|
O crucifer bone, lucisator, omniparens, pie, verbigena, edite corpore virgineo, sed prius in genitore potens, 5astra, solum, mare quam fierent:
Huc nitido precor intuitu flecte salutiferam faciem, fronte serenus et inradia, nominis ut sub honore tui 10has epulas liceat capere.
Te sine dulce nihil, Domine, nec iuvat ore quid adpetere, pocula ni prius atque cibos, Christe, tuus favor inbuerit 15omnia sanctificante fide.
Fercula nostra Deum sapiant, Christus et influat in pateras: seria, ludicra, verba, iocos, denique quod sumus aut agimus, 20trina superne regat pietas.
Hic mihi nulla rosae spolia, nullus aromate fragrat odor, sed liquor influit ambrosius nectareamque fidem redolet 25fusus ab usque Patris gremio.
Sperne camena leves hederas, cingere tempora quis solita es, sertaque mystica dactylico texere docta liga strophio, 30laude Dei redimita comas.
Quod generosa potest anima, lucis et aetheris indigena, solvere dignius obsequium, quam data munera si recinat 35artificem modulata suum?
Ipse homini quia cuncta dedit, quae capimus dominante manu, quae polus aut humus aut pelagus aere, gurgite, rure creant, 40haec mihi subdidit et sibi me.
Callidus inlaqueat volucres aut pedicis dolus aut maculis, inlita glutine corticeo vimina plumigeram seriem 45inpediunt et abire vetant.
Ecce per aequora fluctivagos texta greges sinuosa trahunt: piscis item sequitur calamum raptus acumine vulnifico 50credula saucius ora cibo.
Fundit opes ager ingenuas dives aristiferae segetis: his ubi vitea pampineo brachia palmite luxuriant, 55pacis alumna ubi baca viret.
Haec opulentia Christicolis servit et omnia suppeditat: absit enim procul ilia fames, caedibus ut pecudum libeat 60sanguineas lacerare dapes.
Sint fera gentibus indomitis prandia de nece quadrupedum: nos oleris coma, nos siliqua feta legumine multimodo 65paverit innocuis epulis.
Spumea mulctra gerunt niveos ubere de gemino latices, perque coagula densa liquor in solidum coit et fragili 70lac tenerum premitur calatho.
Mella recens mihi Cecropia nectare sudat olente favus: haec opifex apis aerio rore liquat tenuique thymo, 75nexilis inscia connubii.
Hinc quoque pomiferi nemoris munera mitia proveniunt, arbor onus tremefacta suum deciduo gravis imbre pluit 80puniceosque iacit cumulos.
Quae veterum tuba, quaeve lyra flatibus inclita vel fidibus divitis omnipotentis opus, quaeque fruenda patent homini 85laudibus aequiparare queat?
Te Pater optime mane novo, solis et orbita cum media est, te quoque luce sub occidua sumere cum monet hora cibum, 90nostra Deus canet harmonia.
Quod calet halitus interior, corde quod abdita vena tremit, pulsat et incita quod resonam lingua sub ore latens caveam, 95laus superi Patris esto mihi.
Nos igitur tua sancte manus caespite conposuit madido effigiem meditata suam, utque foret rata materies 100flavit et indidit ore animam.
Tunc per amoena vireta iubet frondicomis habitare locis, ver ubi perpetuum redolet prataque multicolora latex 105quadrifluo celer amne rigat.
Haec tibi nunc famulentur, ait, usibus omnia dedo tuis: sed tamen aspera mortifero stipite carpere poma veto, 110qui medio viret in nemore.
Hic draco perfidus indocile virginis inlicit ingenium, ut socium malesuada virum mandere cogeret ex vetitis 115ipsa pari peritura modo.
Corpora mutua--nosse nefas-- post epulas inoperta vident, lubricus error et erubuit: tegmina suta parant foliis, 120dedecus ut pudor occuleret.
Conscia culpa Deum pavitans sede pia procul exigitur. innuba fernina quae fuerat, coniugis excipit inperium, 125foedera tristia iussa pati.
Auctor et ipse doli coluber plectitur inprobus, ut mulier colla trilinguia calce terat: sic coluber muliebre solum 130suspicit atque virum mulier.
His ducibus vitiosa dehinc posteritas ruit in facinus, dumque rudes imitatur avos, fasque nefasque simul glomerans 135inpia crimina morte luit.
Ecce venit nova progenies, aethere proditus alter homo, non luteus, velut ille prior: sed Deus ipse gerens hominem, 140corporeisque carens vitiis.
Fit caro vivida sermo Patris, numine quam rutilante gravis non thalamo, neque iure tori, nec genialibus inlecebris 145intemerata puella parit.
Hoc odium vetus illud erat, hoc erat aspidis atque hominis digladiabile discidium, quod modo cernua femineis 150vipera proteritur pedibus.
Edere namque Deum merita omnia virgo venena domat: tractibus anguis inexplicitis virus inerme piger revomit, 155gramine concolor in viridi.
Quae feritas modo non trepidat, territa de grege candidulo? inpavidas lupus inter oves tristis obambulat et rabidum 160sanguinis inmemor os cohibet.
Agnus enim vice mirifica ecce leonibus inperitat: exagitansque truces aquilas per vaga nubila, perque notos 165sidere lapsa columba fugat.
Tu mihi Christe columba potens, sanguine pasta cui cedit avis, tu niveus per ovile tuum agnus hiare lupum prohibes, 170sub iuga tigridis ora premens.
Da locuples Deus hoc famulis rite precantibus, ut tenui membra cibo recreata levent, neu piger inmodicis dapibus 175viscera tenta gravet stomachus.
Haustus amarus abesto procul, ne libeat tetigisse manu exitiale quid aut vetitum: gustus et ipse modum teneat, 180sospitet ut iecur incolume.
Sit satis anguibus horrificis, liba quod inpia corporibus ah miseram peperere necem, sufficiat semel ob facinus 185plasma Dei potuisse mori.
Oris opus, vigor igneolus non moritur, quia flante Deo conpositus superoque fluens de solio Patris artificis 190vim liquidae rationis habet.
Viscera mortua quin etiam post obitum reparare datur, eque suis iterum tumulis prisca renascitur effigies 195pulvereo coeunte situ.
Credo equidem, neque vana fides, corpora vivere more animae: nam modo corporeum memini de Phlegethonte gradu facili 200ad superos remeasse Deum.
Spes eadem mea membra manet, quae redolentia funereo iussa quiescere sarcophago dux parili redivivus humo 205ignea Christus ad astra vocat. |
|
Blest Cross-bearer, Source of good, Light-creating, Word-begot, Gracious child of maidenhood, Bosomed in the Fatherhood, When earth, sea and stars were not.
With Thy cloudless, healing gaze Shine upon me from above: Let Thine all-enlightening rays Bless this meal and quicken praise, Praise unto Thy name of Love.
Lord, without Thee nought is sweet, Nought my life can satisfy, If Thy favour make not meet What I drink and what I eat; Let faith all things sanctify!
O'er this bread God's grace be poured, Christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl! Rule my converse, Triune Lord, Sober thought and sportive word, All my acts and all my soul.
Spoils of rose-trees are not spent, Nor rich unguents on my board: But ambrosial sweets are sent, Of faith's nectar redolent, From the bosom of my Lord.
Scorn, my Muse, light ivy-leaves Wherewith custom wreathed thy brow: Love a mystic crown conceives And a rhythmic garland weaves: Bind on thee God's praises now.
What more worthy gift can I, Child of light and aether, bring Than for boons the Maker high From His bounty doth supply Lovingly my thanks to sing?
He hath set 'neath our command All that ever rose to be, All that sky and sea and land Breed in air, in glebe and sand, Made my slaves, His own made me.
Fowler's craft with gin and net Feathered tribes of heaven ensnares: Osier twigs with lime o'erset That their airy flight may let His relentless guile prepares.
Lo! with woven mesh the seine Swimming shoals draws from the wave: Nor do fish the bait disdain Till they feel the barb's swift pain, Captives of the food they crave.
Native wealth that knows no fail, Golden wheat springs from the field: Tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail, Nursed of Peace the olives pale Berries green unbidden yield.
Christ's grace fills His people's need With these mercies ever fresh: Far from us be that foul greed, Gluttony that loves to feed On slain oxen's bloodstained flesh.
Leave to the barbarian brood Banquet of the slaughtered beast: Ours the homely, garden food, Greenstuff manifold and good And the lentils' harmless feast.
Foaming milkpails bubble o'er With the udders' snowy stream, Which in thickening churns we pour Or in wicker baskets store, As the cheese is pressed from cream.
Honey's nectar for our use From the new-made comb is shed: Which the skilful bee imbues With thyme's scent and airy dews, Plying lonely toils unwed.
Orchard-groves now mellowed o'er Bounteously their fruitage shed: See! like rain on forest floor Shaken trees their riches pour, High-heaped apples, ripe and red.
What great trumpet voice or lyre Famed of yore could fitly praise Gifts of the Almighty Sire, Blessings that His own require, Richly lavished through their days?
When morn breaks upon our sight, Hymns, O Lord, to Thee shall ring: Thee, when streams the midday light, Thee, when shadows of the night Bid us sup, our voices sing.
For my body's vital heat, For my heart-blood's pulsing vein, For my tongue and speech complete Unto Thee, Most High, 'tis meet That I raise my grateful strain.
'Twas, O Holy One, Thy care Wrought us from the plastic clay, Made us Thine own image bear, And for our perfection fair Did Thy Breath to man convey.
On the twain Thou didst bestow Leafy bowers in pleasaunce fair: Where spring's scents for aye did blow, And four stately streams did flow O'er meads pied with blossoms rare.
"All this realm ye now shall sway:" (Saidst Thou) "use it at your will, Yet 'tis death your hands to lay On the Tree, whose verdant sway Doth the midmost garden fill."
Then the Serpent's guileful hate Would not innocency spare: Bade the maiden urge her mate With the fruit his lips to sate, Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.
Each their nakedness perceives When the feast they once partook: Smit with shame their conscience grieves: Wove they coverings of leaves Shielding from lascivious look.
Far they both in terror fled Thrust from dwelling of the pure: She who erst had dwelt unwed Subject to her spouse was led, Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.
On the Serpent, too, His seal God hath set, Who guile abhorred, Doomed in triple neck to feel Impress of the woman's heel, Fearing her, who feared her lord.
Thus sin in our parents sown Brought forth ruin for the race; Good and evil having grown From that primal root alone, Nought but death could guilt efface.
But the Second Man behold Come to re-create our kin: Not formed after common mould But our God (O Love untold!) Made in flesh that knows not sin.
Word of God incarnated, By His awful power conceived, Whom a maiden yet unwed, Innocent of marriage-bed, In her virgin womb received.
Now we see the Serpent lewd 'Neath the woman's heel downtrod: Whence there sprang the deadly feud, Strife for ages unsubdued, 'Twixt mankind and foe of God.
Yet God's mother, Maid adored, Robbed sin's poison of its bane, And the Snake, his green coils lowered, Writhing on the sod, outpoured Harmless now his venom's stain.
What fierce brute that doth not flee Lambs of Christ, white-robed and clean? 'Midst the flock from fear set free, Slinks the drear wolf sullenly, Checked his maw and tamed his mien.
Wondrous change! restrained by love Lions the mild lamb obey: Eagles wild, before the dove Fluttering from the stars above, Speed o'er cloudy winds away.
Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reign Where the vulture gnaws no more: Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchain Tigers fierce, and wolves restrain Gaping at the sheepfold's door.
God of Love, Thy servants we Pray Thee now to grant our prayer That our feast may frugal be, Nor that we dishonour Thee By coarse surfeit of rich fare.
May we taste no bitter gall In our cup, nor handle we Aught of death or harm at all, Nor intemperately fall Into gross debauchery.
Be the powers of Hell content With their primal fraud, whereby Death into this world was sent, And that, for sin's chastisement, God's own creatures once should die.
But in us God's Breath of fire Cannot lose its vital force: Never can its might expire, Flowing from the Eternal Sire, Who of Reason's strength is source.
Nay, from out death's chilling tomb Mortal atoms shall arise: Man from earth's vast, hidden womb Other, yet the same, shall bloom, Dust re-made in glorious guise.
'Tis my faith--and faith not vain-- Bodies live e'en as the soul: Since I hold in memory plain God as man uprose again, Loosed from Hell, to His true goal.
Whence from Him the hope I reap That these limbs the same shall rise, Which enwrapped in balmy sleep Christ the Risen safe shall keep Till He call me to the skies. |