime o'erset ,that their airy flight may let ,his relentless guile prepares4 ,lo6 with woven mesh the seine ,swimming shoals draws from the wave3 ,nor do fish the bait disdain ,till they feel the barb's swift pain1 ,captives of the food they crave4 ,native wealth that knows no fail1 ,golden wheat springs from the field3 ,tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail1 ,nursed of ,peace the olives pale ,berries green unbidden yield4 ,christ's grace fills ,his people's need ,with these mercies ever fresh3 ,far from us be that foul greed1 ,gluttony that loves to feed ,on slain oxen's bloodstained flesh4 ,leave to the barbarian brood ,banquet of the slaughtered beast3 ,ours the homely1 garden food1 ,greenstuff manifold and good ,and the lentils' harmless feast4 ,foaming milkpails bubble o'er ,with the udders' snowy stream1 ,which in thickening churns we pour ,or in wicker baskets store1 ,as the cheese is pressed from cream4 ,honey's nectar for our use ,from the new-made comb is shed3 ,which the skilful bee imbues ,with thyme's scent and airy dews1 ,plying lonely toils unwed4 ,orchard-groves now mellowed o'er ,bounteously their fruitage shed3 ,see6 like rain on forest floor ,shaken trees their riches pour1 ,high-heaped apples1 ripe and red4 ,what great trumpet voice or lyre ,famed of yore could fitly praise ,gifts of the ,almighty ,sire1 ,blessings that ,his own require1 ,richly lavished through their days8 ,when morn breaks upon our sight1 ,hymns1 ,o ,lord1 to ,thee shall ring3 ,thee1 when streams the midday light1 ,thee1 when shadows of the night ,bid us sup1 our voices sing4 ,for my body's vital heat1 ,for my heart-blood's pulsing vein1 ,for my tongue and speech complete ,unto ,thee1 ,most ,high1 'tis meet ,that ,i raise my grateful strain4 ',twas1 ,o ,holy ,one1 ,thy care ,wrought us from the plastic clay1 ,made us ,thine own image bear1 ,and for our perfection fair ,did ,thy ,breath to man convey4 ,on the twain ,thou didst bestow ,leafy bowers in pleasaunce fair3 ,where spring's scents for aye did blow1 ,and four stately streams did flow ,o'er meads pied with blossoms rare4 ,all this realm ye now shall sway3 7,saidst ,thou7 use it at your will1 ,yet 'tis death your hands to lay ,on the ,tree1 whose verdant sway ,doth the midmost garden fill4 ,then the ,serpent's guileful hate ,would not innocency spare3 ,bade the maiden urge her mate ,with the fruit his lips to sate1 ,nor 'scaped she the self-same snare4 ,each their nakedness perceives ,when the feast they once partook3 ,smit with shame their conscience grieves3 ,wove they coverings of leaves ,shielding from lascivious look4 ,far they both in terror fled ,thrust from dwelling of the pure3 ,she who erst had dwelt unwed ,subject to her spouse was led1 ,bidden ,hymen's bonds endure4 ,on the ,serpent1 too1 ,his seal ,god hath set1 ,who guile abhorred1 ,doomed in triple neck to feel ,impress of the woman's heel1 ,fearing her1 who feared her lord4 ,thus sin in our parents sown ,brought forth ruin for the race2 ,good and evil having grown ,from that primal root alone1 ,nought but death could guilt efface4 ,but the ,second ,man behold ,come to re-create our kin3 ,not formed after common mould ,but our ,god 7,o ,love untold67 ,made in flesh that knows not sin4 ,word of ,god incarnated1 ,by ,his awful power conceived1 ,whom a maiden yet unwed1 ,innocent of marriage-bed1 ,in her virgin womb received4 ,now we see the ,serpent lewd ',neath the woman's heel downtrod3 ,whence there sprang the deadly feud1 ,strife for ages unsubdued1 ',twixt mankind and foe of ,god4 ,yet ,god's mother1 ,maid adored1 ,robbed sin's poison of its bane1 ,and the ,snake1 his green coils lowered1 ,writhing on the sod1 outpoured ,harmless now his venom's stain4 ,what fierce brute that doth not flee ,lambs of ,christ1 white-robed and clean8 ',midst the flock from fear set free1 ,slinks the drear wolf sullenly1 ,checked his maw and tamed his mien4 ,wondrous change6 restrained by love ,lions the mild lamb obey3 ,eagles wild1 before the dove ,fluttering from the stars above1 ,speed o'er cloudy winds away4 ,thou1 ,o ,christ1 my ,dove dost reign ,where the vulture gnaws no more3 ,thou dost1 snow-white ,lamb1 enchain ,tigers fierce1 and wolves restrain ,gaping at the sheepfold's door4 ,god of ,love1 ,thy servants we ,pray ,thee now to grant our prayer ,that our feast may frugal be1 ,nor that we dishonour ,thee ,by coarse surfeit of rich fare4 ,may we taste no bitter gall ,in our cup1 nor handle we ,aught of death or harm at all1 ,nor intemperately fall ,into gross debauchery4 ,be the powers of ,hell content ,with their primal fraud1 whereby ,death into this world was sent1 ,and that1 for sin's chastisement1 ,god's own creatures once should die4 ,but in us ,god's ,breath of fire ,cannot lose its vital force3 ,never can its might expire1 ,flowing from the ,eternal ,sire1 ,who of ,reason's strength is source4 ,nay1 from out death's chilling tomb ,mortal atoms shall arise3 ,man from earth's vast1 hidden womb ,other1 yet the same1 shall bloom1 ,dust re-made in glorious guise4 ',tis my faith--and faith not vain-- ,bodies live e'en as the soul3 ,since ,i hold in memory plain ,god as man uprose again1 ,loosed from ,hell1 to ,his true goal4 ,whence from ,him the hope ,i reap ,that these limbs the same shall rise1 ,which enwrapped in balmy sleep ,christ the ,risen safe shall keep ,till ,he call me to the skies4 ,,iv4 ,,hymnus ,,post ,,cibum ,pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto1 quem lex corporis inbecilla poscit1 laudem lingua ,deo patri rependat2 ,patri1 qui ,cherubin sedile sacrum1 nec non et ,seraphin suum supremo #e subnixus solio tenet regitque4 ,hic est1 quem ,sabaoth ,deum vocamus1 expers principii carensque fine1 rerum conditor et repertor orbis3 fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce1 #aj infusor fidei1 sator pudoris1 mortis perdomitor1 salutis auctor4 ,omnes quod sumus aut vigemus1 inde est3 regnat ,spiritus ille sempiternus a ,christo simul et ,parente missus4 #ae ,intrat pectora candidus pudica1 quae templi vice consecrata rident1 postquam conbiberint ,deum medullis4 ,sed si quid vitii dolive nasci inter viscera iam dicata sensit1 #bj ceu spurcum refugit celer sacellum4 ,taetrum flagrat enim vapore crasso horror conscius aestuante culpa offensumque bonum niger repellit4 ,nec solus pudor innocensve votum #be templum constituunt perenne ,christo in cordis medii sum ac recessu3 sed ne crapula ferveat cavendum est1 quae sedem fidei cibis refertam usque ad congeriem coartet intus4 #cj ,parcis victibus expedita corda infusum melius ,deum receptant4 ,hic pastus animae est1 saporque verus3 sed nos tu gemino fovens paratu artus atque animas utroque pastu #ce confirmas ,pater ac vigore conples4 ,sic olim tua praecluens potestas inter raucisonos situm leones1 inlapsis dapibus virum refovit4 ,illum fusile numen execrantem #dj et curvare caput sub expolita aeris materia nefas putantem ,plebs dirae ,babylonis ac tyrannus morti subdiderant1 feris dicarant saevis protinus haustibus vorandum4 #de ,o semper pietas fidesque tuta6 lambunt indomiti virum leones intactumque ,dei tremunt alumnum4 ,adstant cominus et iubas reponunt1 mansuescit rabies fameque blanda #ej praedam rictibus ambit incruentis4 ,sed cum tenderet ad superna palmas expertumque sibi ,deum rogaret1 clausus iugiter indigensque victu3 ,iussus nuntius advolare terris1 #ee qui pastum famulo daret probato1 raptim desilit obsequente mundo4 ,cernit forte procul dapes inemptas1 quas messoribus ,abbacuc propheta agresti bonus exhibebat arte4 #fj ,huius caesarie manu prehensa plenis1 sicut erat1 gravem canistris suspensum rapit et vehit per auras4 ,tum raptus simul ipse prandiumque sensim labitur in lacum leonum1 #fe et1 quas tunc epulas gerebat1 offert3 ,sumas laetus1 ait1 libensque carpas1 quae summus ,pater1 angelusque ,christi mittunt liba tibi sub hoc periclo4 ,his sumptis ,danielus excitavit #gj in caelum faciem ciboque fortis ,amen reddidit1 ,halleluia dixit4 ,sic nos muneribus tuis refecti1 largitor ,deus omnium bonorum1 grates reddimus et sacramus hymnos4 #ge ,tu nos tristifico velut tyranno mundi scilicet inpotentis actu conclusos regis et feram repellis1 ,quae circumfremit ac vorare temptat insanos acuens furore dentes1 #hj cur te1 summe ,deus1 precemur unum4 ,vexamur1 premimur1 malis rotamur2 oderunt1 lacerant1 trahunt1 lacessunt1 iuncta est suppliciis fides iniquis4 ,nec defit tamen anxiis medela2 #he nam languente trucis leonis ira inlapsae superingeruntur escae4 ,quas si quis sitienter hauriendo non gustu tenui1 sed ore pleno internis velit inplicare venis1 #ij ,hic sancto satiatus ex propheta1 iustorum capiet cibos virorum1 qui fructum domino metunt perenni4 ,nil est dulcius ac magis saporum1 nil quod plus hominem iuvare possit1 #ie quam vatis pia praecinentis orsa4 ,his sumptis licet insolens potestas pravum iudicet1 inrogetque mortem1 inpasti licet inruant leones1 nos semper ,dominum patrem fatentes #ajj in te1 ,christe ,deus1 loquemur unum constanterque tuam crucem feremus4 ,,iv4 ,,hymn ,,after ,,meat ,refreshed we rise1 and for this bread that feeds1 ,by law of man's weak flesh1 our daily needs1 ,let every tongue1 the ,father's praises sing2 ,the ,father ,who on ,his exalted throne1 ,o'er ,cherubim and ,seraphim1 alone ,reigns in ,his majesty1 ,eternal ,king4 ,god of ,sabaoth is ,his name3 'tis ,he ,who ne'er began and ne'er shall cease to be1 ,builder of worlds created at ,his word2 ,fountain of ,life that flows from out the sky1 ,he breathes within us ,faith and ,purity1 ,great ,conqueror of ,death1 ,salvation's ,lord4 ,from ,him each creature life and vigour gains1 ,and over all the ,eternal ,spirit reigns ,who cometh from the ,father and the ,son3 ,when1 dovelike1 on pure hearts the heavenly ,guest ,descends1 they are by ,god's own presence blest1 ,as temples where ,his holy work is done4 ,but if the taint of vice or guile arise ,within the consecrated shrine1 ,he flies ,with speed from out the sin-defiled cell2 ,for1 driven forth by guilt's black1 surging tide1 ,the offended ,godhead may not there abide ,where conscious sin and noisome foulness dwell4 ,not chastity nor childlike faith alone ,build up for ,christ an everlasting throne ,deep in the inmost heart1 devoid of shame3 ,but watchful ever must ,his servants be1 ,lest the dark power of sated gluttony ,should bind about the abode of faith its chain4 ,yet simple saints1 content with frugal fare1 ,more surely find the ,spirit present there1 ,who is our soul's true strength and heavenly food3 ,thy love for us a twofold feast supplies1 ,o ,father1 whence the soul may strengthened rise ,and eke the body gain new hardihood4 ,thus1 fed and sheltered by ,thy matchless might1 ,the lions' hideous roar could not affright ,thy loyal servant in the days of old3 ,he boldly cursed the molten deity ,and stood with stubborn head uplifted high ,that scorned to bow before a god of gold4 ,then ,babylon's vile mob with fury glows2 ,death is his doom2 and straight the tyrant throws ,the youth to be his savage lions' prey3 ,but faith and piety ,thou still dost save1 ,for lo6 the untamed brutes no longer rave1 ,but round ,god's unscathed child they gently play4 ,close by his side they stand with drooping mane1 ,the grisly1 gaping jaws from blood refrain ,and with rough tongues their whilom prey caress3 ,but when in prayer he raised his hands to heaven ,and called the ,god1 from ,whom such help was given1 ,close-prisoned1 hungry1 and in sore distress1 ,a winged messenger to earth ,he sends1 ,who swiftly through the parting clouds descends ,to feed ,his servant1 proven by the test3 ,by chance he sees from far the unbought fare ,which the good seer ,habakkuk's kindly care ,with rustic art had for the reapers dressed3 ,then1 grasping in strong hand the prophet's hair1 ,he bears him gently through the rushing air1 ,still burdened with the platter's savoury load1 ,till o'er the lions' den at last they stayed ,and straightway to the starving youth displayed ,the food thus brought1 by ,god's good grace bestowed4 ,take this with joy1 he said1 and thankful feed1 ,the bread that in thy hour of direst need1 ,by the great ,father sent1 ,christ's angel brings4 ,then ,daniel lifts his eyes to heaven above ,and1 strengthened by the wondrous gift of love1 ,amen6 he cries1 and ,alleluia sings4 ,thus1 therefore1 by ,thy bounties now restored1 ,giver of all things good1 ,almighty ,lord1 ,we render thanks and sing glad hymns to ,thee3 ,though prisoned in an evil world we dwell ,where sin's grim tyrant rules1 ,thou dost repel ,with sovran power our mortal enemy4 ,he roars around us1 and would fain devour1 ,grinding his angry teeth when 'gainst his power ,in ,thee alone1 ,o ,god1 we still confide3 ,by evil things we are beset and vexed1 ,tormented1 hated1 harassed and perplexed1 ,our faith by cruel suffering sorely tried1 ,yet help ne'er fails us in our time of need1 ,for ,thou canst quell the lions' rage1 and feed ,our hungry spirits with celestial fare3 ,and if some soul no meagre taste would gain ,of that repast1 but thirstily is fain ,full measure of the heavenly sweets to share1 ,he by the holy seers of old is fed1 ,and shall partake the loyal reapers' bread ,who labour in the eternal ,master's field3 ,for nothing sweeter than the ,word can be ,that fell from righteous lips1 once touched by ,thee1 ,and nought can richer grace to mortals yield4 ,with this sustained1 though vaunting tyranny ,by unjust judgment doom us straight to die1 ,and starved lions rush these limbs to tear2 ,confessing ever ,thine ,eternal ,son1 ,with ,thee1 ,almighty ,father1 ever one1 ,his cross with faith unshaken will we bear4 ,v4 ,,hymnus ,,ad ,,incensum ,,lucernae ,inventor rutili1 dux bone1 luminis1 qui certis vicibus tempora dividis1 merso sole chaos ingruit horridum1 lucem redde tuis ,christe fidelibus4 ,quamvis innumero sidere regiam #e lunarique polum lampade pinxeris1 incussu silicis lumina nos tamen monstras saxigeno semine quaerere3 ,ne nesciret homo spem sibi luminis in ,christi solido corpore conditam1 #aj qui dici stabilem se voluit petram1 nostris igniculis unde genus venit4 ,pinguis quos olei rore madentibus lychnis aut facibus pascimus aridis3 quin et fila favis scirpea floreis #ae presso melle prius conlita fingimus4 ,vivax flamma viget1 seu cava testula sucum linteolo suggerit ebrio1 seu pinus piceam fert alimoniam1 seu ceram teretem stuppa calens bibit4 #bj ,nectar de liquido vertice fervidum guttatim lacrimis stillat olentibus1 ambustum quoniam vis facit ignea imbrem de madido flere cacumine4 ,splendent ergo tuis muneribus1 ,pater1 #be flammis mobilibus scilicet atria1 absentemque diem lux agit aemula1 quam nox cum lacero victa fugit peplo4 ,sed quis non rapidi luminis arduam manantemque ,deo cernat originem8 #cj ,moyses nempe ,deum spinifera in rubo vidit conspicuo lumine flammeum4 ,felix1 qui meruit sentibus in sacris caelestis solii visere principem1 iussus nexa pedum vincula solvere1 #ce ne sanctum involucris pollueret locum4 ,hunc ignem populus sanguinis incliti maiorum meritis tutus et inpotens1 suetus sub dominis vivere barbaris1 iam liber sequitur longa per avia3 #dj qua gressum tulerant castraque caerulae noctis per medium concita moverant1 plebem pervigilem fulgure praevio ducebat radius sole micantior4 ,sed rex ,niliaci littoris invido #de fervens felle iubet praevalidam manum in bellum rapidis ire cohortibus ferratasque acies clangere classicum4 ,sumunt arma viri seque minacibus accingunt gladiis1 triste canit tuba3 #ej hic fidit iaculis1 ille volantia praefigit calamis spicula ,gnosiis4 ,densetur cuneis turba pedestribus1 currus pars et equos et volucres rotas conscendunt celeres signaque bellica #ee praetendunt tumidis clara draconibus4 ,hic iam servitii nescia pristini gens ,pelusiacis usta vaporibus tandem purpurei gurgitis hospita rubris littoribus fessa resederat4 #fj ,hostis dirus adest cum duce perfido1 infert et validis praelia viribus3 ,moyses porro suos in mare praecipit constans intrepidis tendere gressibus3 praebent rupta locum stagna viantibus #fe riparum in faciem pervia1 sistitur circumstans vitreis unda liquoribus1 dum plebs sub bifido permeat aequore4 ,pubes quin etiam decolor asperis inritata odiis rege sub inpio #gj ,hebraeum sitiens fundere sanguinem audet se pelago credere concavo3 ibant praecipiti turbine percita fluctus per medios agmina regia1 sed confusa dehinc unda revolvitur #ge in semet revolans gurgite confluo4 ,currus tunc et equos telaque naufraga ipsos et proceres et vaga corpora nigrorum videas nare satellitum1 arcis iustitium triste tyrannicae4 #hj ,quae tandem poterit lingua retexere laudes ,christe tuas8 qui domitam ,pharon plagis multimodis cedere praesuli cogis iustitiae vindice dextera4 ,qui pontum rapidis aestibus invium #he persultare vetas1 ut refluo in salo securus pateat te duce transitus1 et mox unda rapax devoret inpios4 ,cui ieiuna eremi saxa loquacibus exundant scatebris1 et latices novos #ij fundit scissa silex1 quae sitientibus dat potum populis axe sub igneo4 ,instar fellis aqua tristifico in lacu fit ligni venia mel velut ,atticum3 lignum est1 quo sapiunt aspera dulcius2 #ie uam praefixa cruci spes hominum viget4 ,inplet castra cibus tunc quoque ninguidus1 inlabens gelida grandine densius3 his mensas epulis1 hac dape construunt1 quam dat sidereo ,christus ab aethere4 #ajj ,nec non imbrifero ventus anhelitu crassa nube leves invehit alites1 quae conflata in humum1 cum semel agmina fluxerunt1 reduci non revolant fuga4 ,haec olim patribus praemia contulit #aje insignis pietas numinis unici1 cuius subsidio nos quoque vescimur pascentes dapibus pectora mysticis4 ,fessos ille vocat per freta seculi discissis populum turbinibus regens #aaj iactatasque animas mille laboribus iustorum in patriam scandere praecipit4 ,illic purpureis tecta rosariis omnis fragrat humus calthaque pinguia et molles violas et tenues crocos #aae fundit fonticulis uda fugacibus4 ,illic et gracili balsama surculo desudata fluunt1 raraque cinnama spirant et folium1 fonte quod abdito praelambens fluvius portat in exitum4 #abj ,felices animae prata per herbida concentu parili suave sonantibus hymnorum modulis dulce canunt melos1 calcant et pedibus lilia candidis4 ,sunt et spiritibus saepe nocentibus #abe paenarum celebres sub ,styge feriae illa nocte1 sacer qua rediit ,deus stagnis ad superos ex ,acheronticis4 ,non sicut tenebras de face fulgida surgens oceano ,lucifer inbuit1 #acj sed terris ,domini de cruce tristibus maior sole novum restituens diem4 ,marcent suppliciis tartara mitibus1 exultatque sui carceris otio functorum populus liber ab ignibus1 #ace nec fervent solito flumina sulphure4 ,nos festis trahimus per pia gaudia noctem conciliis votaque prospera certatim vigili congerimus prece extructoque agimus liba sacrario4 #adj ,pendent mobilibus lumina funibus1 quae suffixa micant per laquearia1 et de languidulis fota natatibus lucem perspicuo flamma iacit vitro4 ,credas stelligeram desuper aream #ade ornatam geminis stare trionibus1 et qua bosporeum temo regit iugum1 passim purpureos spargier hesperos4 ,o res digna1 ,pater1 quam tibi roscidae noctis principio grex tuus offerat1 #aej lucem1 qua tribuis nil pretiosius1 lucem1 qua reliqua praemia cernimus4 ,tu lux vera oculis1 lux quoque sensibus1 intus tu speculum1 tu speculum foris1 lumen1 quod famulans offero1 suscipe1 #aee tinctum pacifici chrismatis unguine4 ,per ,christum genitum1 summe ,pater1 tuum1 in quo visibilis stat tibi gloria1 qui noster ,dominus1 qui tuus unicus spirat de patrio corde paraclitum4 #afj ,per quem splendor1 honos1 laus1 sapientia1 maiestas1 bonitas1 et pietas tua regnum continuat numine triplici texens perpetuis secula seculis4 ,v4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,the ,,lighting ,,of ,,the ,,lamps ,blest ,lord1 ,creator of the glowing light1 ,at ,whose behest the hours successive move1 ,the sun has set3 black darkness broods above3 ,christ6 light ,thy faithful through the coming night4 ,thy courts are lit with stars unnumbered1 ,and in the cloudless vault the pale moon rides2 ,yet ,thou dost bid us seek the fire that hides ,till swift we strike it from its flinty bed4 ,so man may learn that in ,christ's body came ,the hidden hope of light to mortals given3 ,he is the ,rock--'tis ,his own word--that riven ,sends forth to all our race the eternal flame4 ,from lamps that brim with rich and fragrant oil1 ,or torches dry this heaven-sent fire we feed2 ,or make us rushlights from the flowering reed ,and wax1 whereon the bees have spent their toil4 ,bright glows the light1 whether the resin thick ,of pine-brand flares1 or waxen tapers burn ,with melting radiance1 or the hollow urn ,yields its stored sweetness to the thirsty wick4 ,beneath the might of fire1 in slow decay ,the scented tears of glowing nectar fall2 ,lower and lower droops the candle tall ,and ever dwindling weeps itself away4 ,so by ,thy gifts1 great ,father1 hearth and hall ,are all ablaze with points of twinkling light ,that vie with daylight spent2 and vanquished ,night ,rends1 as she flies away1 her sable pall4 ,who knoweth not that from high ,heaven first came ,our light1 from ,god ,himself the rushing fire8 ,for ,moses erst1 amid the prickly brier1 ,saw ,god made manifest in lambent flame4 ,ah1 happy he6 deemed worthy face to face ,to see heaven's ,lord within that sacred brake2 ,bidden the sandals from his feet to take1 ,nor with his shoon defile that holy place4 ,the mighty children of the chosen name1 ,saved by the merits of their sires1 and free ,after long years of savage tyranny1 ,through the drear desert followed still that flame4 ,striking their camp beneath the silent night ,where'er they went1 to lead their darkling way1 ,the cloud of glory lent its guiding ray ,and shone more splendid than the noonday light4 ,but1 mad with jealous fury1 ,egypt's king ,calls his great host to battle for their lord3 ,swiftly the cohorts gather at his word1 ,and down the mail-clad lines the clarions ring4 ,girding their trusty swords the warriors go ,to fill the ranks2 hoarse bugles rend the air2 ,these seize their massy javelins1 these prepare ,the death-winged arrow and the ,cretan bow4 ,the footmen throng in close battalions pressed2 ,the chariots thunder2 to the saddle spring ,the riders of the ,nile1 as forth they fling ,egypt's proud banner with the serpent crest4 ,and now1 forgetful of the bondage past1 ,thy children1 tortured by the desert heat1 ,drag to the ,red ,sea's brink their weary feet1 ,and on its sandy margin rest at last4 ,see6 with their forsworn king the savage foe ,draws nigh3 the threatening squadrons nearer ride2 ,but ever onward urged the intrepid guide ,and through the waves bade ,israel fearless go4 ,before that steadfast march the billows fall1 ,then raise on either hand their crystal mass1 ,while through the sundered deep ,thy people pass ,and ocean guards them with a liquid wall4 ,but1 mad with baffled rage1 the dusky horde ,of ,egypt1 by their impious despot led1 ,athirst the hated ,hebrews' blood to shed ,pursued1 all reckless of the o'er-arching flood4 ,swift as the wind the royal squadrons ride1 ,but swifter yet the crystal barriers break1 ,the waves exultantly their bounds forsake ,and roll together in a roaring tide4 ',mid steeds and chariots and drifting mail ,the drowned lords of ,egypt found a grave ,with all their swart retainers 'neath the wave2 ,and in their haughty courts the mourners wail4 ,what tongue1 ,o ,christ1 ,thy glories can unfold8 ,thine was the arm1 outstretched in wrath1 that made ,the stricken land of ,pharaoh1 sore afraid1 ,bow down before ,thy minister of old4 ,thy pathless deep did at the voice restrain ,its surging billows1 till with ,thee for guide ,thy host passed scathless1 and the refluent tide ,swept down the wicked to the engulfing main4 ,at ,thy command the desert1 parched and dry1 ,breaks into laughing rills1 and water clear ,wells from the smitten rock ,thy flock to cheer ,and quench their thirst beneath that brazen sky4 ,then ,marah's bitterness grew passing sweet1 ,touched by the mystic tree2 so by the grace ,of ,thine own ,tree1 ,o ,christ1 our sinful race ,regains its lost hopes at ,thy pierced feet4 ,faster than icy hail the manna falls1 ,like snow down drifting from a wintry sky2 ,the feast is set3 they heap the tables high ,with that rich food from ,thy celestial halls4 ,fresh blow the breezes from the distant shore ,and bear a fluttering cloud that hides the light1 ,till the frail pinions1 faltering in their flight1 ,sink in the wilderness to rise no more4 ,how great the love of ,god's own ,son1 that shed ,such wondrous bounty on ,his chosen race6 ,and still to us ,he proffers in ,his grace ,the mystic ,feast1 wherewith our souls are fed4 ,through the world's raging sea ,he bids us come1 ,and 'twixt the sundered billows guides our path1 ,till1 spent and wearied with the ocean's wrath1 ,he calls ,his storm-tossed saints to ,heaven and home4 ,there in ,his paradise red roses blow1 ,with golden daffodils and lilies pale ,and gentle violets1 and down the vale ,the murmuring rivulets for ever flow4 ,sweet balsams1 welling from the slender tree1 ,and precious spices fill the fragrant air1 ,and1 hiding by the stream1 that blossom rare ,whose leaves the river hurries to the sea4 ,there the blest souls with one accord unite ,to hymn in dulcet song their ,saviour's praise1 ,and as the chanting quire their voices raise ,they tread with shining feet the lilies bright4 ,yea1 e'en the spirits of the lost1 that dwell ,where the black stream of sullen ,acheron flows1 ,rest on that holy night when ,christ arose1 ,and for a while 'tis holiday in ,hell4 ,no sun from ocean rising drives away ,their darkness1 with his flaming shafts far-hurled1 ,but from the cross of ,christ o'er that wan world ,there streams the radiance of a new-born day4 ,the sulphurous floods with lessened fury glow1 ,the aching limbs find respite from their pain1 ,while1 in glad freedom from the galling chain1 ,the tortured ghosts a short-lived solace know4 ,in holy gladness let this night be sped1 ,as here we gather1 ,lord1 to watch and pray2 ,to ,thee with one consent our vows we pay ,and on ,thy altar set the sacred ,bread4 ,from pendent chains the lamps of crystal blaze2 ,by fragrant oil sustained the clear flame glows ,with strength undimmed1 and through the darkness throws ,high o'er the fretted roof a golden haze1 ,as 'twere ,heaven's starry floor our wondering eye ,beheld1 wherein the ,bears their light display1 ,where ,phosphor heralds the approach of day ,and ,hesper's radiance floods the evening sky4 ,meet is the gift we offer here to ,thee1 ,father of all1 as falls the dewy night2 ,thine own most precious gift we bring--the light ,whereby mankind ,thy other bounties see4 ,thou art the ,light indeed2 on our dull eyes ,and on our inmost souls ,thy rays are poured2 ,to ,thee we light our lamps3 receive them1 ,lord1 ,filled with the oil of peace and sacrifice4 ,o hear us1 ,father1 through ,thine only ,son1 ,our ,lord and ,saviour1 by ,whose love bequeathed ,the ,paraclete upon our hearts has breathed1 ,with ,him and ,thee through endless ages one4 ,through ,christ ,thy ,kingdom shall for ever be1 ,thy grace1 might1 wisdom1 glory ever shine1 ,as in the ,triune majesty benign ,he reigns for all eternity with ,thee4 ,,vi4 ,,hymnus ,,ante ,,somnum ,ades ,pater supreme1 quem nemo vidit unquam1 ,patrisque sermo ,christe1 et ,spiritus benigne4 ,o ,trinitatis huius #e vis una1 lumen unum1 ,deus ex ,deo perennis1 ,deus ex utroque missus4 ,fluxit labor diei1 redit et quietis hora1 #aj blandus sopor vicissim fessos relaxat artus4 ,mens aestuans procellis curisque sauciata totis bibit medullis #ae obliviale poclum4 ,serpit per omne corpus ,lethaea vis1 nec ullum miseris doloris aegri patitur manere sensum4 #bj ,lex haec data est caducis ,deo iubente membris1 ut temperet laborem medicabilis voluptas4 ,sed dum pererrat omnes #be quies amica venas1 pectusque feriatum placat rigante somno3 ,liber vagat per auras rapido vigore sensus1 #cj variasque per figuras1 quae sunt operta1 cernit4 ,quia mens soluta curis1 cui est origo caelum1 purusque fons ab aethra #ce iners iacere nescit4 ,imitata multiformes facies sibi ipsa fingit1 per quas repente currens tenui fruatur actu4 #dj ,sed sensa somniantum dispar fatigat horror1 nunc splendor intererrat qui dat futura nosse4 ,plerumque dissipatis #de mendax imago veris animos pavore maestos ambage fallit atra4 ,quem rara culpa morum non polluit frequenter1 #ej nunc lux serena vibrans res edocet latentes4 ,at qui coinquinatum vitiis cor inpiavit1 lusus pavore multo #ee species videt tremendas4 ,hoc patriarcha noster sub carceris catena geminis simul ministris interpres adprobavit4 #fj ,quorum reversus unus dat poculum tyranno1 ast alterum rapaces fixum vorant volucres4 ,ipsum deinde regem #fe perplexa somniantem monuit famem futuram clausis cavere acervis4 ,mox praesul ac tetrarches regnum per omne iussus #gj sociam tenere virgam dominae resedit aulae4 ,o quam profunda iustis arcana per soporem aperit tuenda ,christus1 #ge quam clara6 quam tacenda6 ,evangelista summi fidissimus magistri signata quae latebant nebulis videt remotis3 #hj ipsum tonantis agnum de caede purpurantem1 qui conscium futuri librum resignat unus4 ,huius manum potentem #he gladius perarmat anceps et fulgurans utrimque duplicem minatur ictum4 ,quaesitor ille solus animaeque corporisque #ij ensisque bis timendus prima ac secunda mors est4 idem tamen benignus ultor retundit iram paucosque non piorum #ie patitur perire in aevum4 ,huic inclitus perenne tribuit ,pater tribunal1 hunc obtinere iussit nomen supra omne nomen4 #ajj ,hic praepotens cruenti extinctor antichristi1 qui de furente monstro pulchrum refert tropaeum4 ,quam bestiam capacem #aje populosque devorantem1 quam sanguinis charybdem ,ioannis execratur4 ,haec nempe1 quae sacratum praeferre nomen ausa est1 #aaj imam petit gehennam ,christo perempta vero4 ,tali sopore iustus mentem relaxat heros1 ut spiritu sagaci #aae caelum peragret omne4 ,nos nil meremur horum1 quos creber inplet error1 concreta quos malarum vitiat cupido rerum4 #abj ,sat est quiete dulci fessum fovere corpus3 sat1 si nihil sinistrum vanae minentur umbrae4 ,cultor ,dei memento #abe te fontis et lavacri rorem subisse sanctum1 te chrismate innotatum4 ,fac1 cum vocante somno castum petis cubile1 #acj frontem locumque cordis crucis figura signet4 ,crux pellit omne crimen1 fugiunt crucem tenebrae3 tali dicata signo #ace mens fluctuare nescit4 ,procul1 o procul vagantum portenta somniorum1 procul esto pervicaci praestigiator astu6 #adj ,o tortuose serpens1 qui mille per ,maeandros fraudesque flexuosas agitas quieta corda1 ,discede1 ,christus hic est1 #ade hic ,christus est1 liquesce3 signum quod ipse nosti damnat tuam catervam4 ,corpus licet fatiscens iaceat recline paullum1 #aej ,christum tamen sub ipso meditabimur sopore4 ,,vi4 ,,hymn ,,before ,,sleep ,draw near1 ,almighty ,father1 ,ne'er seen by mortal eye2 ,come1 ,o ,thou ,word eternal1 ,o ,spirit blest1 be nigh4 ,one light of threefold ,godhead1 ,one power that all transcends2 ,god is of ,god begotten1 ,and ,god from both descends4 ,the hour of rest approaches1 ,the toils of day are past1 ,and o'er our tired bodies ,sleep's gentle charm is cast4 ,the mind1 by cares tormented ,amid life's storm and stress1 ,drinks deep the wondrous potion ,that brings forgetfulness4 ,o'er weary1 toil-worn mortals ,the spells of ,lethe steal2 ,sad hearts lose all their sorrow1 ,nor pain nor anguish feel4 ,for to ,his frail creation ,god gave this law to keep1 ,that labour should be lightened ,by soft and healing sleep4 ,but while sweet languor wanders ,through all the pulsing veins1 ,and1 wrapt in dewy slumber1 ,the heart at rest remains1 ,the soul1 in wakeful vigour1 ,aloft in freedom flies1 ,and sees in many a semblance ,the hidden mysteries4 ,for1 freed from care1 the spirit ,that came from out the sky1 ,born of the stainless aether1 ,can never idle lie4 ,a thousand changing phantoms ,she fashions through the night1 ,and 'midst a world of fancy ,pursues her rapid flight4 ,but divers are the visions ,that night to dreamers shows2 ,rare gleams of straying splendour ,the future may disclose2 ,more oft the truth is darkened1 ,and lying fantasy ,deceives the affrighted sleeper ,with cunning treachery4 ,to him whose life is holy ,the things that are concealed ,lie open to his spirit ,in radiant light revealed2 ,but he whose heart is blackened1 ,with many a sin imbued1 ,sees phantoms grim and ghastly ,that beckon and delude4 ,so in the ,egyptian dungeon ,the patriarch of old ,unto the king's two servants ,their fateful visions told3 ,and one is brought from prison ,the monarch's wine to pour1 ,one1 on the gibbet hanging1 ,foul birds of prey devour1 ,he warned the king1 distracted ,by riddles of the night1 ,to hoard the plenteous harvests ,against the years of blight4 ,soon1 lord of half a kingdom1 ,a mighty potentate1 ,he shares the royal sceptre ,and dwells in princely state4 ,but ah6 how deep the secrets ,the holy sleeper sees ,to whom ,christ shows ,his highest1 ,most sacred mysteries4 ,for ,god's most faithful servant ,the clouds were rolled away1 ,and ,john beheld the wonders ,that sealed from mortals lay4 ,the ,lamb of ,god1 encrimsoned ,with sacrificial stains1 ,alone the ,book can open ,that destiny contains4 ,by ,his strong hand is wielded ,a keen1 two-edged brand ,that1 flashing like the lightning1 ,smites swift on either hand4 ,before ,his bar of judgment ,both soul and body lie2 ,he whom that dread sword smiteth ,the second death shall die4 ,yet mercy tempers justice1 ,and few the ,avenger sends 7,whose guilt is past all pardon7 ,to death that never ends4 ,to ,him the ,father yieldeth ,the judgment-seat of ,heaven2 ,to ,him a ,name excelling ,all other names is given4 ,for by ,his strength transcendent ,shall ,antichrist be slain1 ,and from that raging monster ,fair trophies shall ,he gain3 ,that all-devouring ,dragon1 ,with blood of martyrs red1 ,on whose abhorred power ,john's solemn curse is laid4 ,and thus the proud usurper ,of ,his high name is cast ,by ,him1 the true ,christ1 vanquished ,to deepest hell at last4 ,upon the saint heroic ,such wondrous slumber falls ,that1 in the spirit roaming1 ,he treads heaven's highest halls4 ,we may not1 in our weakness1 ,to dreams like these aspire1 ,whose souls are steeped in error ,and evil things desire4 ,enough1 if weary bodies ,in peaceful sleep may rest2 ,enough1 if no dark powers ,our slumbering souls molest4 ,christian6 the font remember1 ,the sacramental vow1 ,the holy water sprinkled1 ,the oil that marked thy brow6 ,when at sleep's call thou seekest ,to rest in slumber chaste1 ,let first the sacred emblem ,on breast and brow be traced4 ,the ,cross dispels all darkness1 ,all sin before it flies1 ,and by that sign protected ,the mind all fear defies4 ,avaunt6 ye fleeting phantoms ,that mock our midnight hours2 ,avaunt6 thou great ,deceiver ,with all thy guileful powers4 ,thou ,serpent1 old and crafty1 ,who by a thousand arts ,and manifold temptations ,dost vex our sleeping hearts1 ,vanish6 for ,christ is with us2 ,away6 'tis ,christ the ,lord3 ,the sign thou must acknowledge ,condemns thy hellish horde4 ,and1 though the weary body ,relaxed in sleep may be1 ,our hearts1 ,lord1 e'en in slumber1 ,shall meditate on ,thee4 ,,vii4 ,,hymnus ,,ieiunantium ,o ,nazarene1 lux ,bethlem1 verbum ,patris1 quem partus alvi virginalis protulit1 adesto castis ,christe parsimoniis1 festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice1 ieiuniorum dum litamus victimam4 #e ,nil hoc profecto purius mysterio1 quo fibra cordis expiatur uvidi1 intemperata quo domantur viscera1 arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat4 #aj ,hinc subiugatur luxus et turpis gula1 vini atque somni degener socordia1 libido sordens1 inverecundus lepos1 variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt4 #ae ,nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo ieiuna rite membra non coerceas1 sequitur frequenti marcida oblectamine scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis1 animusque pigris stertat in praecordiis4 #bj ,frenentur ergo corporum cupidines1 detersa et intus emicet prudentia3 sic excitato perspicax acumine liberque flatu laxiore spiritus rerum parentem rectius precabitur4 #be ,elia tali crevit observantia1 vetus sacerdos1 ruris hospes aridi3 fragore ab omni quem remotum et segregem sprevisse tradunt criminum frequentiam1 casto fruentem syrtium silentio4 #cj ,sed mox in auras igneis iugalibus curruque raptus evolavit praepete1 ne de propinquo sordium contagio dirus quietum mundus adflaret virum1 olim probatis inclitum ieiuniis4 #ce ,non ante caeli principem septemplicis ,moyses tremendi fidus interpres throni potuit videre1 quam decem recursibus quater volutis sol peragrans sidera omni carentem cerneret substantia4 #dj ,victus precanti solus in lacrimis fuit3 nam flendo pernox inrigatum pulverem humi madentis ore pressit cernuo1 donec loquentis voce praestrictus ,dei expavit ignem non ferendum visibus4 #de ,ioannis huius artis hand minus potens1 ,dei perennis praecucurrit filium1 curvos viarum qui retorsit tramites et flexuosa conrigens dispendia dedit sequendam calle recto lineam4 #ej ,hanc obsequelam praeparabat nuntius mox adfuturo construens iter ,deo1 clivosa planis1 confragosa ut lenibus converterentur1 neve quidquam devium inlapsa terris inveniret veritas4 #ee ,non usitatis ortus his natalibus oblita lactis iam vieto in pectore matris tetendit serus infans ubera3 nec ante partu de senili effusus est1 quam praedicaret virginem plenam ,deo4 #fj ,post in patentes ille solitudines amictus hirtis bestiarum pellibus setisve tectus hispida et lanugine secessit1 horrens inquinari et pollui contaminatis oppidorum moribus4 #fe ,illic dicata parcus abstinentia potum cibumque vir severae industriae in usque serum respuebat vesperum1 parvum locustis et favorum agrestium liquore pastum corpori suetus dare4 #gj ,hortator ille primus et doctor novae fuit salutis1 nam sacrato in flumine veterum piatas lavit errorum notas3 sed tincta postquam membra defaecaverat1 caelo refulgens influebat spiritus4 #ge ,hoc ex lavacro labe dempta criminum ibant renati non secus1 quam si rudis auri recocta vena pulchrum splendeat1 micet metalli sive lux argentei1 sudum polito praenitens purgamine4 #hj ,referre prisci stemma mine ieiunii libet fideli proditum volumine1 ut diruendae civitatis incolis fulmen benigni mansuefactum ,patris pie repressis ignibus pepercerit4 #he ,gens insolenti praepotens iactantia pollebat olim1 quam fluentem nequiter conrupta vulgo solverat lascivia1 et inde bruto contumax fastidio cultum superni negligebat numinis4 #ij ,offensa tandem iugis indulgentiae censura iustis excitatur motibus1 dextram perarmat rhompheali incendio nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines vibrans tonantum nube flammarum quatit4 #ie ,sed paenitendi dum datur diecula1 si forte vellent inprobam libidinem veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere1 suspendit ictum terror exorabilis paullumque dicta substitit sententia4 #ajj ,ionam prophetam mitis ultor excitat1 paenae inminentis iret ut praenuntius1 sed nosset ille qui minacem iudicem servare malle1 quam ferire ac plectere1 tectam latenter vertit in ,tharsos fugam4 #aje ,celsam paratis pontibus scandit ratem1 udo revincta fune puppis solvitur1 itur per altum1 fit procellosum mare3 tum causa tanti quaeritur periculi1 sors in fugacem missa vatem decidit4 #aaj ,iussus perire solus e cunctis reus1 cuius voluta crimen urna expresserat1 praeceps rotatur et profundo inmergitur3 exceptus inde beluinis faucibus alvi capacis vivus hauritur specu4 #aae 99 99 99 99 99 ,intactus exin tertiae noctis vice monstri vomentis pellitur singultibus1 qua murmuranti fine fluctus frangitur1 salsosque candens spuma tundit pumices1 ructatus exit seque servatum stupet4 #acj ,in ,ninivitas se coactus percito gressu reflectit1 quos ut increpaverat pudenda censor inputans opprobria2 ,inpendet1 inquit1 ira summi vindicis1 urbemque flamma mox cremabit1 credite4 #ace ,apicem deinceps ardui montis petit visurus inde conglobatum turbidae fumum ruinae cladis et dirae struem1 tectus flagellis multinodis germinis1 nato et repente perfruens umbraculo4 #adj ,sed maesta postquam civitas vulnus novi hausit doloris1 heu supremum palpitat3 cursant per ampla congregatim moenia plebs et senatus1 omnis aetas civium1 pallens iuventus1 eiulantes feminae4 #ade ,placet frementem publicis ieiuniis placare ,christum1 mos edendi spernitur1 glaucos amictus induit monilibus matrona demptis1 proque gemma et serico crinem fluentem sordidus spargit cinis4 #aej ,squalent recincta veste bullati patres1 setasque plangens turba sumit textiles1 inpexa villis virgo bestialibus nigrante vultum contegit velamine1 iacens arenis et puer provolvitur4 #aee ,rex ipse ,coos aestuantem murices laenam revulsa dissipabat fibula1 gemmas virentes et lapillos sutiles1 insigne frontis exuebat vinculum turpi capillos inpeditus pulvere4 #afj ,nullus bibendi1 nemo vescendi memor1 ieiuna mensas pubis omnis liquerat1 quin et negato lacte vagientium fletu madescunt parvulorum cunulae1 sucum papillae parca nutrix derogat4 #afe ,greges et ipsos claudit armentalium sollers virorum cura1 ne vagum pecus contingat ore rorulenta gramina1 potum strepentis neve fontis hauriant1 vacuis querelae personant praesepibus4 #agj ,mollitus his et talibus brevem ,deus iram refrenat temperans oraculum prosper sinistrum1 prona nam clementia haud difficulter supplicem mortalium solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium4 #age ,sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor8 pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus ,iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit1 praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico ,emanuel est1 sive ,,nobiscum ,,deus4 #ahj ,qui corpus istud molle naturaliter captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo virtutis arta lege fecit liberum3 emancipator servientis plasmatis regnantis ante victor et cupidinis4 #ahe ,inhospitali namque secretus loco quinis diebus octies labentibus nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam1 firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis4 #aij ,miratus hostis posse limum tabidum tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti1 explorat arte sciscitator callida1 ,deusne membris sit receptus terreis1 sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit4 #aie ,hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus1 quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis tuis dedisti ,christe sectatoribus1 ut1 cum vorandi vicerit libidinem1 late triumphet inperator spiritus4 #bjj ,hoc est1 quod atri livor hostis invidet1 mundi polique quod gubernator probat1 altaris aram quod facit placabilem1 quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem1 quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem4 #bje ,perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur1 nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives1 ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio1 si blanda semper misceatur largitas4 #baj ,est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus operire nudos1 indigentes pascere1 opem benignam ferre supplicantibus1 unam paremque sortis humanae vicem inter potentes atque egenos ducere4 #bae ,satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit1 laudis rapacem1 prodigam pecuniae1 cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat3 illum perennes protinus conplent opes1 ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex4 #bbj ,,vii4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,those ,,who ,,fast ,o ,jesus1 ,light of ,bethlehem1 ,true ,son of ,god1 ,incarnate ,word2 ,thou offspring of a ,virgin's womb1 ,be present at our frugal board2 ,accept our fast1 our sacrifice1 ,and smile upon us1 gracious ,lord4 ,for by this holiest mystery ,the inward parts are cleansed from stain1 ,and1 taming all the unbridled lusts1 ,our sinful flesh we thus restrain1 ,lest gluttony and drunkenness ,should choke the soul and cloud the brain4 ,hence appetite and luxury ,are forced their empire to resign2 ,the wanton sport1 the jest obscene1 ,the ignoble sway of sleep and wine1 ,and all the plagues of languid sense ,feel the strict bonds of discipline4 ,for if1 full fed with meat and drink1 ,the flesh thou ne'er dost mortify1 ,the mind1 that spark of sacred flame1 ,by pleasure dulled1 must fail and die1 ,and pent in its gross prison-house ,the soul in shameful torpor lie4 ,so be thy carnal lusts controlled1 ,so be thy judgment clear and bright2 ,then shall thy spirit1 swift and free1 ,be gifted with a keener sight1 ,and breathing in an ampler air ,to the ,all-,father pray aright4 ,elias by such abstinence1 ,seer of the desert1 grew in grace1 ,who left the madding haunts of men ,and found a peaceful resting-place1 ,where1 far from sinful crowds1 he trod ,the pure and silent wilderness4 ,till by those fiery coursers drawn ,the swift car bore him through the air1 ,lest earth's defiling touch should mar ,the holiness it might not share1 ,or some polluting breath disturb ,the peace attained by fast and prayer4 ,moses1 through whom from ,his dread throne ,the will of ,god to man was told1 ,no food might touch till through the sky ,the sun full forty times had rolled1 ,ere ,god before him stood revealed1 ,lord of the heavens sevenfold4 ,tears were his meat1 while bent in prayer ,through the long night he bowed his head ,e'en to the thirsty dust1 that drank ,the drops in bitter weeping shed2 ,till1 at ,god's call1 he saw the flame ,no eye may bear1 and was afraid4 ,the ,baptist1 too1 was strong in fast-- ,forerunner in a later day ,of ,god's ,eternal ,son--who made ,the byepaths plain1 the crooked way ,a road direct1 wherein ,his feet ,might travel on without delay4 ,this was the messenger's great task ,who for ,god's advent zealously ,prepared the way1 the rough made smooth1 ,the mountain levelled to the sea2 ,that1 when ,truth came from heaven to earth1 ,all fair and straight ,his path should be4 ,he was not born in common wise1 ,for dry and wrinkled was the breast ,of her that bare him late in years1 ,nor found she from her labour rest1 ,till she had hailed with lips inspired ,the ,maid with unborn ,godhead blest4 ,for him the hairy skins of beasts ,furnished a raiment rude and wild1 ,as forth into the lonely waste ,he fared1 an unbefriended child1 ,who dwelt apart1 lest he should be ,by evil city-life defiled4 ,there1 vowed to abstinence1 he grew ,to manhood1 and with stern disdain ,he turned from meat and drink1 until ,he saw night's shadow fall again2 ,and locusts and the wild bees' store ,sufficed his vigour to sustain4 ,the first was he to testify ,of that new life which man might win2 ,in ,jordan's consecrating stream ,he purged the stains of ancient sin1 ,and1 as he made the body clean1 ,the radiant ,spirit entered in4 ,forth from the holy tide they came ,reborn1 from guilt's pollution free1 ,as bright from out the cleansing fire ,flows the rough gold1 or as we see ,the glittering silver1 purged of dross1 ,flash into polished purity4 ,now let us tell1 from ,holy ,writ1 ,of olden fasts the fairest crown2 ,how ,god in pity stayed ,his hand1 ,and spared a doomed and guilty town1 ,in clemency the flames withheld ,and laid ,his vengeful lightnings down4 ,a mighty race of ancient time ,waxed arrogant in boastful pride2 ,debauched were they1 and borne along ,on foul corruption's loathsome tide1 ,till in their stiff-necked self-conceit ,they e'en the ,god of ,heaven denied4 ,at last ,eternal ,mercy turns ,to righteous judgment1 swift and dire2 ,he shakes the clouds2 the mighty sword ,flames in ,his hand1 and in ,his ire ,he wields the roaring hurricane ',mid murky gloom and flashing fire4 ,yet in ,his clemency ,he grants ,to penitence a brief delay1 ,that they might burst the bonds of lust ,and put their vanities away2 ,his sentence given1 ,he waits awhile ,and stays the hand upraised to slay4 ,to warn them of the wrath to come ,the ,avenger in ,his mercy sent ,jonah the seer2 but1--though he knew ,the threatening ,judge would fain relent ,nor wished to strike1--towards ,tarshish town ,the prophet's furtive course was bent4 ,as up the galley's side he climbed1 ,they loosed the dripping rope1 and passed ,the harbour bar3 then on them burst ,the sudden fury of the blast2 ,and when their peril's cause they sought1 ,the lot was on the recreant cast4 ,the man whose guilt the urn declares ,alone must die1 the rest to save2 ,hurled headlong from the deck1 he falls ,and sinks beneath the engulfing wave1 ,then1 seized by monstrous jaws1 is plunged ,into a vast and living grave4 99 99 99 99 99 ,at last the monster hurls him forth1 ,as the third night had rolled away2 ,before its roar the billows break ,and lash the cliffs with briny spray2 ,unhurt the wondering prophet stands ,and hails the unexpected day4 ,thus turned again to duty's path ,to ,nineveh he swiftly came1 ,their lusts rebuked and boldly preached ,god's judgment on their sin and shame2 ,believe6 he cried1 the ,judge draws nigh ,whose wrath shall wrap your streets in flame4 ,thence to the lofty mount withdrew1 ,where he might watch the smoke-cloud lower ,o'er blasted homes and ruined halls1 ,and rest beneath the shady bower ,upspringing in swift luxury ,of twining tendril1 leaf and flower4 ,but when the guilty burghers heard ,the impending doom1 a dull despair ,possessed their souls2 proud senators1 ,poor craftsmen1 throng the highways fair2 ,pale youth with tottering age unites1 ,and women's wailing rends the air4 ,a public fast they now decree1 ,if they may thus ,christ's anger stay3 ,no food they touch3 each haughty dame ,puts silken robes and gems away1 ,in sable garbed1 and ashes casts ,upon her tresses' disarray4 ,in dark and squalid vesture clad ,the ,fathers go3 the mourning crowd ,dons rough attire3 in shaggy skins ,enwrapped1 fair maids their faces shroud ,with dusky veils1 and boyish heads ,e'en to the very dust are bowed4 ,the ,king tears off his jewelled brooch ,and rends the robe of ,coan hue2 ,bright emeralds and lustrous pearls ,are flung aside1 and ashes strew ,the royal head1 discrowned and bent1 ,as low he kneels ,god's grace to sue4 ,none thought to drink1 none thought to eat2 ,all from the table turned aside1 ,and in their cradles wet with tears ,starved babes in bitter anguish cried1 ,for e'en the foster-mother stern ,to little lips the breast denied4 ,the very flocks are closely penned ,by careful hands1 lest they should gain ,sweet water from the babbling stream ,or wandering crop the dewy plain2 ,and bleating sheep and lowing kine ,within their barren stalls complain4 ,moved by such penitence1 full soon ,god's grace repealed the stern decree ,and curbed ,his righteous wrath2 for aye1 ,when man repents1 ,his clemency ,is swift to pardon and to hear ,his children weeping bitterly4 ,yet wherefore of that bygone race ,should we anew the story tell8 ,for ,christ's pure soul by fasting long ,the clogging bonds of flesh did quell2 ,he ,whom the prophet's voice foretold ,as ,,god ,,with ,,us1 ,emmanuel4 ,man's body--frail by nature's law ,and bound by pleasure's easy chain-- ,he freed by virtue's strong restraint1 ,and gave it liberty again3 ,he broke the bonds of flesh1 and ,lust ,was driven from his old domain4 ,deep in the inhospitable wild ,for forty days ,he dwelt alone ,nor tasted food1 till1 thus prepared1 ,all human weakness overthrown ,by fasting's power1 ,his mortal frame ,rejoiced the spirit's sway to own4 ,the ,adversary1 marvelling ,to see this creature of a day ,endure such toil1 spent all his guile ,to learn if ,god in human clay ,had come indeed2 but soon rebuked ,behind ,his back fled shamed away4 ,therefore let each with all his might ,follow the way the ,master taught1 ,the law of consecrated life ,which ,christ unto ,his servants brought2 ,till1 with the lusts of flesh subdued1 ,the spirit reigns o'er act and thought4 ',tis this our jealous foe abhors1 ',tis this the ,lord of earth and sky ,approves2 by this the soul is made ,thy holy altar1 ,god ,most ,high3 ,faith stirs within the slumbering heart ,and sin's corroding power must fly4 ,swifter than water quenches fire1 ,swifter than sunshine melts the snow1 ,crushed out by soul-restoring fast ,vanish the sins that rankly grow1 ,if hand in hand with ,abstinence ,sweet ,charity doth ever go4 ,this too is ,virtue's noble task1 ,to clothe the naked1 and to feed ,the destitute1 with kindly care ,to visit sufferers in their need2 ,for king and beggar each must bear ,the lot by changeless ,fate decreed4 ,happy the man whose good right hand ,seeks but ,god's praise1 and flings his gold ,broadcast1 nor lets his left hand know ,the gracious deed2 for wealth untold ,shall crown him through eternal years ,with usury an hundredfold4 ,,viii4 ,,hymnus ,,post ,,ieiunium ,christe servorum regimen tuorum1 mollibus qui nos moderans habenis leniter frenas facilique septos lege coerces3 ipse cum portans onus inpeditum #e corporis duros tuleris labores1 maior exemplis famulos remisso dogmate palpas4 ,nona submissum rotat hora solem partibus vixdum tribus evolutis1 #aj quarta devexo superest in axe portio lucis4 ,nos brevis voti dape vindicata solvimus festum fruimurque mensis adfatim plenis1 quibus inbuatur #ae prona voluptas4 ,tantus aeterni favor est magistri1 doctor indulgens ita nos amico lactat hortatu1 levis obsequela ut mulceat artus4 #bj ,addit et1 ne quis velit invenusto sordidus cultu lacerare frontem1 sed decus vultus capitisque pexum comat honorem4 ,terge ieiunans1 ait1 omne corpus1 #be neve subducto faciem rubore luteus tinguat color aut notetur pallor in ore4 ,rectius laeto tegimus pudore1 quidquid ad cultum ,patris exhibemus3 #cj cernit occultum ,deus et latentem munere donat4 ,ille ovem morbo residem gregique perditam sano male dissipantem vellus adfixis vepribus per hirtae #ce devia silvae4 ,inpiger pastor revocat lupisque gestat exclusis humeros gravatus1 inde purgatam revehens aprico reddit ovili3 #dj ,reddit et pratis viridique campo1 vibrat inpexis ubi nulla lappis spina1 nec germen sudibus perarmat carduus horrens3 ,sed frequens palmis nemus et reflexa #de vernat herbarum coma1 tum perennis gurgitem vivis vitreum fluentis laurus obumbrat4 ,hisce pro donis tibi1 fide pastor1 servitus quaenam poterit rependi8 #ej nulla conpensant pretium salutis vota precantum4 ,quamlibet spreto sine more pastu sponte confectos tenuemus artus1 teque contemptis epulis rogemus #ee nocte dieque2 ,vincitur semper minor obsequentum cura1 nec munus genitoris aequat1 frangit et cratem luteam laboris grandior usus4 #fj ,ergo ne limum fragilem solutae deserant vires et aquosus albis humor in venis dominetur aegrum corpus inervans1 ,laxus ac liber modus abstinendi #fe ponitur cunctis1 neque nos severus terror inpellit1 sua quemque cogit velle potestas4 ,sufficit1 quidquid facias1 vocato numinis nutu prius1 inchoare1 #gj sive tu mensam renuas cibumve sumere temptes4 ,adnuit dexter ,deus et secundo prosperat vultu1 velut hoc salubre fidimus nobis fore1 quod dicatas #ge carpimus escas4 ,sit bonum1 supplex precor et medelam conferat membris1 animumque pascat sparsus in venas cibus obsecrantum christicolarum4 #hj ,,viii4 ,,hymn ,,after ,,fasting ,o ,christ1 of all ,thy servants ,guide1 ,mild is the yoke ,thou mak'st us bear1 ,leading us gently by ,thy side ,with gracious care4 ,thy love took up our life's hard load ,and spent in grievous toils its might3 ,thy bond-slaves tread the easier road ,led by ,thy light4 ,nine hours have run their course away1 ,the sun sped three parts of its race3 ,and what remains of the short day ,fadeth apace4 ,the holy fast hath reached its end2 ,our table now ,thou loadest1 ,lord3 ,with all ,thy gifts true gladness send ,to grace our board4 ,such is our ,master's gentle sway1 ,so kind the teaching in ,his school1 ,that all find rest who will obey ,his easy rule4 ,thou would'st not have us scorn the grace ,of cleanliness and vesture fair3 ,thou lovest not a soiled face ,and unkempt hair4 ,let him that fasts1 ,thou saidst1 be clean1 ,nor lose health's fair and ruddy glow3 ,let no wan sallowness be seen ,upon his brow4 ',tis better in glad modesty ,of our good works to shun display3 ,god sees what 'scapes our neighbour's eye ,and will repay4 ,that ,shepherd keen seeks one lost sheep ,sickly and weak1 strayed from the fold1 ,fleece torn with briers of thickets deep1 ,foolishly bold4 ,he drives the wolves far from the track3 ,and found ,he brings on shoulders borne ,to sunlit pen the wanderer back1 ,no more forlorn3 ,yea1 to the meads and grassy fields ,the lamb restores1 where no thorn balks1 ,no rough burrs tear1 no thistle yields ,its bristling stalks3 ,but leaves of green herbs brightly glance ,and in the grove the palm-trees dream1 ,and laurels shade the eddying dance ,of crystal stream4 ,for all these gifts1 ,o ,shepherd dear1 ,what service can ,i render ,thee8 ,no grateful vows my debt shall clear ,for love so free4 ,though by self-chosen fasts severe ,our strength of limb we waste away3 ,though1 spurning food1 we ,thee revere ,by night and day3 ,yet our works never can o'ertake ,thy love or with ,thy gifts compare3 ,our toils this earthen vessel break1 ,the more we dare4 ,therefore lest failing powers consume ,our fragile life and shrivelled veins ,pale 'neath the tyranny of rheum ,and weakening pains3 ,thou dost not rule perpetual ,lent ,for man1 nor modest fare deny3 ,fearless may each unto his bent ,his wants supply4 ,enough that all our acts by prayer ,be sanctified unto ,thy will1 ,whether we fast1 or with due care ,our needs fulfil4 ,then shall ,god bless us for our good ,and lead us to our soul's true wealth2 ,for1 if but consecrated1 food ,shall bring us health4 ,o ,lord1 grant that our feast may spread ,marrow and strength throughout our flesh3 ,and may all ,christly souls be fed ,with vigour fresh4 ,,ix4 ,,hymnus ,,omnis ,,horae ,da puer plectrum1 choreis ut canam fidelibus dulce carmen et melodum1 gesta ,christi insignia3 hunc camena nostra solum pangat1 hunc laudet lyra4 ,christus est1 quem rex sacerdos adfuturum protinus infulatus concinebat voce1 chorda et tympano1 #e spiritum caelo influentem per medullas hauriens4 ,facta nos et iam probata pangimus miracula1 testis orbis est1 nec ipsa terra1 quod vidit1 negat1 cominus ,deum docendis proditum mortalibus4 ,corde natus ex parentis1 ante mundi exordium #aj alpha et ,o cognominatus1 ipse fons et clausula omnium1 quae sunt1 fuerunt quaeque post futura sunt4 ,ipse iussit et creata1 dixit ipse1 et facta sunt terra1 caelum1 fossa ponti1 trina rerum machina1 quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo4 #ae ,corporis formam caduci1 membra morti obnoxia induit1 ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine1 merserat quam lex profundo noxialis tartaro4 ,o beatus ortus ille1 virgo cum puerpera edidit nostram salutem feta sancto spiritu1 #bj et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit4 ,psallat altitudo caeli1 psallite omnes angeli1 quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem ,dei3 nulla linguarum silescat1 vox et omnis consonet4 ,ecce quem vates vetustis concinebant seculis1 #be quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant1 emicat promissus olim3 cuncta conlaudent eum4 ,cantharis infusa lympha fit ,falernum nobile1 nuntiat vinum minister esse promptum ex hydria1 ipse rex sapore tinctis obstupescit poculis4 #cj ,membra morbis ulcerosa1 viscerum putredines mando1 ut abluantur1 inquit2 fit ratum1 quod iusserat1 turgidam cutem repurgant vulnerum piamina4 ,tu perennibus tenebris iam sepulta lumina inlinis limo salubri1 sacri et oris nectare1 #ce mox apertis hac medela lux reducta est orbibus4 ,increpas ventum furentem1 quod procellis tristibus vertat aequor fundo ab imo1 vexet et vagam ratem3 ille iussis obsecundat1 mitis unda sternitur4 ,extimum vestis sacratae furtim mulier attigit1 #dj protinus salus secuta est1 ora pallor deserit1 sistitur rivus1 cruore qui fluebat perpeti4 ,exitu dulcis iuventae raptum ephebum viderat1 orba quem mater supremis funerabat fletibus3 surge1 dixit3 ille surgit1 matri et adstans redditur4 #de ,sole iam quarto carentem1 iam sepulcro absconditum ,lazarum iubet vigere reddito spiramine3 fetidum iecur reductus rursus intrat halitus4 ,ambulat per stagna ponti1 summa calcat fluctuum1 mobilis liquor profundi pendulam praestat viam1 #ej nec fatiscit unda sanctis pressa sub vestigiis4 ,suetus antro bustuali sub catenis frendere1 mentis inpos efferatis percitus furoribus prosilit ruitque supplex1 ,christum adesse ut senserat4 ,pulsa pestis lubricorum milleformis daemonum #ee conripit gregis suilli sordida spurcamina1 seque nigris mergit undis et pecus lymphaticum4 ,quinque panibus peresis et gemellis piscibus adfatim refecta iam sunt adcubantum milia1 fertque qualus ter quaternus ferculorum fragmina4 #fj ,tu cibus panisque noster1 tu perennis suavitas2 nescit esurire in aevum1 qui tuam sumit dapem1 nec lacunam ventris inplet1 sed fovet vitalia4 ,clausus aurium meatus et sonorum nescius purgat ad praecepta ,christi crassa quaeque obstacula1 #fe vocibus capax fruendis ac susurris pervius4 ,omnis aegritudo cedit1 languor omnis pellitur1 lingua fatur1 quam veterna vinxerant silentia1 gestat et suum per urbem laetus aeger lectulum4 ,quin et ipsum1 ne salutis inferi expertes forent1 #gj tartarum benignus intrat1 fracta cedit ianua1 vectibus cadit revulsis cardo indissolubilis4 ,illa prompta ad inruentes1 ad revertentes tenax1 obice extrorsum repulso porta reddit mortuos3 lege versa et limen atrum iam recalcandum patet4 #ge ,sed ,deus dum luce fulva mortis antra inluminat1 dum stupentibus tenebris candidum praestat diem1 tristia squalentis aethrae palluerunt sidera4 ,sol refugit et lugubri sordidus ferrugine igneum reliquit axem seque maerens abdidit3 #hj fertur horruisse mundus noctis aeternae chaos4 ,solve vocem mens sonoram1 solve linguam mobilem1 dic tropaeum passionis1 dic triumphalem crucem1 pange vexillum1 notatis quod refulget frontibus4 ,o novum caede stupenda vulneris miraculum6 #he hinc cruoris fluxit unda1 lympha parte ex altera3 lympha nempe dat lavacrum1 tum corona ex sanguine est4 ,vidit anguis inmolatam corporis sacri hostiam1 vidit et fellis perusti mox venenum perdidit1 saucius dolore multo colla fractus sibilat4 #ij ,quid tibi1 profane serpens1 profuit1 rebus novis plasma primum perculisse versipelli hortamine8 diluit culpam recepto forma mortalis ,deo4 ,ad brevem se mortis usum dux salutis dedidit1 mortuos olim sepultos ut redire insuesceret1 #ie dissolutis pristinorum vinculis peccaminum4 ,tunc patres sanctique multi conditorem praevium iam revertentem secuti tertio demum die carnis indumenta sumunt1 eque bustis prodeunt4 ,cerneres coire membra de favillis aridis1 #ajj frigidum venis resumptis pulverem tepescere1 ossa1 nervos1 ac medullas glutino cutis tegi4 ,post1 ut occasum resolvit vitae et hominem reddidit1 arduum tribunal victor adscendit ,patris1 inclitam caelo reportans passionis gloriam4 #aje ,macte index mortuorum1 macte rex viventium1 dexter in parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum4 ,te senes et te iuventus1 parvulorum te chorus1 turba matrum virginumque simplices puellulae1 #aaj voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus4 ,fluminum lapsus et undae1 littorum crepidines1 imber1 aestus1 nix1 pruina1 silva1 et aura1 nox1 dies1 omnibus te concelebrent seculorum seculis4 ,,ix4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,all ,,hours ,let me chant in sacred numbers1 as ,i strike each sounding string1 ,chant in sweet1 melodious anthems1 glorious deeds of ,christ our ,king2 ,he1 my ,muse1 shall be thy story2 with ,his praise my lyre shall ring4 ,when the king in priestly raiment sang the ,christ that was to be1 ,voice and lute and clashing cymbal joined in joyous harmony1 ,while the ,spirit1 heaven-descended1 touched his lips to prophecy4 ,sing we now the works sure proven1 wrought of ,god in mystic wise2 ,heaven is witness2 earth confesses how she saw with wondering eyes ,god ,himself with mortals mingling1 man to teach in human guise4 ,of the ,father's heart begotten1 ere the world from chaos rose1 ,he is ,alpha2 from that ,fountain all that is and hath been flows2 ,he is ,omega1 of all things yet to come the mystic ,close4 ,by ,his word was all created2 ,he commands and lo6 'tis done2 ,earth and sky and boundless ocean1 universe of three in one1 ,all that sees the moon's soft radiance1 all that breathes beneath the sun4 ,he assumed this mortal body1 frail and feeble1 doomed to die1 ,that the race from dust created might not perish utterly1 ,which the dreadful ,law had sentenced in the depths of ,hell to lie4 ,o how blest that wondrous birthday1 when the ,maid the curse retrieved1 ,brought to birth mankind's salvation1 by the ,holy ,ghost conceived2 ,and the sacred ,babe1 ,redeemer of the world1 her arms received4 ,sing1 ye heights of heaven1 ,his praises2 angels and archangels1 sing6 ,wheresoe'er ye be1 ye faithful1 let your joyous anthems ring1 ,every tongue ,his name confessing1 countless voices answering4 ,this is ,he whom seer and sibyl sang in ages long gone by2 ,this is ,he of old revealed in the page of prophecy2 ,lo6 ,he comes1 the promised ,saviour2 let the world ,his praises cry6 ,in the urns the clear1 cold water turns to juice of noblest vine1 ,and the servant1 drawing from them1 starts to see the generous wine1 ,while the host1 its savour tasting1 wonders at the draught divine4 ,to the leper worn and wasted1 white with many a loathsome sore1 ,be thou cleansed1 ,he said2 ,i bid it6 swift 'tis done1 ,his words restore2 ,to the priest the gift he offers1 clean and healthful as of yore4 ,on the eyes long sealed in darkness1 buried in unbroken night1 ,thou didst spread ,thy lips' sweet nectar1 mixed with clay3 then came the sight1 ,as ,thy gracious touch all-healing brought to those dark orbs the light4 ,thou didst chide the raging tempest1 when the waves with foaming crest ,leaped about the fragile vessel1 buffeted and sore distressed2 ,wind and wave1 their fury stilling1 sank to calm at ,thy behest4 ,once a woman's timid fingers touched ,thy garment's lowest braid1 ,and the pallor left her visage1 healing power the touch conveyed1 ,for the years of pain were ended and the flow of blood was stayed4 ,thou didst see men bear to burial one struck down in youth's glad tide1 ,while a widowed mother followed1 wailing for her boy that died2 ,rise6 ,thou saidst1 and led him gently to his weeping mother's side4 ,lazarus1 who lay in darkness till three nights had passed away1 ,at ,thy voice awoke to soundness1 rising to the light of day1 ,as the breath his frame re-entered touched already with decay4 ,see1 ,he walks upon the waters1 treads the billow's rolling crest2 ,o'er the shifting depths of ocean firm and sure ,his footsteps rest1 ,and the wave parts not asunder where those holy feet are pressed4 ,and the madman1 chained and tortured by dark powers1 from whom all fly1 ,as the tombs1 that were his dwelling1 echo to his savage cry1 ,rushes forth and falls adoring1 when he sees that ,christ is nigh4 ,then the legion of foul spirits1 driven from their human prey1 ,seize the noisome swine1 that feeding high upon the hillside stray1 ,and the herd1 in sudden frenzy1 plunges in the waters grey4 ,gather in twelve woven baskets all the fragments that remain3 ,he hath fed the weary thousands1 resting o'er the grassy plain1 ,and ,his power hath stayed their hunger with five loaves and fishes twain4 ,thine1 ,o ,christ1 is endless sweetness2 ,thou art our celestial ,bread3 ,nevermore he knoweth hunger1 who upon ,thy grace hath fed1 ,grace whereby no mortal body but the soul is nourished4 ,they that knew not speech nor language1 closed to every sound their ears1 ,to the ,master's call responding break the barriers of years2 ,now the deaf holds joyous converse and the lightest whisper hears4 ,sickness at ,his word departed1 pain and pallid languor fled1 ,many a tongue1 long chained in silence1 words of praise and blessing said2 ,and the palsied man rejoicing through the city bore his bed4 ,yea1 that they might know salvation who in ,hades' prison were pent1 ,in ,his mercy condescending through ,hell's gloomy gates ,he went2 ,bolt and massy hinge were shattered1 adamantine portals rent4 ,for the door that all receiveth1 but releaseth nevermore1 ,opens now and1 slowly turning1 doth the ghosts to light restore1 ,who1 the eternal laws suspended1 tread again its dusky floor4 ,but1 while ,god with golden glory floods the murky realms of night1 ,and upon the startled shadows dawns a day serene and bright1 ,in the darkened vault of heaven stars forlorn refuse their light4 ,for the sun in garb of mourning veiled his radiant orb and passed ,from his flaming path in sorrow1 hiding till mankind aghast ,deemed that o'er a world of chaos ,night's eternal pall was cast4 ,now1 my soul1 in liquid measures let the sounding numbers flow2 ,sing the trophy of ,his passion1 sing the ,cross triumphant now2 ,sing the ensign of ,christ's glory1 marked on every faithful brow4 ,ah6 how wondrous was the fountain flowing from ,his pierced side1 ,whence the blood and water mingled in a strange and sacred tide1-- ,water1 sign of mystic cleansing2 blood1 the martyr's crown of pride4 ,in that hour the ancient ,serpent saw the holy ,victim slain1 ,saw1 and shed his hate envenomed1 all his malice spent in vain2 ,see6 the hissing neck is broken as he writhes in sullen pain4 ,aye1 what boots it1 cursed ,serpent1 that the man ,god made from clay1 ,victim of thy baleful cunning1 by thy lies was led astray8 ,god hath ta'en a mortal body and hath washed the guilt away4 ,christ1 our ,captain1 for a season deigned to dwell in ,death's domain1 ,that the dead1 long time imprisoned1 might return to life again1 ,breaking by ,his great example ancient sins' enthralling chain4 ,thus1 upon the third glad morning1 patriarchs and saints of yore1 ,as the risen ,lord ascended1 followed ,him who went before1 ,from forgotten graves proceeding1 habited in flesh once more4 ,limb to limb unites and rises from the ashes dry and cold1 ,and the life-blood courses warmly through the frames long turned to mould1 ,skin and flesh1 anew created1 muscle1 bone and nerve enfold4 ,then1 mankind to life restoring1 ,death downtrodden 'neath ,his feet1 ,lo6 the ,victor mounts triumphant to the ,father's judgment-seat1 ,bringing back to heaven the glory by ,his passion made complete4 ,hail6 ,thou ,judge of souls departed3 hail6 of all the living ,king6 ,on the ,father's right hand throned1 through ,his courts ,thy praises ring1 ,till at last for all offences righteous judgment ,thou shalt bring4 ,now let old and young uniting chant to ,thee harmonious lays1 ,maid and matron hymn ,thy glory1 infant lips their anthem raise1 ,boys and girls together singing with pure heart their song of praise4 ,let the storm and summer sunshine1 gliding stream and sounding shore1 ,sea and forest1 frost and zephyr1 day and night their ,lord adore2 ,let creation join to laud ,thee through the ages evermore4 ,x4 ,,hymnus ,,ad ,,exequias ,,defuncti ,deus ignee fons animarum1 duo qui socians elementa vivum simul ac moribundum hominem ,pater effigiasti3 ,tua sunt1 tua rector utraque1 #e tibi copula iungitur horum1 tibi1 dum vegetata cohaerent1 et spiritus et caro servit4 ,rescissa sed ista seorsum solvunt hominera perimuntque1 #aj humus excipit arida corpus1 animae rapit aura liquorem4 ,quia cuncta creata necesse est labefacta senescere tandem1 conpactaque dissociari1 #ae et dissona texta retexi4 ,hanc tu1 ,deus optime1 mortem famulis abolere paratus iter inviolabile monstras1 quo perdita membra resurgant3 #bj ,ut1 dum generosa caducis ceu carcere clausa ligantur1 pars illa potentior extet1 quae germen ab aethere traxit4 ,si terrea forte voluntas #be luteum sapit et grave captat1 animus quoque pondere victus sequitur sua membra deorsum4 ,at si generis memor ignis contagia pigra recuset1 #cj vehit hospita viscera secum1 pariterque reportat ad astra4 ,nam quod requiescere corpus vacuum sine mente videmus1 spatium breve restat1 ut alti #ce repetat conlegia sensus4 ,venient cito secula1 cum iam socius calor ossa revisat animataque sanguine vivo habitacula pristina gestet4 #dj ,quae pigra cadavera pridem tumulis putrefacta iacebant1 volucres rapientur in auras animas comitata priores4 ,hinc maxima cura sepulcris #de inpenditur3 hinc resolutos honor ultimus accipit artus et funeris ambitus ornat4 ,candore nitentia claro praetendere lintea mos est1 #ej adspersaque myrrha ,sabaeo corpus medicamine servat4 ,quidnam sibi saxa cavata1 quid pulchra volunt monumenta1 nisi quod res creditur illis #ee non mortua1 sed data somno8 ,hoc provida ,christicolarum pietas studet1 utpote credens fore protinus omnia viva1 quae nunc gelidus sopor urget4 #fj ,qui iacta cadavera passim miserans tegit aggere terrae1 opus exhibet ille benignum ,christo pius omnipotenti3 ,quin lex eadem monet omnes #fe gemitum dare sorte sub una1 cognataque funera nobis aliena in morte dolere4 ,sancti sator ille ,tobiae sacer ac venerabilis heros1 #gj dapibus iam rite paratis ius praetulit exequiarum4 ,iam stantibus ille ministris cyathos et fercula liquit1 studioque accinctus humandi #ge fleto dedit ossa sepulcro4 ,veniunt mox praemia caelo pretiumque rependitur ingens3 nam lumina nescia solis ,deus inlita felle serenat4 #hj ,iam tunc docuit ,pater orbis1 quam sit rationis egenis mordax et amara medela1 cum lux animum nova vexat4 ,docuit quoque non prius ullum #he caelestia cernere regna1 quam nocte et vulnere tristi toleraverit aspera mundi4 ,mors ipsa beatior inde est1 quod per cruciamina leti #ij via panditur ardua iustis et ad astra doloribus itur4 ,sic corpora mortificata redeunt melioribus annis1 nec post obitum recalescens #ie conpago fatiscere novit4 ,haec1 quae modo pallida tabo color albidus inficit ora1 tunc flore venustior omni sanguis cute tinget amoena4 #ajj ,iam nulla deinde senectus frontis decus invida carpet1 macies neque sicca lacertos suco tenuabit adeso4 ,morbus quoque pestifer1 artus #aje qui nunc populatur anhelos1 sua tunc tormenta resudans luet inter vincula mille4 ,hunc eminus aere ab alto victrix caro iamque perennis #aaj cernet sine fine gementem quos moverat ipse dolores4 ,quid turba superstes inepta clangens ululamina miscet1 cur tam bene condita iura #aae luctu dolor arguit amens8 ,iam maesta quiesce querela1 lacrimas suspendite matres1 nullus sua pignora plangat1 mors haec reparatio vitae est4 #abj ,sic semina sicca virescunt iam mortua iamque sepulta1 quae reddita caespite ab imo veteres meditantur aristas4 ,nunc suscipe terra fovendum1 #abe gremioque hunc concipe molli3 hominis tibi membra sequestro generosa et fragmina credo4 ,animae fuit haec domus olim factoris ab ore creatae1 #acj fervens habitavit in istis sapientia principe ,christo4 ,tu depositum tege corpus1 non inmemor illa requiret sua munera fictor et auctor #ace propriique aenigmata vultus4 ,veniant modo tempora iusta1 cum spem ,deus inpleat omnem2 reddas patefacta necesse est1 qualem tibi trado figuram4 #adj ,non1 si cariosa vetustas dissolverit ossa favillis1 fueritque cinisculus arens minimi mensura pugilli4 ,nec1 si vaga flamina et aurae #ade vacuum per inane volantes tulerint cum pulvere nervos1 hominem periisse licebit4 ,sed dum resolubile corpus revocas1 ,deus1 atque reformas1 #aej quanam regione iubebis animam requiescere puram8 ,gremio senis addita sancti recubabit1 ut est ,eleazar1 quem floribus undique septum #aee ,dives procul adspicit ardens4 ,sequimur tua dicta redemptor1 quibus atra morte triumphans tua per vestigia mandas socium crucis ire latronem4 #afj ,patet ecce fidelibus ampli via lucida iam paradisi1 licet et nemus illud adire1 homini quod ademerat anguis4 ,illic precor1 optime ductor1 #afe famulam tibi praecipe mentem genitali in sede sacrari1 quam liquerat exul et errans4 ,nos tecta fovebimus ossa violis et fronde frequenti1 #agj titulumque et frigida saxa liquido spargemus odore4 ,x4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,the ,,burial ,,of ,,the ,,dead ,fountain of life1 supernal ,fire1 ,who didst unite in wondrous wise ,the soul that lives1 the clay that dies1 ,and mad'st them ,man3 eternal ,sire1 ,both elements ,thy will obey1 ,thine is the bond that joins the twain1 ,and1 while united they remain1 ,spirit and body own ,thy sway4 ,yet they must one day disunite1 ,sunder in death this mortal frame2 ,dust to the dust from whence it came1 ,the spirit to its heavenward flight4 ,for all created things must wane1 ,and age must break the bond at last2 ,the diverse web that ,life held fast ,death's fingers shall unweave again4 ,yet1 gracious ,god1 ,thou dost devise ,the death of ,death for all ,thine own2 ,the path of safety ,thou hast shown ,whereby the doomed limbs may rise3 ,so that1 while fragile bonds of earth ,man's noblest essence still enfold1 ,that part may yet the sceptre hold ,which from pure aether hath its birth4 ,for if the earthy will hold sway1 ,by gross desires and aims possessed1 ,the soul1 too1 by the weight oppressed1 ,follows the body's downward way4 ,but if she scorn the guilt that mars-- ,still mindful of her fiery sphere-- ,she bears the flesh1 her comrade here1 ,back to her home beyond the stars4 ,the lifeless body we restore ,to earth1 must slumber free from pain ,a little while1 that it may gain ,the spirit's fellowship once more4 ,the years will pass with rapid pace ,till through these limbs the life shall flow1 ,and the long-parted spirit go ,to seek her olden dwelling-place4 ,then shall the body1 that hath lain ,and turned to dust in slow decay1 ,on airy wings be borne away ,and join its ancient soul again4 ,therefore our tenderest care we spend ,upon the grave3 and mourners go ,with solemn dirge and footstep slow-- ,love's last sad tribute to a friend4 ,with fair white linen we enfold ,the dear dead limbs1 and richest store ,of ,eastern unguents duly pour ,upon the body still and cold4 ,why hew the rocky tomb so deep1 ,why raise the monument so fair1 ,save that the form we cherish there ,is no dead thing1 but laid to sleep8 ,this is the faithful ministry ,of ,christian men1 who hold it true ,that all shall one day live anew ,who now in icy slumber lie4 ,and he whose pitying hand shall lay ,some friendless outcast 'neath the sod1 ,e'en to the almighty ,son of ,god ,doth that benignant service pay4 ,for this same law doth bid us mourn ,man's common fate1 when strangers die1 ,and pay the tribute of a sigh1 ,as when our kin to rest are borne4 ,of holy ,tobit ye have read1 7,grave father of a pious son71 ,who1 though the feast was set1 would run ,to do his duty by the dead4 ,though waiting servants stood around1 ,from meat and drink he turned away ,and girt himself in haste to lay ,the bones with weeping in the ground4 ,soon ,heaven his righteous zeal repays ,with rich reward2 the eyes long blind ,in bitter gall strange virtue find ,and open to the sun's clear rays4 ,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 thrown4 ,he taught us1 too1 that none may gaze ,upon the heavenly demesne ,ere that in darkness and in pain ,his feet have trod the world's rough ways4 ,so unto death itself is given ,strange bliss1 when mortal agony ,opens the way that leads on high ,and pain is but the path to ,heaven4 ,thus to a far serener day ,our body from the grave returns2 ,eternal life within it burns ,that knows nor languor nor decay4 ,these faces now so pinched and pale1 ,that marks of lingering sickness show1 ,then fairer than the rose shall glow ,and bloom with youth that ne'er shall fail4 ,ne'er shall crabbed age their beauty dim ,with wrinkled brow and tresses grey1 ,nor arid leanness eat away ,the vigour of the rounded limb4 ,racked with his own destroying pains ,shall fell ,disease1 who now attacks ,our aching frames1 his force relax ,fast fettered in a thousand chains3 ,while from its far celestial throne ,the immortal body1 victor now1 ,shall watch its old tormentor bow ,and in eternal tortures groan4 ,why do the clamorous mourners wail ,in bootless sorrow murmuring8 ,and why doth grief unreasoning ,god's righteous ordinance assail8 ,hushed be your voices1 ye that mourn2 ,ye weeping mothers1 dry the tear2 ,let none lament for children dear1 ,for man through ,death to ,life is born4 ,so do dry seeds grow green again1 ,now dead and buried in the earth1 ,and rising to a second birth ,clothe as of old the verdant plain4 ,take now1 ,o earth1 the load we bear1 ,and cherish in thy gentle breast ,this mortal frame we lay to rest1 ,the poor remains that were so fair4 ,for they were once the soul's abode1 ,that by ,god's breath created came2 ,and in them1 like a living flame1 ,christ's precious gift of wisdom glowed4 ,guard thou the body we have laid ,within thy care1 till ,he demand ,the creature fashioned by ,his hand ,and after ,his own image made4 ,the appointed time soon may we see ,when ,god shall all our hopes fulfil1 ,and thou must render to ,his will ,unchanged the charge we give to thee4 ,for though consumed by mould and rust ,man's body slowly fades away1 ,and years of lingering decay ,leave but a handful of dry dust2 ,though wandering winds1 that idly fly1 ,should his disparted ashes bear ,through all the wide expanse of air1 ,man may not perish utterly4 ,yet till ,thou dost build up again ,this mortal structure by ,thy hand1 ,in what far world wilt ,thou command ,the soul to rest1 now free from stain8 ,in ,abraham's bosom it shall dwell ',mid verdant bowers1 as ,lazarus lies ,whom ,dives sees with longing eyes ,from out the far-off fires of hell4 ,we trust the words our ,saviour said ,when1 victor o'er grim ,death1 he cried ,to him who suffered at ,his side ,in ,mine own footsteps shalt thou tread4 ,see1 open to the faithful soul1 ,the shining paths of ,paradise2 ,now may they to that garden rise ,which from mankind the ,serpent stole4 ,guide him1 we pray1 to that blest bourn1 ,who served ,thee truly here below2 ,may he the bliss of ,eden know1 ,who strayed in banishment forlorn4 ,but we will honour our dear dead ,with violets and garlands strown1 ,and o'er the cold and graven stone ,shall fragrant odours still be shed4 ,,xi4 ,,hymnus ,,viii4 ,,kalendas ,,ianuarias ,quid est1 quod artum circulum sol iam recurrens deserit8 ,christusne terris nascitur1 qui lucis auget tramitem8 ,heu quam fugacem gratiam #e festina volvebat dies1 quam pene subductam facem sensim recisa extinxerat6 ,caelum nitescat laetius1 gratetur et gaudens humus1 #aj scandit gradatim denuo iubar priores lineas4 ,emerge dulcis pusio1 quem mater edit castitas1 parens et expers coniugis1 #ae mediator et duplex genus4 ,ex ore quamlibet ,patris sis ortus et verbo editus1 tamen paterno in pectore sophia callebas prius4 #bj ,quae prompta caelum condidit1 caelum diemque et cetera1 virtute verbi effecta sunt haec cuncta3 nam verbum ,deus4 ,sed ordinatis seculis1 #be rerumque digesto statu fundator ipse et artifex permansit in ,patris sinu1 donec rotata annalium transvolverentur milia1 #cj atque ipse peccantem diu dignatus orbera viseret4 ,nam caeca vis mortalium venerans inanes nenias vel aera vel saxa algida1 #ce vel ligna credebat ,deum4 ,haec dum sequuntur1 perfidi praedonis in ius venerant1 et mancipatam fumido vitam barathro inmerserant3 #dj ,stragem sed istam non tulit ,christus cadentum gentium inpune ne forsan sui ,patris periret fabrica4 ,mortale corpus induit1 #de ut excitato corpore mortis catenam frangeret hominemque portaret ,patri4 ,hic ille natalis dies1 quo te creator arduus #ej spiravit et limo indidit sermone carnem glutinans4 ,sentisne1 virgo nobilis1 matura per fastidia pudoris intactum decus #ee honore partus crescere8 ,o quanta rerum gaudia alvus pudica continet1 ex qua novellum seculum procedit et lux aurea6 #fj ,vagitus ille exordium vernantis orbis prodidit1 nam tunc renatus sordidum mundus veternum depulit4 ,sparsisse tellurem reor #fe rus omne densis floribus1 ipsasque arenas syrtium fragrasse nardo et nectare4 ,te cuncta nascentem puer sensere dura et barbara1 #gj victusque saxorum rigor obduxit herbam cotibus4 ,iam mella de scopulis fluunt1 iam stillat ilex arido sudans amomum stipite1 #ge iam sunt myricis balsama4 ,o sancta praesepis tui1 aeterne rex1 cunabula1 populisque per seclum sacra mutis et ipsis credita4 #hj ,adorat haec brutum pecus indocta turba scilicet1 adorat excors natio1 vis cuius in pastu sita est4 ,sed cum fideli spiritu #he concurrat ad praesepia pagana gens et quadrupes1 sapiatque quod brutum fuit3 ,negat patrum prosapia perosa praesentem ,deum3 #ij credas venenis ebriam furiisve lymphatam rapi4 ,quid prona per scelus ruis8 agnosce1 si quidquam tibi mentis resedit integrae1 #ie ducem tuorum principum4 ,hunc1 quem latebra et obstetrix1 et virgo feta1 et cunulae et inbecilla infantia regem dederunt gentibus1 #ajj peccator intueberis celsum coruscis nubibus1 deiectus ipse et inritus plangens reatum fletibus3 ,cum vasta signum bucina #aje terris cremandis miserit1 et scissus axis cardinem mundi ruentis solverit3 ,insignis ipse et praeminens meritis rependet congrua1 #aaj his lucis usum perpetis1 illis gehennam et tartarum4 ,iudaea tunc fulmen crucis experta1 qui sit1 senties1 quem te furoris praesule #aae mors hausit et mox reddidit4 ,,xi4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,christmas-,,day ,why doth the sun re-orient take ,a wider range1 his limits break8 ,lo6 ,christ is born1 and o'er earth's night ,shineth from more to more the light6 ,too swiftly did the radiant day ,her brief course run and pass away3 ,she scarce her kindly torch had fired ,ere slowly fading it expired4 ,now let the sky more brightly beam1 ,the earth take up the joyous theme3 ,the orb a broadening pathway gains ,and with its erstwhile splendour reigns4 ,sweet babe1 of chastity the flower1 ,a virgin's blest mysterious dower6 ,rise in ,thy twofold nature's might3 ,rise1 ,god and man to reunite6 ,though by the ,father's will above ,thou wert begot1 the ,son of ,love1 ,yet in ,his bosom ,thou didst dwell1 ,of ,wisdom the eternal ,well2 ,wisdom1 whereby the heavens were made ,and light's foundations first were laid3 ,creative ,word6 all flows from ,thee6 ,the ,word is ,god eternally4 ,for though with process of the suns ,the ordered whole harmonious runs1 ,still the ,artificer ,divine ,leaves not the ,father's inmost shrine4 ,the rolling wheels of ,time had passed ,o'er their millennial journey vast1 ,before in judgment clad ,he came ,unto the world long steeped in shame4 ,the purblind souls of mortals crass ,had trusted gods of stone and brass1 ,to things of nought their worship paid ,and senseless blocks of wood obeyed4 ,and thus employed1 they fell below ,the sway of man's perfidious foe3 ,plunged in the smoky sheer abyss ,they sank bereft of their true bliss4 ,but that sore plight of ruined man ,christ's pity could not lightly scan3 ,nor let ,god's building nobly wrought ,ingloriously be brought to nought4 ,he wrapped ,him in our fleshly guise1 ,that from the tomb ,he might arise1 ,and man released from death's grim snare ,home to ,his ,father's bosom bear4 ,this is the day of ,thy dear birth1 ,the bridal of the heaven and earth1 ,when the ,creator breathed on ,thee ,the breath of pure humanity4 ,ah6 glorious ,maid1 dost thou not guess ,what guerdon thy chaste soul shall bless1 ,how by thy ripening pangs is bought ,an honour greater than all thought8 ,o what a load of joy untold ,thy womb inviolate doth hold6 ,of thee a golden age is born1 ,the brightness of the earth's new morn6 ,hearken6 doth not the infant's wail ,the universal springtide hail8 ,for now the world re-born lays by ,its gloomy1 frost-bound apathy4 ,methinks in all her rustic bowers ,the earth is spread with clustering flowers3 ,odours of nard and nectar sweet ,e'en o'er the sands of ,syrtes fleet4 ,all places rough and deserts wild ,have felt from far ,thy coming1 ,child3 ,rocks to ,thy gentle empire bow ,and verdure clothes the mountain brow4 ,sweet honey from the boulder leaps3 ,the sere and leafless oak-bough weeps ,a strange rich attar3 tamarisks too ,of balsam pure distil the dew4 ,blessed for ever1 cradle dear1 ,the lowly stall1 the cavern drear6 ,men to this shrine1 ,eternal ,king1 ,with dumb brutes adoration bring4 ,the ox and ass in homage low ,obedient to their ,maker bow3 ,bows too the unlearn'd heartless crowd ,whose minds the sensual feast doth cloud4 ,though1 by the faithful ,spirit impelled1 ,shepherds and brutes1 unreasoning held1 ,yea1 folk that did in darkness dwell ,discern their ,god in ,his poor cell3 ,yet children of the sacred race ,blindly abhor the ,incarnate grace3 ,by philtres you might deem them lulled ,or by some bacchic phrenzy dulled4 ,why headlong thus to ruin stride8 ,if aught of soundness in you bide1 ,behold in ,him the ,lord divine ,of all your patriarchal line4 ,mark you the dim-lit cave1 the ,maid1 ,the humble nurse1 the cradle laid1 ,the helpless infancy forlorn3 ,yet thus the ,gentiles' ,king was born6 ,ah sinner1 thou shalt one day see ,this ,child in dreadful majesty1 ,see ,him in glorious clouds descend1 ,while thou thy guilty heart shalt rend4 ,vain all thy tears1 when loud shall sound ,the trump1 when flames shall scorch the ground1 ,when from its hinge the cloven world ,is loosed1 in horrid tumult hurled4 ,then throned on high1 the ,judge of all ,shall mortals to their reckoning call3 ,to these shall grant the prize of light1 ,to those ,gehenna's gloomy night4 ,then1 ,israel1 shalt thou learn at length ,the ,cross hath1 as the lightning1 strength3 ,doomed by thy wrath1 ,he now is ,lord1 ,whom ,death once grasped but soon restored4 ,,xii4 ,,hymnus ,,epiphaniae ,quicumque ,christum quaeritis1 oculos in altum tollite1 illic licebit visere signum perennis gloriae4 ,haec stella1 quae solis rotam #e vincit decore ac lumine1 venisse terris nuntiat cum carne terrestri ,deum4 ,non illa servit noctibus secuta lunam menstruam1 #aj sed sola caelum possidens cursum dierum temperat4 ,arctoa quamvis sidera in se retortis motibus obire nolint1 attamen #ae plerumque sub nimbis latent4 ,hoc sidus aeternum manet1 haec stella nunquam mergitur1 nec nubis occursu abdita obumbrat obductam facem4 #bj ,tristis cometa intercidat1 et si quod astrum ,sirio fervet vapore1 iam ,dei sub luce destructum cadat4 ,en ,persici ex orbis sinu1 #be sol unde sumit ianuam1 cernunt periti interpretes regale vexillum ,magi4 ,quod ut refulsit1 ceteri cessere signorum globi1 #cj nec pulcher est ausus suam conferre formam ,lucifer4 ,quis iste tantus1 inquiunt1 regnator astris inperans1 quem sic tremunt caelestia1 #ce cui lux et aethra inserviunt4 ,inlustre quiddam cernimus1 quod nesciat finem pati1 sublime1 celsum1 interminum1 antiquius caelo et chao4 #dj ,hic ille rex est gentium populique rex ,iudaici1 promissus ,abrahae patri eiusque in aevum semini4 ,aequanda nam stellis sua #de cognovit olim germina primus sator credentium1 nati inmolator unici4 ,iam flos subit ,davidicus radice ,iesse editus1 #ej sceptrique per virgam virens rerum cacumen occupat4 ,exin sequuntur perciti fixis in altum vultibus1 qua stella sulcum traxerat #ee claramque signabat viam4 ,sed verticem pueri supra signum pependit inminens1 pronaque submissum face caput sacratum prodidit4 #fj ,videre quod postquam ,magi1 eoa promunt munera1 stratique votis offerunt tus1 myrrham1 et aurum regium4 ,agnosce clara insignia #fe virtutis ac regni tui1 puer o1 cui trinam ,pater praedestinavit indolem4 ,regem ,deumque adnuntiant thesaurus et fragrans odor #gj turis ,sabaei1 ac myrrheus pulvis sepulcrum praedocet4 ,hoc est sepulcrum1 quo ,deus1 dum corpus extingui sinit atque id sepultum suscitat1 #ge mortis refregit carcerem4 ,o sola magnarum urbium maior ,bethlem1 cui contigit ducem salutis caelitus incorporatum gignere4 #hj ,altrice te summo ,patri haeres creatur unicus1 homo ex tonantis spiritu idemque sub membris ,deus4 ,hunc et prophetis testibus #he isdemque signatoribus1 testator et sator iubet adire regnum et cernere3 ,regnum1 quod ambit omnia diva et marina et terrea #ij a solis ortu ad exitum et tartara et caelum supra4 ,audit tyrannus anxius adesse regum principem1 qui nomen ,israel regat #ie teneatque ,david regiam4 ,exclamat amens nuntio1 successor instat1 pellimur2 satelles i1 ferrum rape1 perfunde cunas sanguine4 #ajj ,mas omnis infans occidat1 scrutare nutricum sinus1 interque materna ubera ensem cruentet pusio4 ,suspecta per ,bethlem mihi #aje puerperarum est omnium fraus1 ne qua furtim subtrahat prolem virilis indolis4 ,transfigit ergo carnifex mucrone destricto furens #aaj effusa nuper corpora1 animasque rimatur novas4 ,locum minutis artubus vix interemptor invenit1 quo plaga descendat patens #aae iuguloque maior pugio est4 ,o barbarum spectaculum6 inlisa cervix cautibus spargit cerebrum lacteum oculosque per vulnus vomit4 #abj ,aut in profundum palpitans mersatur infans gurgitem1 cui subter artis faucibus singultat unda et halitus4 ,salvete flores martyrum1 #abe quos lucis ipso in limine ,christi insecutor sustulit1 ceu turbo nascentes rosas4 ,vos prima ,christi victima1 grex inmolatorum tener1 #acj aram ante ipsam simplices palma et coronis luditis4 ,quid proficit tantum nefas1 quid crimen ,herodem iuvat8 unus tot inter funera #ace inpune ,christus tollitur4 ,inter coaevi sanguinis fluenta solus integer ferrum1 quod orbabat nurus1 partus fefellit virginis4 #adj ,sic stulta ,pharaonis mali edicta quondam fugerat ,christi figuram praeferens ,moyses1 receptor civium4 ,cautum et statutum ius erat1 #ade quo non liceret matribus1 cum pondus alvi absolverent1 puerile pignus tollere4 ,mens obstetricis sedulae pie in tyrannum contumax #aej ad spem potentis gloriae furata servat parvulum3 ,quem mox sacerdotem sibi adsumpsit orbis conditor1 per quem notatam saxeis #aee legem tabellis traderet4 ,licetne ,christum noscere tanti per exemplum viri8 dux ille caeso ,aegyptio absolvit ,israel iugo4 #afj ,at nos subactos iugiter erroris inperio gravi dux noster hoste saucio mortis tenebris liberat4 ,hic expiatam fluctibus #afe plebem marino in transitu repurgat undis dulcibus1 lucis columnam praeferens3 ,hic praeliante exercitu1 pansis in altum brachiis1 #agj sublimis ,amalech premit1 crucis quod instar tunc fuit4 ,hic nempe ,iesus verior1 qui longa post dispendia victor suis tribulibus #age promissa solvit iugera4 ,qui ter quaternas denique refluentis amnis alveo fundavit et fixit petras1 apostolorum stemmata4 #ahj ,iure ergo se ,iudae ducem vidisse testantur ,magi1 cum facta priscorum ducum ,christi figuram finxerint4 ,hic rex priorum iudicum1 #ahe rexere qui ,iacob genus1 dominaeque rex ecclesiae1 templi et novelli et pristini4 ,hunc posteri ,efrem colunt1 hunc sancta ,manasse domus #aij omnesque suspiciunt tribus bis sena fratrum semina4 ,quin et propago degener ritum secuta inconditum1 quaecumque dirum fervidis #aie ,baal caminis coxerat1 fumosa avorum numina saxum1 metallum1 stipitem1 rasum1 dolatum1 sectile1 in ,christi honorem deserit4 #bjj ,gaudete quidquid gentium est1 ,iudaea1 ,roma1 et ,graecia1 ,aegypte1 ,thrax1 ,persa1 ,scytha1 rex unus omnes possidet4 ,laudate vestrum principem #bje omnes beati1 ac perditi1 vivi1 inbecilli ac mortui3 iam nemo posthac mortuus4 ,,xii4 ,,hymn ,,for ,,the ,,epiphany ,lift up your eyes1 whoe'er ye be ,that fare the new-born ,christ to see3 ,for yonder is the shining sign ,of grace perennial and divine4 ,what means this star1 whose piercing rays ,outshine the sun's resplendent blaze8 ',tis token sure that ,god is come ,in mortal flesh to make ,his home4 ,no courtier of the realms of night ,nor monthly moon's bright acolyte1 ,this star directs the course of day1 ,sole sovereign of the heavenly way4 ,although the ,bears their track retrace1 ,nor wholly their clear beams efface1 ,yet ofttimes 'neath the dun cloud's haze ,they hide themselves from mortal gaze4 ,but yon ,star's glory hath no end1 ,nor to the depths can it descend3 ,it ne'er is whelmed by envious cloud ,that seeks its beauty to enshroud4 ,now let the baleful comet die1 ,the brood of blazing ,sirius fly3 ,god's orb shall quench their sultry heats ,and drive them from their haughty seats4 ,lo6 from the regions of the morn ,wherein the radiant sun is born1 ,the ,persian sages see on high ,god's ensign shining in the sky4 ,soon as its rising beams prevail ,the starry hosts in order pale3 ,e'en ,lucifer durst not upraise ,the silvery splendours of his face4 ,who is this sovereign 7they enquire7 ,that lords it o'er the ethereal choir8 ',fore whom the heavens bow down afraid1 ,of all the worlds of light obeyed8 ,sure 'tis the sign most reverend ,of ,being that doth know no end3 ,of ,one in state sublime arrayed ,ere sky and chaos yet were made4 ,this is the ,king of ,israel1 ,of all in ,gentile lands that dwell3 ,the ,king to ,abram and his seed ,throughout all ages erst decreed4 ,to him 'twas given his progeny ,as stars innumerous to see3 ,first of believers6 moved to slay ,his only son1 so ,god to obey4 ,behold the ,flower of ,david shine1 ,of ,jesse's root the ,branch benign3 ,the sceptre spread with blossoms rare ,wields o'er the world its lordship fair4 ,roused by the portent of the sky ,the sages fix their gaze on high1 ,and speed them 'neath the furrowed way ,marked by the star's effulgent ray4 ,at length its flaming steps it stayed ,poised over where the ,child was laid3 ,straightway with downcast mien it shed ,its splendours on the sacred ,head4 ,whereat the travellers outpour ,of ,eastern gifts their treasure-store1 ,myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense1 ,gold meet for regal opulence4 ,behold herein the triple sign ,of ,thy pure being1 ,king divine3 ,seeing the ,father willed in ,thee ,to plant a threefold majesty4 ,the gift of gold thee ,king proclaims3 ,thee ,god the fragrant incense names3 ,the myrrh declares that ,death shall thrust ,within the tomb ,thy body's dust4 ,ah6 that dark sepulchre1 whose fold ,god's body quenched in death doth hold3 ,yet shall ,he from that durance wake ,and ,death's strong prison-fetters break4 ,o ,bethlehem6 no longer thou ,the least of cities3 all shall vow ,that thou art greatest on the earth3 ,for thou man's ,king didst bring to birth4 ,yea thou didst on thy bosom bear ,the ,all-loving ,father's only heir3 ,man of the ,thunderer's ,spirit made ,and ,god in human flesh arrayed4 ,the prophets witnessed to the bond ,which sealed to ,him the realm profound3 ,the ,father's ,kingdom ,he received ,and the vast legacy perceived4 ,all things are ,his in sea and sky1 ,in hell beneath1 in heaven on high3 ,from ,east to setting sun1 in fee ,he holds the earth's immensity4 ,distraught1 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 dominate4 ,betrayed are we1 he maddened cries1 ,our throne's usurper doth arise3 ,go1 soldiers1 go with sword in hand ,and slay all babes within my land4 ,spare no male child3 each nurse's robe ,your scrutinizing steel must probe3 ,spare not the suckling infant1 though ,o'er mother's breast its life-blood flow4 ,on ,bethlehem our suspicion falls1 ,on every hearth within its walls3 ,lest mothers with love's tender zeal ,some manly scion may conceal4 ,with daggers drawn the infuriate crew ,upon their murderous errand flew3 ,each latest offspring of the womb ,to bloody death they foully doom4 ,ah tiny limbs6 'twas hard to know ,how best to strike the fatal blow3 ,too wide the sword-blades are to smite ,those throats so silken-fragile1 slight4 ,o horrid sight6 the tender bones ,are dashed against the jagged stones3 ,sightless and mangled there they lie1 ,poor babes6 untimely doomed to die4 ,perchance the still deep river laves ,their bodies thrust into the waves3 ,the current with their sighing sighs1 ,sobs with their latest1 broken cries4 ,ye flowers of martyrdom1 all hail6 ,of rising morn pure blossoms frail6 ,by ,jesu's foe were ye downcast1 ,like budding roses by the blast4 ,lambs of the flock too early slain1 ,ye first fruits of ,christ's bitter pain6 ,close to ,his very altar1 gay ,with palms and crowns1 ye now do play4 ,of what avail is deed so vile8 ,doth ,herod gain by murderous guile8 ,of all to death so foully done ,escapes triumphant ,christ alone4 ,amidst that tide of infant gore ,alone ,he wins the sheltering shore3 ,the virgin's ,child survives the stroke1 ,when every mother's heart was broke4 ,thus ,moses 'scaped the mad decree ,of evil ,pharaoh and set free ,the flock of ,god1 prefiguring so ,christ spared from fate's malignant blow4 ,vain too the king's hostility ,who framed the pitiless decree ,that ,israel's mothers should not rear ,to manhood's strength their offspring dear4 ,quickened by love1 a woman's mind ,found means to thwart that law unkind1 ,and1 falsely true1 the child concealed ,destined to be his people's ,shield4 ,on him it was that ,god did place ,the august priesthood's holy grace1 ,the law on stony tablets writ ,did to his trembling hands commit4 ,and may we not with prophet's eye ,in such a hero ,christ descry8 ,the proud ,egyptian's might he broke ,and freed his kinsmen from the yoke4 ,so we by ,error's might hemmed round ,were by our ,captain's strength unbound3 ,his foe ,he wounded in the fight ,and saved us from ,death's horrid night4 ,cheering by sign of flame their feet1 ,moses renewed with waters sweet ,his folk1 albeit purified ,from stain1 what time they crossed the tide4 ,and he1 remote on peaceful height1 ,amalek's banded hosts did smite3 ,he prayed with arms stretched out above1 ,foreshadowing the ,cross of ,love4 ,yet truer ,jesus surely he1 ,who after many a victory ,and labours long the tribes' renown ,with promised heritage did crown2 ,who when the waters rose on high ,and now the ,jordan's bed was dry1 ,set up twelve stones of memory1 ,types of apostles yet to be4 ,rightly the ,wise ,men said1 ,i ween1 ,that they ,judaea's ,king had seen1 ,since noble deeds of other days ,prophetic chant the ,saviour's praise4 ,of those old rulers ,he is ,king ,who did to ,jacob judgment bring1 ,king of the ,mother ,church divine1 ,god's ancient and ,god's present ,shrine4 ,of ,ephraim's sons ,he is adored3 ,manasseh's sacred house as ,lord ,reveres ,him3 to ,his might the seed ,of brethren twelve their fealty plead4 ,nay1 each degenerate race hath fled ,its shameful rites and orgies dread3 ,grim ,baal in glowing furnace cast ,sinks to the earth1 forsook at last4 ,idols smoke-blackened1 wooden-hewn1 ,of brass and stone1 in dust are strewn3 ,the chiselled deities downtrod3 ,for all confess in ,christ their ,god4 ,rejoice all peoples1 ,jewry1 ,rome1 ,fair ,hellas1 ,thrace1 ,aegyptus' home3 ,persians and ,scythian land forlorn1 ,rejoice3 the world's great ,king is born6 ,behold your ,chief6 ,his praise forth tell3 ,ye sick1 ye hale1 all heaven and hell3 ,ay1 you whose vital spark hath sped3 ,for lo6 in ,him e'en ,death is dead4 ,,epilogus ,inmolat ,deo ,patri pius1 fidelis1 innocens1 pudicus dona conscientiae1 quibus beata mens abundat intus3 alter et pecuniam #e recidit1 unde victitent egeni4 ,nos citos iambicos sacramus et rotatiles trochaeos1 sanctitatis indigi nec ad levamen pauperum potentes2 #aj adprobat tamen ,deus pedestre carmen1 et benignus audit4 ,multa divitis domo sita est per omnes angulos supellex4 ,fulget aureus scyphus1 #ae nec aere defit expolita pelvis3 est et olla fictilis1 gravisque et ampla argentea est parabsis4 ,sunt eburna quaepiam1 nonnulla quercu sunt cavata et ulmo3 #bj omne vas fit utile1 quod est ad usum congruens herilem1 ,instruunt enim domum ut empta magno1 sic parata ligno4 ,me paterno in atrio #be ut obsoletum vasculum caducis ,christus aptat usibus1 sinitque parte in anguli manere4 ,munus ecce fictile inimus intra regiam salutis2 #cj attamen vel infimam ,deo obsequelam praestitisse prodest4 ,quidquid illud accidit1 iuvabit ore personasse ,christum4 ,,epilogue ,the pure and faithful saint1 whose heart is whole1 ,to ,god the ,father makes his sacrifice ,from out the treasures of a stainless soul1 ,glad gifts of innocence1 beyond all price3 ,another with free hand bestows his gold1 ,whereby his needy neighbour may be fed4 ,no wealth of holiness my heart doth hold1 ,no store have ,i to buy my brothers bread3 ,so here ,i humbly dedicate to ,thee ,the rolling trochee and iambus swift2 ,thou wilt approve my simple minstrelsy1 ,thine ear will listen to ,thy servant's gift4 ,the rich man's halls are nobly furnished2 ,therein no nook or corner empty seems2 ,here stands the brazen laver burnished1 ,and there the golden goblet brightly gleams2 ,hard by some crock of clumsy earthen ware1 ,massive and ample lies a silver plate2 ,and rough-hewn cups of oak or elm are there ,with vases carved of ivory delicate4 ,yet every vessel in its place is good1 ,so be it for the ,master's service meet2 ,the priceless salver and the bowl of wood ,alike ,he needs to make ,his home complete4 ,therefore within ,his ,father's spacious hall ,christ fits me for the service of a day1 ,mean though ,i be1 a vessel poor and small1-- ,and in some lowly corner lets me stay4 ,lo in the palace of the ,king of ,kings ,i play the earthen pitcher's humble part2 ,yet to have done ,him meanest service brings ,a thrill of rapture to my thankful heart3 ,whate'er the end1 this thought will joy afford1 ,my lips have sung the praises of my ,lord4 ,this edition of the ,cathemerinon of ,prudentius has been prepared for the ,temple ,classics by ,rev4 ,r4 ,,martin ,,pope1 ,m4,a4 7,st ,john's ,college1 ,cambridge1 translator of the ,letters of ,john ,hus71 who has done the translation of the ,praefatio and ,hymns i41 ii41 iii41 viii41 xi41 xii41 with notes thereon and the note on ,prudentius4 ,for the rendering of ,hymns iv41 v41 vi41 vii41 ix41 x41 and the ,epilogus with notes thereon1 ,mr ,r4,f4 ,,davis1 ,m4,a4 7,st ,john's ,college1 ,cambridge71 is responsible4 ,the text1 with some minor alterations in orthography and punctuation1 is that of ,dressel 7,lipsiae1 #ahfj74 ,the frontispiece is due to the kind suggestion of ,dr ,,sandys1 ,public ,orator of ,cambridge ,university1 to whom the thanks of the translators are hereby presented4 ,,translator',s ,,note ,,aurelius ,,prudentius ,,clemens 7to give his full title7 was born1 probably at ,saragossa 7,caesaraugusta71 in ,spain1 in the year of our ,lord #cdh4 ,the fourth century exercised a profound influence alike on the destiny of the ,roman ,empire and of the ,christian ,church4 ,after a long discipline1 strangely alternating between fiery persecution and contemptuous toleration1 the ,church entered upon a new era1 when in #cbc ,constantine1 the first ,christian emperor1 became master of the ,roman world4 ,two years later the ,council of ,nicaea met to utter its verdict on the ,arian controversy and to establish the terms of the orthodox symbol4 ,a generation later ,julian took up the reins of empire and commenced his quixotic and fruitless attempt to revive the glories of ,paganism4 ,athanasius died in #cgc3 but fourteen years later ,augustine1 his successor in the championship of the faith1 was baptized1 and in #cie1 at the death of ,theodosius1 when the ,empire was divided between ,honorius and ,arcadius1 he became ,bishop of ,hippo1 and was marked out by his saintliness and learning as the leader of the ,western ,church1 which he shaped by his splendid ideal of the ,civitas ,dei into unity and stability1 when the secular empire was falling into decay4 ,we know little more of the life of ,prudentius than he himself has disclosed4 ,the ,preface1 which stands as an introduction to his poems1 is a miniature autobiography of great interest4 ,m4 ,boissier in his ,fin du ,paganisme calls it melancolique3 though it is rather the retrospect of a serious and awakened1 but not morbid1 conscience4 ,prudentius views his past years in the light of that new spiritual truth to which he has opened his soul4 ,we gather that he received a liberal education and was called to the bar4 ,we need not misunderstand the allusion to the deceitfulness of the barrister life1 seeing that the ordinary arts of rhetoric stand condemned by his recently adopted ethical standard4 ,he held two important judicial posts and was promoted to a high position1 probably in the civil service and not outside the limits of his native province1 the provincia ,tarraconensis4 ,he speaks of himself as having reached the age of fifty-seven1 which brings us down to #dje1 and as intending to consecrate his remaining years to the poetic treatment of religious subjects4 ,when and how he became a ,christian we do not know1 and it were vain to guess1 although the suggestion that he may have owed his conversion to the influence of some ,christian family of his acquaintance is at least interesting4 ,it is unlikely that he took up poetry for the first time in his old age4 ,his mastery of all kinds of metre--heroic and lyric--prove the practised hand4 ,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 age4 ,why not consecrate his powers to the task of interesting the literary circles of the ,empire in the evangel of ,christ8 ,why not present the truths of ,christianity in a poetic guise1 wrought into forms of beauty and set forth in the classical metres of ,roman literature8 ,this became the passion of his life1 and however we may view the results of his toil1 the spirit in which he went to work1 as described in the touching ,epilogue1 cannot but evoke our profound admiration4 ,he is but a vessel of earth1 but whatever the issue may be1 it will be a lasting joy to have sounded forth the praise of ,christ in song4 ,this then is how ,prudentius becomes the first poet of the ,christian ,church1 or1 as ,bentley called him1 the ,virgil and ,horace of the ,christians4 ,doubtless there were other influences at work to determine the sphere to which he was naturally attract4 ,ambrose1 who was ,bishop of ,milan when ,prudentius was twenty-six years of age1 had written the first ,latin hymns to be sung in church4 ,augustine in a familiar passage of the ,confessions 7ix4 #g47 describes how the custom arose of singing hymns and psalms1 after the use of the ,eastern provinces1 to save the people from being utterly worn out by their long and sorrowful vigils4 ,from that day to this1 he adds1 it has been retained and1 many might say1 all ,thy flocks throughout the rest of the world now follow our example4 ,to ,ambrose and ,augustine the ,church of ,christ is for ever indebted3 to the latter for a devotional treatise which is the most familiar of all the writings of the fourth century3 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 ,church4 ,but the ,church owes something also to ,prudentius1 a much more gifted poet than ,ambrose4 ,the collection of hymns known as the ,cathemerinon or ,hymns for the day is as little adapted for ecclesiastical worship as ,keble's ,christian ,year1 although excerpts from these poems have passed into the hymnology of the ,church1 just as portions of ,keble's work have passed into most hymn books4 ,for example1 seven of these excerpts in the form of hymns are to be found in the ,roman ,breviary1 and thus for centuries the lyrics of ,prudentius have been sung in the daily services of the ,church4 ,seeing that ,prudentius must address himself to most ,english readers through the imperfect medium of a translation1 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 sympathy4 ,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 ,testament1 there is method in his digressiveness4 ,he knows that one of the charms of ,paganism lies in its rich and variegated mythology4 ,yet ,christianity also can point to an even nobler inheritance of the supernatural and the wonderful in the mysterious evolutions of its history4 ,hence the stories of the early patriarchs1 of the ,israelites and ,moses1 of ,daniel and ,jonah1 are imported by the poet as pictorial illustrations of his theme4 ,if occasionally the details border on the grotesque1 he certainly reveals a striking knowledge of the ,old ,testament4 ,the ,new ,testament is also adequately represented4 ,in one poem 7ix47 the miracles of ,christ in ,his earthly ministry and ,his descent into ,hades are narrated with considerable spirit and eloquence4 ,besides being a student of the ,bible1 ,prudentius is a theologian4 ,his theology is that of the ,nicene ,creed4 ,the ,fall of man1 the personality of the ,tempter1 the mystery of the ,trinity and of the ,incarnation1 the ,virgin-birth1 the ,death and ,resurrection of ,christ1 the pains of the lost and the bliss of the saints1 the resurrection of the ,body and the life everlasting--these are the themes of his pen1 the themes too of the theology of his age4 ,if the poet's treatment of these truths occasionally appears antiquated and crude to modern ideas1 it is at least dignified and intelligent4 ,his mind has absorbed the ,christian religion and the ,christian theology1 and he not unfrequently rises to noble heights in the interpretation of their mysteries4 ,his didactic poems1 the ,hamartigenia or the ,origin of ,evil and the ,apotheosis1 a treatise on the ,person of ,christ1 prove him to be a theologian of no mean calibre4 ,he is also an allegorist1 as is proved by the ,psychomachia or the ,battle of the ,soul1 a kind of ,holy ,war which was very popular in the ,middle ,ages4 ,he is a martyrologist3 as witness the ,peristephanon1 a series of poems on ,christian1 principally ,spanish1 martyrs4 ,moreover1 he is an undoubted patriot1 and in the ,contra ,symmachum1 which he wrote on the famous affair of the ,altar of ,victory1 he proves that1 while a ,christian1 he is also civis ,romanus1 loyal to the ,empire and the powers that be4 ,he is a skilful versifier1 and in this connection the quatrains of the ,dittochaeon1 verses on themes of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 may be mentioned in order to complete the list of his works4 ,his mastery of his very varied metres--hexameter1 iambic1 trochaic and sapphic--is undoubted3 everywhere we note the influence of ,virgil and ,horace1 even when these poets are not recalled by echoes of their diction which are constantly greeting the reader of his poems4 ,reference has already been made to the influence of ,ambrose of ,milan upon the thought and style of ,prudentius4 ,but there is a second and even more powerful influence that deserves at least briefly to be noted--namely1 the ,christian art of the ,catacombs4 ,apart from such definite statements as e4g4 are found in ,peristephanon xi41 it is obvious that ,prudentius had a first-hand knowledge of ,rome and particularly of the ,catacombs4 ,everywhere in his poems we find evidences of the deep impression made upon his imagination by the paintings and sculptures of subterranean ,rome4 ,the now familiar representations which decorate the remains of the ,catacombs suggested to him many of the allusions1 the picturesque vignettes and glowing descriptions to be found in his poetry4 ,thus1 the story of ,jonah--a common theme typifying the ,resurrection--the story of ,daniel with its obvious consolations for an age of martyrs1 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 verse4 ,the symbolism of the ,cock1 the ,dove1 and the ,lamb borne on the shoulders of the ,good ,shepherd is a perpetually recurring feature in the lyrics and martyr-hymns of ,prudentius1 who thus becomes one of our most valuable authorities on the ,christian art of the fourth century4 ,the poems1 of which a new ,english rendering is presented in this volume1 are acknowledged by most critics to illustrate some of his best qualities1 his brightness and dignity1 his touches of nature-painting and his capacity for sustained and well-wrought narrative4 ,as we study these lyrics of the early ,church1 we feel anew the mighty change that ,christianity wrought in ,roman life by its doctrine of immortality1 and we note the curious fascination which the circumstances of the ,nativity and especially the ,adoration of the ,magi had for the ,western world4 ,prudentius had a great vogue in the ,middle ,ages1 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#a and the researches of numerous scholars and editors4 ,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 appeals4 ,he claims our interest1 not merely because he reflects the ,christian environment of his days1 but because his poetry represents an attempt to preach ,christ to a world still fascinated by ,paganism1 while conscious that the old order was changing and yielding place to new4 #a ,prudentium1 unum inter ,christianos vere facundum poetam4 ,,notes ,,hymns ,,the ,,title ,the word ,cathemerinon is taken from the ,greek and is the genitive of chathemerina daily things3 the whole title ,liber ,cathemerinon is equivalent to ,book of daily hymns1 and may be rendered ,hymns for the ,christian's day4 ,,the ,,preface ,in one or two of the ,,mss4 this introductory poem is stated to be a preface of the ,cathemerinon only3 but the great majority of the codices support the view which is undoubtedly suggested by internal evidence1 that the poem is a general introduction to the whole of ,prudentius' works4 ,it is inserted together with the ,epilogus in this volume1 because of the intrinsic interest of both poems4 ,line #h ,the reference is to the toga virilis1 the ordinary white-coloured garb of a ,roman citizen who at his sixteenth year laid aside the purple-edged toga praetexta1 which was worn during the days of boyhood4 #af ff4 ,the cities referred to are unknown3 but it is probable that they were two municipia in ,northern ,spain1 and that the office held by ,prudentius was that of duumvir or prefect4 ,provision was made by the twenty-fourth clause of the law of ,salpensa 7a town in the provincia ,baetica of ,spain7 by which the emperor could be elected first magistrate of a municipium1 and could thereupon appoint a prefect to take his place4 ,this would explain the language of the text as to the semi-imperial nature of the post4 ,the phrase militiae gradus need only be taken to indicate advancement in the civil service4 ,but the words have been interpreted in accordance with the more familiar and definite meaning of militia1 and understood to refer to a purely military post4 ,dressel thinks that ,prudentius was a miles ,palatinus1 that is1 a member of the best-paid and most highly-privileged imperial troops1 who furnished officers for some of the most lucrative posts in the provinces4 ,though in the translation the usual meaning has been given to militia1 it must be regarded as uncertain in the absence of more definite information regarding the office held by ,prudentius4 #bd ,the consulship of ,salia 7or ,salias7 belongs to the year #cdh1 the date of the birth of ,prudentius4 ,an inscription 7quoted by ,migne from ,muratorius1 ,nov4 ,thes4 ,inscrip41 i4 #cgi7 has been found in the monastery of ,st4 ,paul's outside the city bearing the words ,,filippo 4 ,,et 4 ,,sallia 4 ,,coss ,i #a ,of this poem lines #a-h1 #ha-hd1 #ig-ajj1 were included in the ,roman ,breviary as a hymn to be sung at ,lauds1 on ,tuesday4 #b ,the allusions to the cock in this and the following poem 7ii4 #cg-ee7 were doubtless inspired by the lines of ,ambrose in his morning hymn beginning ,aeterne rerum conditor4 ,cf4 ll4 #e-h and #af-bd3 praeco diei iam sonat noctis profundae pervigil1 nocturna lux viantibus a nocte noctem segregans4 99 99 99 99 99 surgamus ergo strenue3 gallus iacentes excitat1 et somnolentos increpat3 gallus negantes arguit4 gallo canente spes redit1 aegris salus refunditur1 mucro latronis conditur1 lapsis fides revertitur4 ,translation4 ,dawn's herald now begins to cry1 ,lone watcher of the nightly sky3 ,light of the dark to pilgrims dear1 ,speeding successive midnights drear4 99 99 99 99 99 ,brisk from our couch let us arise6 ,hark to the cock's arousing cries6 ,he chides the sluggard's slumbrous ease1 ,and shames his unconvincing pleas4 ,at cock-crow ,hope revives again1 ,health banishes the stress of pain1 ,sheathed is the nightly robber's sword1 ,and ,faith to fallen hearts restored4 ,see also ,ambrose1 ,hexaem41 v4 #bd1 for an eloquent passage in the same strain4 ,the cock was the familiar ,christian symbol of early rising or vigilance1 and numerous representations of it are found in the ,catacombs4 ,cf4 the painting from the ,catacomb of ,st4 ,priscilla reproduced in ,bottari's folio of #aged1 where the ,good ,shepherd is depicted as feeding the lambs1 with a crowing cock on ,his right and left hand4 ,it is also a symbol of the ,resurrection1 our ,lord being supposed to have risen from the grave at the early cockcrowing3 see l4 #fe et seq4 ,in l4 #af the first bird-notes are interpreted by the poet as a summons to the general judgment4 ,cf4 ,mark xiii4 #ce3 ,ye know not when the lord of the house cometh1 whether at even1 or at midnight1 or at cockcrowing1 or in the morning4 ,this passage serves as a kind of text for ,prudentius' first two hymns1 and perhaps explains why he has one for cockcrowing and another for morning4 #bf ,a common idea in all literatures4 ,cf4 ,virg41 ,aen41 vi4 #bgh 7taken from ,homer71 tum consanguineus ,leti ,sopor1 and ,tennyson's ,sleep1 ,death's twin-brother 7,in ,memoriam1 #fh74 #dd ,cf4 ,augustine1 ,serm4 #ajc3 ,these evil spirits seek to seduce the soul3 but when the sun has arisen1 they take to flight4 #ei ,the denial of ,peter forms a subject of ,christian casuistry in patristic literature1 and this passage recalls the famous classical parallel in ,euripides 7,hipp4 #fab71 the tongue hath sworn3 yet unsworn is the heart4 ,cf4 ,augustine1 cont4 mendacium3 ,in that denial he held fast the truth in his heart1 while with his lips he uttered falsehood4 ,for a striking representation of ,peter and the cock1 on a sarcophagus discovered in the ,catacombs and now deposited in the ,vatican library1 see ,maitland's ,church in the ,catacombs1 p4 #cdg4 ,the closing words of the passage in ,ambrose's ,hexaemeron1 already referred to under l4 #b1 may here be quoted3 ,as the cock peals forth his notes1 the robber leaves his plots3 ,lucifer himself awakes and lights up the sky3 the distressful sailor lays aside his gloom1 and all the storms and tempests that have risen in fury under the winds of the evening begin to die down3 the soul of the saint leaps to prayer and renews the study of the written word3 and finally1 the very ,rock of the ,church is cleansed of the stain he had contracted by his denials before the cock crew4 #ha ff4 ,the best commentary on these words is to be found in the following passage from the second epistle of ,basil to ,gregory ,nazianzen3 ,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 songs3 yea1 all the day through to make prayer the accompaniment of our toils and to season them with praise as with salt8 ,for the solace of hymns changes the soul's sadness into mirth4 ,,ii #a ,this poem furnishes two hymns to the ,roman ,breviary1 one to be sung on ,wednesday at ,lauds1 and consisting of ll4 #a-h1 #dh-ec 7omitting l4 #ej71 #eg1 #ei1 #fj1 #fg 7tu vera lux caelestium7 and #fh3 the other for ,thursday at ,lauds1 consisting of ll4 #be 7lux ecce surgit aurea71 #ic-ajh4 #ag ,cf4 ,ambrose1 ii4 #h1 de ,cain et ,abel3 ,the thief shuns the day as the witness of his crime3 the adulterer is abashed by the dawn as the accomplice of his adultery4 #ea ,the practice of praying on bended knees is frequently referred to in early ,christian writers4 ,cf4 ,clem41 #a ,ad4 ,cor4 cc4 xlviii43 ,let us fall down before the ,lord1 and ,shepherd of ,hermas1 vis4 #a4 i43 ,after ,i had crossed that river ,i came unto the banks and there knelt down and began to pray4 ,dressel quotes from ,juvencus 7iv4 #fdh71 a ,spanish poet and ,christian contemporary of ,prudentius1 genibus nixi regem dominumque salutant1 on bended knees they make obeisance unto their ,king and ,lord4 #fc ,the ,jordan is a poetical figure for baptism1 suggested doubtless by the baptism of our ,lord in that river4 ,cf4 vii4 #gc-ge4 #fg ,cf4 ,milton1 ,paradise ,regained1 i4 #bic3 ,so spake our ,morning ,star1 then in his rise4 ,the figure is suggested by ,rev4 xxii4 #af3 ,i am 444 the bright1 the morning star4 #aje ,the conception of ,god as speculator may be paralleled by a passage in the epistle of ,polycarp ad ,philipp4 iv41 where ,god is described as the ,arch-critic 7panta momoschopeitai7 and subsequently 7vii47 as ton pantepopten theon1 the ,all-witnessing ,god4 ,the last verse contains a distinct echo of the closing words of the fourth chapter of ,polycarp3 ,none of the reasonings or thoughts1 nor any of the hidden things of the heart escape ,his notice4 ,,iii #b ,word-begot4 ,the original verbigena1 on the analogy of such words 7cf4 terrigena1 ,martigena1 etc471 can only mean begotten of the ,word4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 the ,word in this connection is not the ,johannine ,logos or ,second ,person in the ,trinity4 ,prudentius cannot be guilty of the error which he expressly condemns 7,apoth4 #bdi7 as perquam ridiculum and regard the ,logos as begetting ,himself4 ,consequently1 both in this passage and in xi4 #ah 7verbo editus7 the ,word must be taken as approximating rather to the ,alexandrian conception of the ,logos as the ,divine ,reason4 ,in this way ,christ is expressly described as the offspring of the ,intellectus ,dei1 the immanent ,intelligence of the ,deity4 ,if this conception is considered to be beyond ,prudentius1 we can only suppose that both here and in xi4 #ah1 his language is theologically loose4 ,some excuse may be offered for this on the ground that the ,latin language is ill-adapted for expressing metaphysical truths4 ,the late ,bishop ,westcott remarked on the inadequacy of the ,latin original of the ,word was made flesh 7verbum caro factum est71 both substantive and verb falling short of the richness of their ,greek equivalents4 7,vid4 also note on iv4 #ae47 #aa ,cf4 ,ambrose1 ,hymn vii43-- ,christusque nobis sit cibus ,potusque noster sit fides2 ,laeti bibamus sobriam ,ebrietatem ,spiritus4 ,translation4 ,may ,christ be now the ,bread we eat1 ,be simple ,faith our potion sweet3 ,let our intoxication be ,the ,spirit's calm sobriety4 ,the idea is familiar to readers of ,herbert and ,herrick1 though it is elaborated by them with quaint conceits somewhat foreign to the ,latin poet4 ,cf4 ,herbert1 ,the ,banquet3-- ,o what sweetnesse from the bowl ,fills my soul6 99 99 99 99 99 ,is some starre 7fled from the sphere7 ,melted there1 ,as we sugar melt in wine8 99 99 99 99 99 ,doubtless neither starre nor flower ,hath the power ,such a sweetnesse to impart3 ,only ,god1 ,who gives perfumes1 ,flesh assumes1 ,and with it perfumed my heart4 ,also ,herrick1 ,a ,thanksgiving to ,god3-- ,lord1 ,i confess too1 when ,i dine1 ,the pulse is thine4 99 99 99 99 99 ',tis thou that crown'st my glittering hearth ,with guiltless mirth1 ,and giv'st me wassail bowls to drink1 ,spiced to the brink4 #bh ,the original dactylico refers to the metre of the ,latin of this poem4 ,for a rendering of ll4 #a-fe in the metre of the original see ,glover1 ,life and ,letters in the ,fourth ,century1 pp4 #bfg-bfi4 #eh ,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 ,church4 ,in ,christian circles1 however1 the abstinence was practised on personal and spiritual grounds1 e4g41 ,jerome 7de ,regul4 ,monach41 xi47 says1 ,the eating of flesh is the seed-plot of lust 7seminarium libidinis73 so also ,augustine 7de moribus ,ecc4 ,cath41 i4 #cc71 who supports what doubtless was the view of ,prudentius1 namely that the avoidance of animal flesh was a safe-guard but not a binding ,christian duty4 #ge ,unwed4 ,prudentius thus adopts the view of the ancient world on the question of the generation of bees4 ,cf4 ,virgil1 ,geo4 iv4 #aih1 and ,pliny1 ,nat4 ,hist41 xi4 #af4 ,dryden's translation of ,virgil 7l4c47 is as follows3-- ,but 7what's more strange7 their modest appetites1 ,averse from ,venus1 fly the nuptial rights2 ,no lust enervates their heroic mind1 ,nor wastes their strength on wanton womankind1 ,but in their mouths reside their genial powers1 ,they gather children from the leaves and flowers4 #hf ,cf4 ,ps4 liv4 #ah1 #ai 7,vulg473 ,vespere et mane et meridie narrabo et annuntiabo et exaudiet vocem meam4 ,in the evening and morning and at noonday will ,i pray1 and that instantly and he shall hear my voice 7,p4 ,b4 ,version74 #abg ,this is1 strictly speaking1 an error3 it is the woman's seed which is to bruise the serpent's head4 ,the error was perpetuated in the ,latin ,church by the ,vulgate of ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 ipsa conteret caput tuum1 where ipsa refers to the woman 7 she herself74 #aeg ,the epithet white-robed refers to the newly-baptized converts who received the white robe as a symbol of their new nature4 ,cf4 ,perist4 i4 #fg3 ,christus illic candidatis praesidet cohortibus1 and ,ambrose 7de ,mysteriis1 vii473 ,thou didst receive 7that is1 after baptism7 white garments as a sign that thou hast doffed the covering of thy sins and put on the chaste raiment 7velamina7 of innocence1 whereof the prophet spake 7,ps4 li4 #g71 ',thou shalt purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean3 thou shalt wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow' 7,vulg474 #aii ,phlegethon 7rendered ,hell71 one of the rivers of the ,virgilian ,hades1 is used to express the abode of the lost4 ,cf4 ,milton1 ,p4 ,l41 ii4 #ehj3-- 444 fierce ,phlegethon1 ,whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage4 ,the subject of the descensus ad inferos was evidently a favourite one with ,prudentius and his contemporaries4 ,it has been suggested that apart from the scriptural basis of this conception ,prudentius was influenced by the so-called ,gospel of ,nicodemus1 which embodies two books1 the ,acts of ,pilate and the ,descent into ,hell4 ,the latter is assigned by several critics to #djj or thereabouts1 and gives a graphic account of ,christ's doings in ,hades4 ,synesius deals with the subject in one of his hymns 7ix471 and ,mrs ,browning's translation 7see the essay on ,the ,greek ,christian ,poets7 of a passage in that poem may be quoted3-- ,down ,thou earnest1 low as earth1 ,bound to those of mortal birth2 ,down ,thou earnest1 low as hell1 ,where ,shepherd-,death did tend and keep ,a thousand nations like to sheep1 ,while weak with age old ,hades fell ,shivering through his dark to view ,thee4 99 99 99 99 99 ,so1 redeeming from their pain ,chains of disembodied ones1 ,thou didst lead whom thou didst gather ,upward in ascent again1 ,with a great hymn to the ,father1 ,upward to the pure white thrones6 ,for a modern treatment of the theme see ,christ in ,hades1 by ,stephen ,phillips4 #bjb ,the words suggest the ,catacombs1 and perhaps refer to the custom of placing in the tomb a small cup or vase containing spices1 of which myrrh 7a symbol of death1 according to ,gregory of ,nyssa1 cf4 xii4 #ga7 was most usually employed4 ,or the allusion may be to the practice of embalming4 7,see note on x4 #ea47 ,the body was placed not only in an actual sarcophagus or stone coffin1 as expressly mentioned in the text1 but in hollow places cut out of rock or earth 7loculus74 ,the sarcophagus method seems to have been the earlier1 but was superseded by that of the loculus1 except in the case of the very wealthy4 #bje ,the concluding line is beautifully illustrated by the epitaph on the martyr ,alexander1 found over one of the graves in the cemetery of ,callixtus in the ,catacombs3-- ,,alexander ,,mortvvs ,,non ,,est ,,sed ,,vivit ,,svper ,,astra ,,et ,,corpvs ,,in ,,hoc ,,tvmvlo ,,qviescit 444 ,alexander is not dead1 but lives above the stars and his body rests in this tomb4 ,,iv #ae ,prudentius here1 as again in v4 #afj1 emphasises his belief in the procession of the ,holy ,ghost from the ,father and the ,son4 ,the filioque clause was not actually added to the ,nicene ,creed till the ,council of ,toledo 7#ehi ,a4,d471 but the doctrine was expressly maintained by ,augustine1 and occurs in a ,confession of ,faith of an earlier ,synod of ,toledo 7#ddg ,a4,d4871 and in the words of ,leo ,i4 7,ep4 ad ,turib41 c4 #a71 de utroque processit4 ,the addition was not embodied into the ,creed as used at ,rome as late as the beginning of the ninth century4 7,vid4 ,harnack1 ,hist4 of ,dogma1 iv4 #acb47 ,prudentius probably followed1 as regards the ,trinity1 the doctrine generally held by the ,spanish ,church of his day2 in many points it is difficult 7cf4 note on iii4 #b71 but appears to be derived partly from ,tertullian and partly from ,marcellus4 #ei ,the identification of the ,habakkuk of this legend 7vid4 the ,apocryphal ,bel and the ,dragon7 with the ,o4 ,t4 prophet is erroneous4 ,this version of the story of ,daniel is sometimes represented in the frescoes of the ,catacombs1 where the subject is a very favourite one1 as is natural in an age when the cry ,christiani ad leones so often rang through the streets of ,rome4 ,v #a ,there has been much doubt as to the title and scope of this hymn4 ,some early editors 7e4g41 ,fabricius and ,arevalus7 adopt the title ad incensum cerei ,paschalis1 or de novo lumine ,paschalis ,sabbati1 and confine its object to the ceremonial of ,easter ,eve1 which is specially alluded to in ll4 #abe et seq4 ,others1 following the best ,,mss41 give the simpler title used in this text1 and regard it as a hymn for daily use4 ,this view is supported by the weight of evidence3 the position of the hymn among the first six 7none of which are for special days71 and the fact that the ,benediction of the ,paschal ,candle was not in use1 at any rate in ,rome1 in the pontificate of ,zacharias 7ob4 #geb ,a4,d47 point in this direction4 ,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 lucernarium1 as distinct from ,vespers4 ,the ,mozarabic ,breviary 7seventh century7 contains the prayers and responses for this service1 and the ,rule of ,st4 ,isidore runs3 ,in the evening offices1 first the lucernarium1 then two psalms1 one responsory and lauds1 a hymn and prayer are to be said4 ,st4 ,basil also writes3 ,it seemed good to our fathers not to receive in silence the gift of the evening light1 but to give thanks as soon as it appeared4 ,it is probable1 therefore1 that ,prudentius intended the hymn for daily use1 and that after speaking of ,god as the source of light1 and ,his manifestations in the form of fire to ,moses and the ,israelites1 his thoughts pass naturally1 though somewhat abruptly1 to the special festival--,easter ,eve--on which the sanctuaries were most brilliantly illuminated4 ,the question is fully discussed by ,brockhaus 7,a4 ,prudentius ,clemens in seiner ,bedeutung fuer die ,kirche seiner ,zeit71 and ,roesler 7,der catholische ,dichter ,a4 ,prudentius74 ,part of this hymn is used in the ,mozarabic ,breviary for the ,first ,sunday after ,epiphany1 at ,vespers1 being stanzas #a1 #g1 #ce1 #ch-da4 #g ,the words incussu silicis are perhaps reminiscent of the ,spanish ceremonial of ,easter ,eve1 when the bishop struck the flint1 lighting from it first a candle1 then a lamp1 from which the deacons lighted their candles2 these were blessed by the bishop1 and the procession from the processus into the church followed4 #ba ,cf4 ,vaughan1 ,the ,lampe3-- ,then thou dost weepe ,still as thou burn'st1 and the warm droppings creepe ,to measure out thy length4 #aai ,the folium here is probably the ancient malobathrum1 generally identified as the ,indian cinnamon4 ,the ,arab traders who brought this valuable product into the ,western markets1 surrounded its origin with much mystery4 #abe ,the following stanzas1 in which ,prudentius elaborates the beautiful fancy that the sufferings of lost spirits are alleviated at ,eastertide1 have incurred the severe censure of some of the earlier editors4 ,fabricius calls it a ,spanish fabrication1 while others1 as ,cardinal ,bellarmine1 declare that the author is speaking poetically and not dogmatically4 ,that such a belief1 however1 was actually held by some section of the ancient ,church is evident from the words of ,st4 ,augustine 7,encheiridion1 c4 #aab73 ,paenas damnatorum certis temporum intervallis existiment1 si hoc eis placet1 aliquatenus mitigari1 dummodo intelligatur in eis manere ira ,dei1 hoc est ipsa damnatio4 ,let men believe1 if it so please them1 that at certain intervals the pains of the damned are somewhat alleviated1 provided that it be understood that the wrath of ,god1 that is damnation itself1 abides upon them4 #adj ,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 7liba7 used in pagan sacrifice4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that in the early days of the ,church paganism and ,christianity flourished side by side for a considerable period2 and we find various pagan practices allowed to continue1 where they were innocent4 ,thus the bride-cake and the bridal-veil are of heathen origin2 the mirth of the ,saturnalia survives1 in a modified form1 in some of the rejoicings of ,christmas2 and the flowers1 which had filled the pagan temples during the ,floralia1 were employed to adorn ,god's ,house at the ,easter festival4 #ada ,the brilliant illumination of churches on ,easter ,eve is very ancient4 ,according to ,eusebius1 ,constantine turned the mystical vigil into the light of day by means of lamps suspended in every part1 setting up also great waxen tapers1 as large as columns1 throughout the city4 ,gregory of ,nyssa also speaks of the cloud of fire mingling with the rays of the rising sun1 and making the eve and the festival one continuous day without interval of darkness4 #aec ,cf4 ,paradise ,lost1 iii4 #ea3-- ,so much the rather thou1 ,celestial ,light1 ,shine inward1 and the mind through all her powers ,irradiate4 ,,vi ,the last seven stanzas of this hymn are used in the ,moz4 ,brev4 at ,compline on ,passion ,sunday1 and daily until ,maundy ,thursday4 #ef ,cf4 ,job4 vii4 #ad3 ,then ,thou scarest me with dreams1 and terrifiest me through visions4 #ie ,in the translation of this stanza the explanation of ,nebrissensis is adopted1 an early editor of ,prudentius 7#aeab7 and one of the leaders of the ,renaissance in ,spain4 ,he considers that the few of the impious who are condemned to eternal death are the incurable sinners1 immedicabiles4 ,others attempt to reconcile these words with the general belief of the early ,church by maintaining that non pii is not equivalent to impii1 but rather refers to the class that is neither decidedly good nor definitely bad1 and that the mercy of ,god is extended to the majority of these4 ,a third view is that the poet is speaking relatively1 and means that few are condemned in proportion to the number that deserve condemnation4 ,in whatever way the words are explained1 it is interesting to find an advocate of the larger hope in the fourth century4 #aje ,cf4 ,rev4 xvii4 #h3 ,the beast that thou sawest was1 and is not2 and is about to come up out of the abyss1 and to go into perdition4 #aji ,cf4 #b ,thess4 ii4 #d3 ,the son of perdition1 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 #abg ,the phrase rorem subisse sacrum would suggest baptism by sprinkling1 except that ,prudentius uses the word loosely elsewhere4 ,immersion was undoubtedly the general practice of the early ,church1 clinical baptism being allowed only in cases of necessity4 #abh ,the anointing with oil showed that the catechumen was enrolled among the spiritual priesthood1 and with the unction was joined the sign of the ,cross on the forehead4 ,,vii #a ,this entire hymn is used in the ,moz4 ,brev41 divided into fifteen portions for use during ,lent4 #bg ,the word sacerdos here1 as in ix4 #d1 is used in the sense of prophet2 but in both passages there is some idea of the exercise of priestly functions4 ,elijah may be called priest from his having offered sacrifice on ,mount ,carmel1 and ,david from his wearing the priestly ephod as he danced before the ,ark4 #fi ,the old editors discuss these lines with much gravity1 and mostly come to the conclusion that locusts were a kind of bird1 of the length of a finger1 with quick1 short flight2 while the wild honey was not actual honey at all1 but the tender leaves of certain trees1 which1 when crushed by the fingers1 had the pleasant savour of honey4 #gf ,a gloss on one of the ,vat4 ,,mss4 adds3 ,this is not authorised2 for ,john merely baptized with water1 and not in the name of the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost2 therefore his baptism was of no avail1 save that it prepared the way for ,christ to baptize4 ,many of the ,fathers1 however1 while expressly affirming that ,john's baptism differed from that of ,christ1 allowed that the stains of sin were washed away by the former4 ,st4 ,chrysostom draws this distinction3 ,there was in ,john's baptism pardon1 but not without repentance2 remission of sins1 but only attained by grief4 #ajj ,the story of ,jonah1 as a type of the ,resurrection1 is one of the most frequent subjects of the frescoes of the ,catacombs4 ,in one very ancient picture1 a man in a small boat is depicted in the act of placing the prophet in the very jaws of the whale4 #aae ,two stanzas are omitted in the text1 which depict the sufferings of ,jonah with a wealth of detail not in accordance with modern taste4 ,for the sake of giving a complete text1 we append them here3-- ,transmissa raptim praeda cassos dentium eludit ictus incruentam transvolans inpune linguam1 ne retentam mordicus offam molares dissecarent uvidi1 os omne transit et palatum praeterit4 ,ternis dierum ac noctium processibus mansit ferino devoratus gutture1 errabat illic per latebras viscerum1 ventris recessus circumibat tortiles anhelus extis intus aestuantibus4 #aid ,prudentius appears to have believed that the mystery of the ,incarnation was concealed from ,satan1 and that the ,temptation was an endeavour to ascertain whether ,jesus was the ,son of ,god or no4 ,cf4 ,milton1 ,par4 ,reg4 i43-- ,who this is we must learn1 for ,man he seems ,in all his lineaments1 though in his face ,the glimpses of his ,father's glory shine4 ,,viii #i ,the day of twelve hours appears to have been adopted by the ,romans about ,b4,c4 #bia4 ,ambrose 7de virginibus1 iii4 #d71 commenting on ,ps4 cxix4 and the words ,seven times a day do ,i praise thee1 declares that prayers are to be offered up with thanksgiving when we rise from sleep1 when we go forth1 when we prepare to take food1 when we have taken it1 at the hour of incense1 and lastly1 when we retire to rest4 ,he probably alludes to private prayer4 ,the stanza here indicates that the second hour after midday has arrived1 when the fasting ended and the midday meal was taken4 #ad ,the word festum1 as in vii4 #d1 indicates a special fast day4 ,until the sixth century1 fasting was simply a penitential discipline and was not used as a particular mode of penance4 ,in the fourth century it was a fairly common practice as a preparation for ,holy ,communion4 ,fasting before ,baptism was a much earlier practice4 ,the stated fasts of the ,western ,church were 7#a7 annual1 that is1 ante-paschal or ,lent2 7#b7 monthly1 or the fasts of the four seasons in the #ast1 #dth1 #gth and #ajth months2 7#c7 weekly1 on ,wednesday and ,friday4 ,there was also the fast of the ,rogations and the ,vigils or ,eves of holy days4 ,it is doubtful whether all these were in vogue as early as ,prudentius4 #cc ,this passage on the ,shepherd reminds us of one of the most common pictorial representations of the ,catacombs4 ,christian art owed something to paganism in this matter2 ancient sculptures represent the god ,pan with a goat thrown across his shoulders and a ,pan's pipe in his hand2 while the poets ,calpurnius and ,tibullus both refer to the custom of carrying a stray or neglected lamb on the shoulders of the shepherd4 ,going further back1 the figure is common in the ,o4 ,t4 to express ,god's care over ,his people4 ,our ,lord therefore used for ,his own purpose and transfigured with new meaning a familiar figure4 ,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 pipe4 ,see ,maitland's ,church in the ,catacombs1 p4 #cae1 for a woodcut of the ,good ,shepherd with a lamb over ,his shoulders1 two sheep at ,his feet1 a palm tree 7or poplar7 on either side1 and a ,pan's pipe in ,his right hand2 and also the frontispiece for a reproduction from the ,cemetery of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,marcellinus4 ,,ix #a ,this hymn1 which first introduced into sacred song the trochaic metre familiar in ,greek ,tragedy and the ,latin adaptations of it1 supplies the ,moz4 ,brev4 with some stanzas for use during ,holy ,week4 ,the lines selected are #bb-bd1 #a-ba4 #aa ,the use of the symbol ,o1 7pronounced here as a single syllable71 appears to indicate that the names ,omega and ,omikron came into use at a later date than ,prudentius' time4 ,in ,rev4 i4 #h1 the best ,,mss4 read ego eimi to alpha kai to o4 #cc ,the words vulnerum piamina are generally supposed to refer to the gifts which ,moses commanded to be offered by those healed of leprosy 7,lev4 xiv4 #b74 ,if so1 ,prudentius' language may imply that the cure was not actually complete until the offering of these gifts1 and is at variance with ,st4 ,matthew1 viii4 #dc1 and forthwith his leprosy was cleansed4 ,probably1 however1 his idea is rather that the gifts to the priest formally marked the leper as a clean man4 #ga ,cf4 note on iii4 #aii4 ,x #a ,parts of this hymn are used in the ,moz4 ,brev4 in the ,office of the ,dead1 being ll4 #a-af1 #de-dh1 #eg-fh1 #aeg-afh4 ,the burial rites of the primitive ,church were simple1 and marked by an absence of the ostentatious expression of grief which the pagan peoples displayed4 ,the general practice of cremation was rejected1 partly owing to the new belief in the resurrection of the body1 and partly from a desire to imitate the burial of the ,lord4 ,at ,rome1 during the first three centuries1 the dead were laid in the ,catacombs1 in which ,prudentius took conspicuous interest 7see ,translator's ,note71 but after #cch ,a4,d4 this practice became less frequent1 and was completely abandoned after #daj ,a4,d4 ,elsewhere1 from the earliest times1 the ,christians purchased special enclosures 7areae71 which were often attacked and rifled by angry mobs in the days of persecution4 ,the body was frequently embalmed 7cf4 ll4 #ea1 #eb71 swathed in white linen 7l4 #di71 and placed in a coffin2 vigils and hymns continued for three or four days1 but hired mourners were forbidden 7l4 #aac71 and instead of the dirges of the heathens1 chants expressive of triumphant faith were sung as the body was carried to the grave1 where a simple service was held1 and evergreens and flowers were strewn about the tomb 7ll4 #afi1 #agj74 ,the earliest inscriptions are often roughly scratched on plaster1 and consist merely of a name and age1 or simple words like-- ,,gemella ,,dormit ,,in ,,pace but later 7cf4 l4 #aga71 they were engraved on small marble slabs4 #be ,in both thought and language this stanza1 as vii4 #af et seq41 is evidently reminiscent of ,horace 7,sat4 #b1 ii4 #gg73 ,quin corpus onustum1 etc4 ,the ,body1 too1 with ,yesterday's excess ,burthened and tired1 shall the pure ,soul depress1 ,weigh down this ,portion of celestial ,birth1 ,this ,breath of ,god1 and fix it to the ,earth4 7,francis74 #ea ,boldetti1 in his work on the ,catacombs 7lib4 i4 cap4 #ei71 says that on many occasions1 when he was present at the opening of a grave1 the assembled company were conscious of a spicy odour diffusing itself from the tomb4 ,cf4 ,tertullian 7,apol4 #db73 ,the ,arabs and ,sabaeans knew well that we consume more of their precious merchandise for our dead than do the heathen for their gods4 #eg ,prudentius' firm faith in the resurrection of the body is also nobly expressed in the ,apotheosis 7ll4 #ajfc et seq473-- ,nosco meum in ,christo corpus resurgere2 quid me ,desperare iubes8 veniam1 quibus ille revenit ,calcata de morte viis3 quod credimus hoc est4 99 99 99 99 99 ,pellite corde metum1 mea membra1 et credite vosmet ,cum ,christo reditura ,deo2 nam vos gerit ille ,et secum revocat3 morbos ridete minaces3 ,inflictos casus contemnite2 tetra sepulcra ,despuite2 exsurgens quo ,christus provocat1 ite4 ,translation4 ,i know in ,christ my body shall arise2 ,why bid me1 then1 despair8 for ,i shall go ,by that same path whereby my ,lord returned1 ,death trodden 'neath ,his feet3 this is my creed4 ,banish1 my limbs1 all terror2 and believe ,that ye with ,christ our ,god shall yet return2 ,he beareth you and with ,himself recalls4 ,laugh at the threats of sickness2 scorn the blows ,of fate2 despise the horrors of the tomb2 ,and fare ye where the risen ,christ doth call4 #fa ,the poet expresses as a duty owed to ,christ ,himself the heathen obligation of casting three handfuls of earth upon a body discovered dead4 #fi ,for the incident referred to in these lines1 see the ,apocryphal book of ,tobias1 cc4 ii4 and xi4 ,tobit1 a pious ,israelite captive in ,nineveh1 was reduced to beggary as the result of his zeal in burying those of his countrymen who had been killed and exposed by royal command4 ,he also lost his sight1 which was eventually restored by the application of the gall of a fish which attacked his son ,tobias1 and was killed by him4 ,the fish of the legend is probably the crocodile1 whose gall was credited with medicinal properties by various ,greek and ,latin writers4 ,cf4 ,pliny1 ,n4 ,h4 xxviii4 #h3 ,they say that nothing avails more against cataract than to anoint the eyes with its gall mixed with honey4 #aac ,cf4 ,cyprian 7,de ,mortal4 #bj73 ,we must not lament our brethren whom the ,lord's summons has freed from the world1 for we know that they are not lost1 but gone before4 ,we may not wear the black robes of mourning while they have put on the white raiment of joy4 ,nor may we grieve for those as lost whom we know to be living with ,god4 #aga ,cf4 ,perist4 vii43-- ,nos pio fletu1 date1 perluamus ,marmorum sulcos4 ,the early ,christian epitaphs1 of which many thousands exist1 are instinct with a faith which is in striking contrast to the unrelieved gloom or sullen resignation of paganism4 ,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 babe1 whom the angry gods gave to unending sleep4 the ,christian ,,dvlcis ,,et ,,innocens ,,hic ,,dormit ,,severianvs ,,somno ,,pacis ,,cvivs ,,spiritvs ,,in ,,lvce ,,domini ,,svsceptvs ,,est 7,a4,d4 #cic7 ,here slumbers in the sleep of peace the sweet and innocent ,severianus1 whose spirit is received in the light of the ,lord or ,,natvs ,,est ,,lavrentivs ,,in ,,eternvm ,,ann4 ,,xx4 ,,dormit ,,in ,,pace 7,a4,d4 #cbi7 ,laurentius was born into eternity in his twentieth year4 ,he sleeps in peace4 ,see also note on iii4 #bje4 ,,xi #a ,virgil's ,fourth ,eclogue known as the ,pollio has undoubtedly influenced the thought and style of this poem3 the more noticeable parallels will be pointed out as they occur4 ,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 hymn2 but curiously enough1 the ,puritan poet in alluding to the season of the ,nativity takes an opposite line of thought1 and regards the diminished sunshine of winter as a veiling of an inferior flame before the light of a greater ,sun4 ,prudentius proclaims the increase of the sun's light1 which begins after the winter solstice1 as symbolic of the ever-widening influence of the ,true ,light4 ,the idea is given in a terse form by ,st4 ,peter ,chrysologus1 ,serm4 #aei3 ,crescere dies coepit1 quia verus dies illuxit4 ,the day begins to lengthen out1 inasmuch as the true ,day hath shone forth4 #ah ,for the somewhat obscure phrase verbo editus1 see note on iii4 #b4 #bj ,for ,sophia or the ,divine ,creative ,wisdom1 see ,prov4 iii4 #ai1 #bj1 and especially viii4 #bg-ca1 where the language has been of signal importance in the history of thought1 helping1 as it does1 to make a bridge between ,eastern and ,greek ideas1 and to prepare the way for the ,incarnation 7,davison1 ,wisdom-,literature of the ,o4 ,t41 pp4 #e1 #f74 ,in ,alexandrian theology the conception of ,god's transcendence gave rise to the doctrine of an intermediate power or logos1 by which creation was effected4 ,in the ,prologue of the fourth ,gospel the idea was set forth in its purely ,christian form4 ,see #a1 #c1 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 ,st4 ,paul in such passages as ,col4 i4 #f4 #ei ,cf4 for the conception of a golden age1 ,virg41 ,ecl41 iv4 #e et seq43 ,magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo1 etc4 #fe ,reminiscences of ancient prophecy appear to be embodied in this and following lines4 ,cf4 ,joel iii4 #ah3 ,and it shall come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine and the hills shall flow with milk4 ,amos ix4 #ac3 ,the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt4 ,but cf4 especially ,virg41 ,ecl41 iv4 #ah-cj3 ,at tibi prima1 puer1 nullo munuscula cultu1 etc4 ,unbidden earth shall wreathing ivy bring1 ,and fragrant herbs 7the promises of spring7 ,as her first off'rings to her infant king4 99 99 99 99 99 ,unlaboured harvest shall the fields adorn1 ,and clustered grapes shall blush on every thorn2 ,the knotted oaks shall showers of honey weep1 ,and through the matted grass the liquid gold shall creep4 7,dryden's ,trans47 #ha ,the legend of the ox and ass adoring our ,lord arose from an allegorical interpretation of ,isa4 i4 #c3 ,the ox knoweth his owner1 the ass his master's crib4 ,origen 7,homilies on ,st4 ,luke xiii47 is the first to allegorise on the passage in ,isaiah1 where the word for crib in the ,greek translation of the ,o4 ,t4 is identical with ,st4 ,luke's word for manger 7phatne74 ,after referring to the circumstances of the ,nativity1 ,origen proceeds to say3 ,that was what the prophet foretold1 saying1 ',the ox knoweth1' etc4 ,the ,ox is a clean animal3 the ,ass an unclean one4 ,the ,ass knew his master's crib 7praesepe domini sui73 not the people of ,israel1 but the unclean animal out of pagan nations knew its master's crib4 ',but ,israel hath not known me3 and my people hath not understood4' ,let us understand this and press forward to the crib1 recognise the ,master and be made worthy of his knowledge4 ,the thought that the ,ox the ,jews and the ,ass ,pagans1 reappears in ,gregory ,nazianzen1 ,ambrose and ,jerome4 ,see an interesting article by ,mr4 ,austin ,west 7,ox and ,ass ,legend of the ,nativity4 ,cont4 ,review1 ,dec4 #aijc71 who notes the further impetus given to the legend by the ,latin rendering of ,habb4 iii4 #b 7,,lxx47 which in the ,vetus ,itala version appears as in medio duorum animalium in notesceris1 in the midst of two animals shalt thou be known 7,r4,v41 in the midst of the years make it known74 ,the legend does not appear in apocryphal ,christian literature earlier than in the ,pseudo-,matthew ,gospel1 which belongs to the later fifth century4 ,it is interesting to note that with ,st4 ,francis and the ,franciscans the ox and the ass are merely animals3 the allegorical interpretation of ,origen had vanished from ,christendom3 and in its place we find ,st4 ,francis 7see ,life of ,st4 ,francis by ,st4 ,bonaventura1 ,temple ,classics edition1 p4 #aaa7 making a presepio at ,greccio1 to which a living ox and ass are brought1 in order that a visible representation of the manger-scene might kindle the devotion of the ,brethren and the assembled townsfolk4 ,this act of ,st4 ,francis inaugurated the custom1 still observed in the ,roman ,church1 of representing by means of waxen images the whole of the ,nativity manger-scene1 ,mother and ,child together with the adoring animals4 #ig ,for the obstetrix1 cf4 ,proto-,evangelium of the ,pseudo-,james 7a ,greek romance of the fourth century71 ,sec4 #ah et seq41 where ,joseph is represented as seeking and finding a ,hebrew midwife4 #ajj ,cf4 ,milton's ,ode on the ,nativity1 ll4 #aeg-afd3-- ,with such a horrid clang ,as on ,mount ,sinai rang ,while the red fire and smould'ring clouds outbrake3 ,the aged earth aghast ,with terror of that blast1 ,shall from the surface to the centre shake2 ,when at the world's last session ,the dreadful ,judge in middle air shall spread his throne4 ,,xii #a ,this poem has given four hymns to the ,roman ,breviary3-- 7#a7 ,for the ,feast of the ,transfiguration1 ,vespers and ,matins consisting of ll4 #a-d1 #cg-dj1 #da-dd1 #he-hh4 7#b7 ,for the ,epiphany at ,lauds1 beginning ,o sola magnarum urbium1 ll4 #gg-hj1 #e-h1 #fa-gb4 7#c7 ,for the ,feast of ,holy ,innocents at ,matins1 beginning ,audit tyrannus anxius1 ll4 #ic-ajj1 #acc-acf4 7#d7 ,also the ,feast of ,holy ,innocents at ,lauds1 beginning ,salvete flores martyrum1 ll4 #abe-acb4 #e ,for a curious parallel to these opening lines see ,henry ,vaughan's ,pious ,thoughts and ,ejaculations 7the ,nativity73-- ,but stay6 what light is that doth stream ,and drop here in a gilded beam8 ,it is ,thy star runs ,page and brings ,thy tributary ,eastern kings4 ,lord6 grant some light to us that we ,may find with them the way to ,thee6 #ab ,cf4 ,ignatius1 ,ep4 ad ,ephes4 xix43 ,all the other stars1 together with the ,sun and ,moon1 became a chorus to the ,star1 which in its light excelled them all4 #ae ,prudentius mentions the constellations of ,ursa ,major and ,ursa ,minor 7to which latter the ,pole ,star belongs7 as examples of stars in constant apparition4 ,all the ,little ,bear stars are within about #bd deg4 from the ,pole2 hence1 if viewed from ,saragossa1 the birthplace of ,prudentius1 the lowest altitude of any of them would be #ah deg4 above the north horizon4 ,the same applies to the majority of the stars in the ,great ,bear4 ,some few would sink below the horizon for a brief time in each twenty-four hours2 but the greater number1 especially the seven principal stars known as the ,plough1 would be sufficiently high up at their lowest northern altitudes to be in perpetual apparition4 ,my friend1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,killip1 ,f4,r4,a4,s41 has kindly furnished me with these particulars4 ,allusions to the ,bears are constantly recurring in the classical poets 7cf4 e4g4 ,ovid41 ,met4 xiii4 #bic1 immunemque aequoris ,arcton1 the ,bear that never touches the sea74 ,the idea that these stars are mostly hidden by clouds1 though perpetually in view1 is a poetic hyperbole intended to enhance the uniqueness of the ,star of ,bethlehem4 #di ,jerome 7ad ,eustoch4 ,ep4 #bb7 commenting on the passage in ,isa4 xi4 #a1 ,and there shall come forth a rod out of the root of ,jesse1 and a flower shall rise up out of his root 7,vulg471 remarks3 ,the rod 7virga7 is the mother of the ,lord1 simple1 pure1 sincere 444 the flower of the rod is ,christ1 who saith1 ',i am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys4' #fi ,this symbolism of the gifts of the ,magi is also found in ,juvencus 7,i4 #bej73 ,frankincense1 gold and myrrh they bring as gifts to a ,king1 a ,man and a ,god1 and is again alluded to by ,prudentius in ,apoth4 #fca et seq4 ,the idea is expressed in the hymn of ,jacopone da ,todi1 beginning ,verbum caro factum est 7,mone1 ,hymni ,latini1 ,vol4 #b73 ,gold to the kingly1 ,incense to the priestly1 ,myrrh to the mortal3 and it has passed into the ,office for ,epiphany in the ,roman ,breviary3 ,there are three precious gifts which the ,magi offered to their ,lord that day1 and they contain in themselves sacred mysteries3 in the gold1 that the power of a king may be displayed3 in the frankincense1 consider the great high priest3 in the myrrh1 the burial of the ,lord et passim4 #agb ,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 7lxi47 of ,gregory ,nazianzen4 ,the symbol of the ,christian religion1 the cross1 was fancifully traced by the ,fathers throughout the universe3 the four points of the compass1 the 'height1 breadth1 length and depth' of the ,apostle expressed1 or were expressed by1 the cross4444 ,the cross explained everything 7,maitland1 ,church in the ,catacombs1 p4 #bjb74 #aic ,the discomfiture of the heathen gods wrought by the ,incarnation is elaborated by ,milton1 whose lines recall this and similar passages in ,prudentius3-- ,peor1 and ,baaelim ,forsake their temples dim 99 99 99 99 99 ,and sullen ,moloch fled1 ,hath left in shadows dread1 ,his burning idol all of blackest hue4 ,our ,babe1 to show his ,godhead true1 ,can in his swaddling bands control the damned crew4 ,,finis