III. HYMNUS ANTE CIBUM



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.

III. HYMN BEFORE MEAT

Blest Cross-bearer, Source of good,

Light-creating, Word-begot,

Gracious child of maidenhood,

Bosomed in the Fatherhood,

When earth, sea and stars were not.

 

With Thy cloudless, healing gaze

Shine upon me from above:

Let Thine all-enlightening rays

Bless this meal and quicken praise,

Praise unto Thy name of Love.

 

Lord, without Thee nought is sweet,

Nought my life can satisfy,

If Thy favour make not meet

What I drink and what I eat;

Let faith all things sanctify!

 

O'er this bread God's grace be poured,

Christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl!

Rule my converse, Triune Lord,

Sober thought and sportive word,

All my acts and all my soul.

 

Spoils of rose-trees are not spent,

Nor rich unguents on my board:

But ambrosial sweets are sent,

Of faith's nectar redolent,

From the bosom of my Lord.

 

Scorn, my Muse, light ivy-leaves

Wherewith custom wreathed thy brow:

Love a mystic crown conceives

And a rhythmic garland weaves:

Bind on thee God's praises now.

 

What more worthy gift can I,

Child of light and aether, bring

Than for boons the Maker high

From His bounty doth supply

Lovingly my thanks to sing?

 

He hath set 'neath our command

All that ever rose to be,

All that sky and sea and land

Breed in air, in glebe and sand,

Made my slaves, His own made me.

 

Fowler's craft with gin and net

Feathered tribes of heaven ensnares:

Osier twigs with lime o'erset

That their airy flight may let

His relentless guile prepares.

 

Lo! with woven mesh the seine

Swimming shoals draws from the wave:

Nor do fish the bait disdain

Till they feel the barb's swift pain,

Captives of the food they crave.

 

Native wealth that knows no fail,

Golden wheat springs from the field:

Tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail,

Nursed of Peace the olives pale

Berries green unbidden yield.

 

Christ's grace fills His people's need

With these mercies ever fresh:

Far from us be that foul greed,

Gluttony that loves to feed

On slain oxen's bloodstained flesh.

 

Leave to the barbarian brood

Banquet of the slaughtered beast:

Ours the homely, garden food,

Greenstuff manifold and good

And the lentils' harmless feast.

 

Foaming milkpails bubble o'er

With the udders' snowy stream,

Which in thickening churns we pour

Or in wicker baskets store,

As the cheese is pressed from cream.

 

Honey's nectar for our use

From the new-made comb is shed:

Which the skilful bee imbues

With thyme's scent and airy dews,

Plying lonely toils unwed.

 

Orchard-groves now mellowed o'er

Bounteously their fruitage shed:

See! like rain on forest floor

Shaken trees their riches pour,

High-heaped apples, ripe and red.

 

What great trumpet voice or lyre

Famed of yore could fitly praise

Gifts of the Almighty Sire,

Blessings that His own require,

Richly lavished through their days?

 

When morn breaks upon our sight,

Hymns, O Lord, to Thee shall ring:

Thee, when streams the midday light,

Thee, when shadows of the night

Bid us sup, our voices sing.

 

For my body's vital heat,

For my heart-blood's pulsing vein,

For my tongue and speech complete

Unto Thee, Most High, 'tis meet

That I raise my grateful strain.

 

'Twas, O Holy One, Thy care

Wrought us from the plastic clay,

Made us Thine own image bear,

And for our perfection fair

Did Thy Breath to man convey.

 

On the twain Thou didst bestow

Leafy bowers in pleasaunce fair:

Where spring's scents for aye did blow,

And four stately streams did flow

O'er meads pied with blossoms rare.

 

"All this realm ye now shall sway:"

(Saidst Thou) "use it at your will,

Yet 'tis death your hands to lay

On the Tree, whose verdant sway

Doth the midmost garden fill."

 

Then the Serpent's guileful hate

Would not innocency spare:

Bade the maiden urge her mate

With the fruit his lips to sate,

Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.

 

Each their nakedness perceives

When the feast they once partook:

Smit with shame their conscience grieves:

Wove they coverings of leaves

Shielding from lascivious look.

 

Far they both in terror fled

Thrust from dwelling of the pure:

She who erst had dwelt unwed

Subject to her spouse was led,

Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.

 

On the Serpent, too, His seal

God hath set, Who guile abhorred,

Doomed in triple neck to feel

Impress of the woman's heel,

Fearing her, who feared her lord.

 

Thus sin in our parents sown

Brought forth ruin for the race;

Good and evil having grown

From that primal root alone,

Nought but death could guilt efface.

 

But the Second Man behold

Come to re-create our kin:

Not formed after common mould

But our God (O Love untold!)

Made in flesh that knows not sin.

 

Word of God incarnated,

By His awful power conceived,

Whom a maiden yet unwed,

Innocent of marriage-bed,

In her virgin womb received.

 

Now we see the Serpent lewd

'Neath the woman's heel downtrod:

Whence there sprang the deadly feud,

Strife for ages unsubdued,

'Twixt mankind and foe of God.

 

Yet God's mother, Maid adored,

Robbed sin's poison of its bane,

And the Snake, his green coils lowered,

Writhing on the sod, outpoured

Harmless now his venom's stain.

 

What fierce brute that doth not flee

Lambs of Christ, white-robed and clean?

'Midst the flock from fear set free,

Slinks the drear wolf sullenly,

Checked his maw and tamed his mien.

 

Wondrous change! restrained by love

Lions the mild lamb obey:

Eagles wild, before the dove

Fluttering from the stars above,

Speed o'er cloudy winds away.

 

Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reign

Where the vulture gnaws no more:

Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchain

Tigers fierce, and wolves restrain

Gaping at the sheepfold's door.

 

God of Love, Thy servants we

Pray Thee now to grant our prayer

That our feast may frugal be,

Nor that we dishonour Thee

By coarse surfeit of rich fare.

 

May we taste no bitter gall

In our cup, nor handle we

Aught of death or harm at all,

Nor intemperately fall

Into gross debauchery.

 

Be the powers of Hell content

With their primal fraud, whereby

Death into this world was sent,

And that, for sin's chastisement,

God's own creatures once should die.

 

But in us God's Breath of fire

Cannot lose its vital force:

Never can its might expire,

Flowing from the Eternal Sire,

Who of Reason's strength is source.

 

Nay, from out death's chilling tomb

Mortal atoms shall arise:

Man from earth's vast, hidden womb

Other, yet the same, shall bloom,

Dust re-made in glorious guise.

 

'Tis my faith--and faith not vain--

Bodies live e'en as the soul:

Since I hold in memory plain

God as man uprose again,

Loosed from Hell, to His true goal.

 

Whence from Him the hope I reap

That these limbs the same shall rise,

Which enwrapped in balmy sleep

Christ the Risen safe shall keep

Till He call me to the skies.


Roman Empire / Latin Authors / Praefatio / Preface / I. Hymnus ad Galli Cantum / I. Hymn at Cock-Crow / II. Hymnus Matutinus / II. Morning Hymn / III. Hymnus ante Cibum / III. Hymn before Meat / IV. Hymnus post Cibum / IV. Hymn after Meat / V. Hymnus ad Incensum Lucernae / V. Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps / VI. Hymnus ante Somnum / VI. Hymn before Sleep / VII. Hymnus Ieiunantium / VII. Hymn for Those Who Fast / VIII. Hymnus post Ieiunium / VIII. Hymn after Fasting / IX. Hymnus Omnis Horae / IX. Hymn for All Hours / X. Hymnus ad Exequias Defuncti / X. Hymn for the Burial of the Dead / XI. Hymnus Kalendas Ianuarias / XI. Hymn for Christmas-Day / XII. Hymnus Epiphaniae / XII. Hymn for the Epiphany / Epilogus / Epilogue /