Read Ebook: The Hymns of Prudentius by Prudentius Pope R Martin Robert Martin Translator

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Ebook has 817 lines and 51077 words, and 17 pages

Nor ever reckless word he said Thereafter, by his tongue betrayed, But at the cock's familiar cry Humbled he turned from vanity.

Therefore it is we hold to-day That, as the world in stillness lay, What hour the cock doth greet the skies, Christ from deep Hades did arise.

Lo! then the bands of death were burst, Shattered the sway of hell accurst: Then did the Day's superior might Swiftly dispel the hosts of Night.

Now let base deeds to silence fall, Black thoughts be stilled beyond recall: Now let sin's opiate spell retire To that deep sleep it doth inspire.

For all the hours that still remain Until the dark his goal attain, Alert for duty's stern command Let every soul a sentry stand.

With sober prayer on Jesus call; Let tears with our strong crying fall; Sleep cannot on the pure soul steal That supplicates with fervent zeal.

Too long did dull oblivion cloud Our motions and our senses shroud: Lulled by her numbing touch, we stray In dreamland's ineffectual way.

Bound by the dazzling world's soft chain 'Tis false and fleeting gauds we gain, Like those who in deep slumbers lie:-- Let us awake! the truth is nigh.

Gold, honours, pleasure, wealth and ease, And all the joys that mortals please, Joys with a fatal glamour fraught-- When morning comes, lo! all are nought.

But thou, O Christ, put sleep to flight And break the iron bands of night, Free us from burden of past sin And shed Thy morning rays within.

Nox et tenebrae et nubila, confusa mundi et turbida, lux intrat, albescit polus, Christus venit, discedite.

Caligo terrae scinditur 5 percussa solis spiculo, rebusque iam color redit vultu nitentis sideris.

Sic nostra mox obscuritas fraudisque pectus conscium 10 ruptis retectum nubibus regnante pallescit Deo.

Tunc non licebit claudere quod quisque fuscum cogitat, sed mane clarescent novo 15 secreta mentis prodita.

Fur ante lucem squalido inpune peccat tempore, sed lux dolis contraria latere furtum non sinit. 20

Versuta fraus et callida amat tenebris obtegi, aptamque noctem turpibus adulter occultus fovet.

Sol ecce surgit igneus, 25 piget, pudescit, paenitet, nec teste quisquam lumine peccare constanter potest.

Quis mane sumptis nequiter non erubescit poculis, 30 cum fit libido temperans castumque nugator sapit?

Nunc, nunc severum vivitur, nunc nemo tentat ludicrum, inepta nunc omnes sua 35 vultu colorant serio.

Haec hora cunctis utilis, qua quisque, quod studet, gerat, miles, togatus, navita, opifex, arator, institor. 40

Illum forensis gloria, hunc triste raptat classicum, mercator hinc ac rusticus avara suspirant lucra.

At nos lucelli ac faenoris 45 fandique prorsus nescii, nec arte fortes bellica, te, Christe, solum novimus.

Te mente pura et simplici, te voce, te cantu pio 50 rogare curvato genu flendo et canendo discimus.

His nos lucramur quaestibus, hac arte tantum vivimus, haec inchoamus munera, 55 cum sol resurgens emicat.

Intende nostris sensibus, vitamque totam dispice, sunt multa fucis inlita, quae luce purgentur tua. 60

Durare nos tales iube, quales, remotis sordibus nitere pridem iusseras, Iordane tinctos flumine.

Quodcumque nox mundi dehinc 65 infecit atris nubibus, tu, rex Eoi sideris, vultu sereno inlumina.

Tu sancte, qui taetram picem candore tingis lacteo 70 ebenoque crystallum facis, delicta terge livida.

Sub nocte Iacob caerula luctator audax angeli, eo usque dum lux surgeret, 75 sudavit inpar praelium.

Sed cum iubar claresceret, lapsante claudus poplite femurque victus debile culpae vigorem perdidit. 80

Nutabat inguen saucium, quae corporis pars vilior longeque sub cordis loco diram fovet libidinem.

Hae nos docent imagines, 85 hominem tenebris obsitum, si forte non cedat Deo, vires rebellis perdere.

Erit tamen beatior, intemperans membrum cui 90 luctando claudum et tabidum dies oborta invenerit.

Tandem facessat caecitas, quae nosmet in praeceps diu lapsos sinistris gressibus 95 errore traxit devio.

Haec lux serenum conferat purosque nos praestet sibi: nihil loquamur subdolum, volvamus obscurum nihil. 100

Sic tota decurrat dies, ne lingua mendax, ne manus, oculive peccent lubrici, ne noxa corpus inquinet.

Speculator adstat desuper, 105 qui nos diebus omnibus actusque nostros prospicit a luce prima in vesperum.

Hic testis, hic est arbiter, his intuetur quidquid est, 110 humana quod mens concipit; hunc nemo fallit iudicem.

Ye clouds and darkness, hosts of night That breed confusion and affright, Begone! o'erhead the dawn shines clear, The light breaks in and Christ is here.

So shall our guilty midnight fade, The sin-stained heart's gross dusky shade: So shall the King's All-radiant Face Sudden unveil our deep disgrace.

No longer then may we disguise Our dark intents from those clear eyes: Yea, at the dayspring's advent blest Our inmost thoughts will stand confest.

The thief his hidden traffic plies Unmarked before the dawn doth rise: But light, the foe of guile concealed, Lets no ill craft lie unrevealed.

Fraud and Deceit love only night, Their wiles they practise out of sight; Curtained by dark, Adultery too Doth his foul treachery pursue,

But slinks abashed and shamed away Soon as the sun rekindles day, For none can damning light resist And 'neath its rays in sin persist.

Who doth not blush o'ertook by morn And his long night's carousal scorn? For day subdues the lustful soul, And doth all foul desires control.

Now each to earnest life awakes, Now each his wanton sport forsakes; Now foolish things are put away And gravity resumes her sway.

It is the hour for duty's deeds, The path to which our labour leads, Be it the forum, army, sea, The mart or field or factory.

One seeks the plaudits of the bar, One the stern trumpet calls to war: Those bent on trade and husbandry At greed's behest for lucre sigh.

Mine is no rhetorician's fame, No petty usury I claim; Nor am I skilled to face the foe: 'Tis Thou, O Christ, alone I know.

Yea, I have learnt to wait on Thee With heart and lips of purity, Humbly my knees in prayer to bend, And tears with songs of praise to blend.

These are the gains I hold in view And these the arts that I pursue: These are the offices I ply When the bright sun mounts up the sky.

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