The Hymns of Prudentius Part 11

Ergo ne limum fragilem solutae deserant vires et aquosus albis humor in venis dominetur aegrum corpus inervans,

Laxus ac liber modus abstinendi 65 ponitur cunctis, neque nos severus terror inpellit, sua quemque cogit velle potestas.

Sufficit, quidquid facias, vocato numinis nutu prius, inch.o.a.re, 70 sive tu mensam renuas cib.u.mve sumere temptes.

Adnuit dexter Deus et secundo prosperat vultu, velut hoc salubre fidimus n.o.bis fore, quod dicatas 75 carpimus escas.

Sit bonum, supplex precor et medelam conferat membris, animumque pascat sparsus in venas cibus obsecrantum christicolarum. 80

VIII. HYMN AFTER FASTING

O Christ, of all Thy servants Guide, Mild is the yoke Thou mak'st us bear, Leading us gently by Thy side With gracious care.

Thy love took up our life's hard load And spent in grievous toils its might: Thy bond-slaves tread the easier road Led by Thy light.

Nine hours have run their course away, The sun sped three parts of its race: And what remains of the short day Fadeth apace.

The holy fast hath reached its end; Our table now Thou loadest, Lord: With all Thy gifts true gladness send To grace our board.

Such is our Master's gentle sway, So kind the teaching in His school, That all find rest who will obey His easy rule.

Thou would'st not have us scorn the grace Of cleanliness and vesture fair: Thou lovest not a soiled face And unkempt hair.

Let him that fasts, Thou saidst, be clean, Nor lose health's fair and ruddy glow: Let no wan sallowness be seen Upon his brow.

'Tis better in glad modesty Of our good works to shun display: G.o.d sees what 'scapes our neighbour's eye And will repay.

That Shepherd keen seeks one lost sheep Sickly and weak, strayed from the fold, Fleece torn with briers of thickets deep, Foolishly bold.

He drives the wolves far from the track: And found He brings on shoulders borne To sunlit pen the wanderer back, No more forlorn:

Yea, to the meads and gra.s.sy fields The lamb restores, where no thorn balks, No rough burrs tear, no thistle yields Its bristling stalks:

But leaves of green herbs brightly glance And in the grove the palm-trees dream, And laurels shade the eddying dance Of crystal stream.

For all these gifts, O Shepherd dear, What service can I render Thee?

No grateful vows my debt shall clear For love so free.

Though by self-chosen fasts severe Our strength of limb we waste away: Though, spurning food, we Thee revere By night and day:

Yet our works never can o'ertake Thy love or with Thy gifts compare: Our toils this earthen vessel break, The more we dare.

Therefore lest failing powers consume Our fragile life and shrivelled veins Pale 'neath the tyranny of rheum And weakening pains:

Thou dost not rule perpetual Lent For man, nor modest fare deny: Fearless may each unto his bent His wants supply.

Enough that all our acts by prayer Be sanctified unto Thy will, Whether we fast, or with due care Our needs fulfil.

Then shall G.o.d bless us for our good And lead us to our soul's true wealth; For, if but consecrated, food Shall bring us health.

O Lord, grant that our feast may spread Marrow and strength throughout our flesh: And may all Christly souls be fed With vigour fresh.

IX. HYMNUS OMNIS HORAE

Da puer plectrum, ch.o.r.eis ut canam fidelibus dulce carmen et melodum, gesta Christi insignia: hunc camena nostra solum pangat, hunc laudet lyra.

Christus est, quem rex sacerdos adfuturum protinus infulatus concinebat voce, chorda et tympano, 5 spiritum caelo influentem per medullas hauriens.

Facta nos et iam probata pangimus miracula, testis...o...b..s est, nec ipsa terra, quod vidit, negat, cominus Deum docendis proditum mortalibus.

Corde natus ex parentis, ante mundi exordium 10 alpha et _o_ cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula omnium, quae sunt, fuerunt quaeque post futura sunt.

Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse, et facta sunt terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina, quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo. 15

Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia induit, ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine, merserat quam lex profundo noxialis tartaro.

O beatus ortus ille, virgo c.u.m puerpera edidit nostram salutem feta sancto spiritu, 20 et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit.

Psallat alt.i.tudo caeli, psallite omnes angeli, quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei: nulla linguarum silescat, vox et omnis consonet.

Ecce quem vates vetustis concinebant seculis, 25 quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant, emicat promissus olim: cuncta conlaudent eum.

Cantharis infusa lympha fit Falernum n.o.bile, nuntiat vinum minister esse promptum ex hydria, ipse rex sapore tinctis obstupescit poculis. 30

Membra morbis ulcerosa, viscerum putredines mando, ut abluantur, inquit; fit ratum, quod iusserat, turgidam cutem repurgant vulnerum piamina.

Tu perennibus tenebris iam sepulta lumina inlinis limo salubri, sacri et oris nectare, 35 mox apertis hac medela lux reducta est orbibus.

Increpas ventum furentem, quod procellis tristibus vertat aequor fundo ab imo, vexet et vagam ratem: ille iussis obsecundat, mitis unda sternitur.

Extimum vestis sacratae furtim mulier attigit, 40 protinus salus secuta est, ora pallor deserit, sist.i.tur rivus, cruore qui fluebat perpeti.

Exitu dulcis iuventae raptum epheb.u.m viderat, orba quem mater supremis funerabat fletibus: surge, dixit: ille surgit, matri et adstans redditur. 45

Sole iam quarto carentem, iam sepulcro absconditum Lazarum iubet vigere reddito spiramine: fetidum iecur reductus rursus intrat halitus.

Ambulat per stagna ponti, summa calcat fluctuum, mobilis liquor profundi pendulam praestat viam, 50 nec fatiscit unda sanctis pressa sub vestigiis.

Suetus antro bustuali sub catenis frendere, mentis inpos efferatis percitus furoribus prosilit ruitque supplex, Christum adesse ut senserat.

Pulsa pestis lubricorum milleformis daemonum 55 conripit gregis suilli sordida spurcamina, seque nigris mergit undis et pecus lymphatic.u.m.