The Hymns of Prudentius Part 15

In Abraham's bosom it shall dwell 'Mid verdant bowers, as Lazarus lies Whom Dives sees with longing eyes From out the far-off fires of h.e.l.l.

We trust the words our Saviour said When, victor o'er grim Death, he cried To him who suffered at His side "In Mine own footsteps shalt thou tread."

See, open to the faithful soul, The shining paths of Paradise; Now may they to that garden rise Which from mankind the Serpent stole.

Guide him, we pray, to that blest bourn, Who served Thee truly here below; May he the bliss of Eden know, Who strayed in banishment forlorn.

But we will honour our dear dead With violets and garlands strown, And o'er the cold and graven stone Shall fragrant odours still be shed.

XI. HYMNUS VIII. KALENDAS IANUARIAS

Quid est, quod artum circulum sol iam recurrens deserit?

Christusne terris nascitur, qui lucis auget tramitem?

Heu quam fugacem gratiam 5 festina volvebat dies, quam pene subductam facem sensim recisa extinxerat!

Caelum nitescat laetius, gratetur et gaudens humus, 10 scandit gradatim denuo iubar priores lineas.

Emerge dulcis pusio, quem mater edit cast.i.tas, parens et expers coniugis, 15 mediator et duplex genus.

Ex ore quamlibet Patris sis ortus et verbo editus, tamen paterno in pectore sophia callebas prius. 20

Quae prompta caelum condidit, caelum diemque et cetera, virtute verbi effecta sunt haec cuncta: nam verb.u.m Deus.

Sed ordinatis seculis, 25 rerumque digesto statu fundator ipse et artifex permansit in Patris sinu,

donec rotata annalium transvolverentur milia, 30 atque ipse peccantem diu dignatus...o...b..ra viseret.

Nam caeca vis mortalium venerans inanes nenias vel aera vel saxa algida, 35 vel ligna credebat Deum.

Haec dum sequuntur, perfidi praedonis in ius venerant, et manc.i.p.atam fumido vitam barathro inmerserant: 40

Stragem sed istam non tulit Christus cadentum gentium inpune ne forsan sui Patris periret fabrica.

Mortale corpus induit, 45 ut excitato corpore mortis catenam frangeret hominemque portaret Patri.

Hic ille natalis dies, quo te creator arduus 50 spiravit et limo indidit sermone carnem glutinans.

Sentisne, virgo n.o.bilis, matura per fastidia pudoris intactum decus 55 honore partus crescere?

O quanta rerum gaudia alvus pudica continet, ex qua novellum seculum procedit et lux aurea! 60

Vagitus ille exordium vernantis...o...b..s prodidit, nam tunc renatus sordidum mundus veternum depulit.

Sparsisse tellurem reor 65 rus omne densis floribus, ipsasque arenas syrtium fragra.s.se nardo et nectare.

Te cuncta nascentem puer sensere dura et barbara, 70 victusque saxorum rigor obduxit herbam cotibus.

Iam mella de scopulis fluunt, iam stillat ilex arido sudans amomum stipite, 75 iam sunt myricis balsama.

O sancta praesepis tui, aeterne rex, cunabula, populisque per seclum sacra mutis et ipsis credita. 80

Adorat haec brutum pecus indocta turba scilicet, adorat excors natio, vis cuius in pastu sita est.

Sed c.u.m fideli spiritu 85 concurrat ad praesepia pagana gens et quadrupes, sapiatque quod brutum fuit:

Negat patrum prosapia perosa praesentem Deum: 90 credas venenis ebriam furiisve lymphatam rapi.

Quid p.r.o.na per scelus ruis?

agnosce, si quidquam tibi mentis resedit integrae, 95 ducem tuorum principum.

Hunc, quem latebra et obstetrix, et virgo feta, et cunulae et inbecilla infantia regem dederunt gentibus, 100

peccator intueberis celsum coruscis nubibus, deiectus ipse et inritus plangens reatum fletibus:

c.u.m vasta signum bucina 105 terris cremandis miserit, et scissus axis cardinem mundi ruentis solverit:

Insignis ipse et praeminens meritis rependet congrua, 110 his lucis usum perpetis, illis gehennam et tartarum.

Iudaea tunc fulmen crucis experta, qui sit, senties, quem te furoris praesule 115 mors hausit et mox reddidit.

XI. HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS-DAY

Why doth the sun re-orient take A wider range, his limits break?

Lo! Christ is born, and o'er earth's night Shineth from more to more the light!

Too swiftly did the radiant day Her brief course run and pa.s.s away: She scarce her kindly torch had fired Ere slowly fading it expired.

Now let the sky more brightly beam, The earth take up the joyous theme: The orb a broadening pathway gains And with its erstwhile splendour reigns.

Sweet babe, of chast.i.ty the flower, A virgin's blest mysterious dower!

Rise in Thy twofold nature's might: Rise, G.o.d and man to reunite!

Though by the Father's will above Thou wert begot, the Son of Love, Yet in His bosom Thou didst dwell, Of Wisdom the eternal Well;

Wisdom, whereby the heavens were made And light's foundations first were laid: Creative Word! all flows from Thee!

The Word is G.o.d eternally.

For though with process of the suns The ordered whole harmonious runs, Still the Artificer Divine Leaves not the Father's inmost shrine.