Part 2

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.

IV. HYMNUS POST CIBUM

Pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto, quem lex corporis inbecilla poscit, laudem lingua Deo patri rependat; Patri, qui Cherubin sedile sacrum, nec non et Seraphin suum supremo 5 subnixus solio tenet regitque.

Hic est, quem Sabaoth Deum vocamus, expers principii carensque fine, rerum conditor et repertor orbis: fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce, 10 infusor fidei, sator pudoris, mortis perdomitor, salutis auctor.

Omnes quod sumus aut vigemus, inde est: regnat Spiritus ille sempiternus a Christo simul et Parente missus. 15 Intrat pectora candidus pudica, quae templi vice consecrata rident, postquam conbiberint Deum medullis.

Sed si quid vitii dolive nasci inter viscera iam dicata sensit, 20 ceu spurcum refugit celer sacellum. Taetrum flagrat enim vapore crasso horror conscius aestuante culpa offensumque bonum niger repellit.

Nec solus pudor innocensve votum 25 templum constituunt perenne Christo in cordis medii sum ac recessu: sed ne crapula ferveat cavendum est, quae sedem fidei cibis refertam usque ad congeriem coartet intus. 30

Parcis victibus expedita corda infusum melius Deum receptant. Hic pastus animae est, saporque verus: sed nos tu gemino fovens paratu artus atque animas utroque pastu 35 confirmas Pater ac vigore conples.

Sic olim tua praecluens potestas inter raucisonos situm leones, inlapsis dapibus virum refovit. Illum fusile numen execrantem 40 et curvare caput sub expolita aeris materia nefas putantem

Plebs dirae Babylonis ac tyrannus morti subdiderant, feris dicarant saevis protinus haustibus vorandum. 45 O semper pietas fidesque tuta! lambunt indomiti virum leones intactumque Dei tremunt alumnum.

Adstant cominus et iubas reponunt, mansuescit rabies fameque blanda 50 praedam rictibus ambit incruentis. Sed cum tenderet ad superna palmas expertumque sibi Deum rogaret, clausus iugiter indigensque victu:

Iussus nuntius advolare terris, 55 qui pastum famulo daret probato, raptim desilit obsequente mundo. Cernit forte procul dapes inemptas, quas messoribus Abbacuc propheta agresti bonus exhibebat arte. 60

Huius caesarie manu prehensa plenis, sicut erat, gravem canistris suspensum rapit et vehit per auras. Tum raptus simul ipse prandiumque sensim labitur in lacum leonum, 65 et, quas tunc epulas gerebat, offert:

Sumas laetus, ait, libensque carpas, quae summus Pater, angelusque Christi mittunt liba tibi sub hoc periclo. His sumptis Danielus excitavit 70 in caelum faciem ciboque fortis Amen reddidit, Halleluia dixit.

Sic nos muneribus tuis refecti, largitor Deus omnium bonorum, grates reddimus et sacramus hymnos. 75 Tu nos tristifico velut tyranno mundi scilicet inpotentis actu conclusos regis et feram repellis,

Quae circumfremit ac vorare temptat insanos acuens furore dentes, 80 cur te, summe Deus, precemur unum. Vexamur, premimur, malis rotamur; oderunt, lacerant, trahunt, lacessunt, iuncta est suppliciis fides iniquis.

Nec defit tamen anxiis medela; 85 nam languente trucis leonis ira inlapsae superingeruntur escae. Quas si quis sitienter hauriendo non gustu tenui, sed ore pleno internis velit inplicare venis, 90

Hic sancto satiatus ex propheta, iustorum capiet cibos virorum, qui fructum domino metunt perenni. Nil est dulcius ac magis saporum, nil quod plus hominem iuvare possit, 95 quam vatis pia praecinentis orsa.

His sumptis licet insolens potestas pravum iudicet, inrogetque mortem, inpasti licet inruant leones, nos semper Dominum patrem fatentes 100 in te, Christe Deus, loquemur unum constanterque tuam crucem feremus.

IV. HYMN AFTER MEAT

Refreshed we rise, and for this bread that feeds, By law of man's weak flesh, our daily needs, Let every tongue, the Father's praises sing; The Father Who on His exalted throne, O'er Cherubim and Seraphim, alone Reigns in His majesty, Eternal King.

God of Sabaoth is His name: 'tis He Who ne'er began and ne'er shall cease to be, Builder of worlds created at His word; Fountain of Life that flows from out the sky, He breathes within us Faith and Purity, Great Conqueror of Death, Salvation's Lord.

From Him each creature life and vigour gains, And over all the Eternal Spirit reigns Who cometh from the Father and the Son: When, dovelike, on pure hearts the heavenly Guest Descends, they are by God's own presence blest, As temples where His holy work is done.

But if the taint of vice or guile arise Within the consecrated shrine, He flies With speed from out the sin-defilèd cell; For, driven forth by guilt's black, surging tide, The offended Godhead may not there abide Where conscious sin and noisome foulness dwell.

Not chastity nor childlike faith alone Build up for Christ an everlasting throne Deep in the inmost heart, devoid of shame: But watchful ever must His servants be, Lest the dark power of sated gluttony Should bind about the abode of faith its chain.

Yet simple saints, content with frugal fare, More surely find the Spirit present there, Who is our soul's true strength and heavenly food: Thy love for us a twofold feast supplies, O Father, whence the soul may strengthened rise And eke the body gain new hardihood.

Thus, fed and sheltered by Thy matchless might, The lions' hideous roar could not affright Thy loyal servant in the days of old: He boldly cursed the molten deity And stood with stubborn head uplifted high That scorned to bow before a god of gold.

Then Babylon's vile mob with fury glows; Death is his doom; and straight the tyrant throws The youth to be his savage lions' prey: But faith and piety Thou still dost save, For lo! the untamed brutes no longer rave, But round God's unscathed child they gently play.

Close by his side they stand with drooping mane, The grisly, gaping jaws from blood refrain And with rough tongues their whilom prey caress: But when in prayer he raised his hands to heaven And called the God, from Whom such help was given, Close-prisoned, hungry, and in sore distress,

A wingèd messenger to earth He sends, Who swiftly through the parting clouds descends To feed His servant, proven by the test: By chance he sees from far the unbought fare Which the good seer Habakkuk's kindly care With rustic art had for the reapers dressed:

Then, grasping in strong hand the prophet's hair, He bears him gently through the rushing air, Still burdened with the platter's savoury load, Till o'er the lions' den at last they stayed And straightway to the starving youth displayed The food thus brought, by God's good grace bestowed.

"Take this with joy," he said, "and thankful feed, The bread that in thy hour of direst need, By the great Father sent, Christ's angel brings." Then Daniel lifts his eyes to heaven above And, strengthened by the wondrous gift of love, "Amen!" he cries, and Alleluia sings.

Thus, therefore, by Thy bounties now restored, Giver of all things good, Almighty Lord, We render thanks and sing glad hymns to Thee: Though prisoned in an evil world we dwell Where sin's grim tyrant rules, Thou dost repel With sovran power our mortal enemy.

He roars around us, and would fain devour, Grinding his angry teeth when 'gainst his power In Thee alone, O God, we still confide: By evil things we are beset and vexed, Tormented, hated, harassed and perplexed, Our faith by cruel suffering sorely tried,

Yet help ne'er fails us in our time of need, For Thou canst quell the lions' rage, and feed Our hungry spirits with celestial fare: And if some soul no meagre taste would gain Of that repast, but thirstily is fain Full measure of the heavenly sweets to share,

He by the holy seers of old is fed, And shall partake the loyal reapers' bread Who labour in the eternal Master's field: For nothing sweeter than the Word can be That fell from righteous lips, once touched by Thee, And nought can richer grace to mortals yield.

With this sustained, though vaunting tyranny By unjust judgment doom us straight to die, And starvèd lions rush these limbs to tear; Confessing ever Thine Eternal Son, With Thee, Almighty Father, ever one, His cross with faith unshaken will we bear.

V. HYMNUS AD INCENSUM LUCERNAE

Inventor rutili, dux bone, luminis, qui certis vicibus tempora dividis, merso sole chaos ingruit horridum, lucem redde tuis Christe fidelibus.

Quamvis innumero sidere regiam 5 lunarique polum lampade pinxeris, incussu silicis lumina nos tamen monstras saxigeno semine quaerere:

Ne nesciret homo spem sibi luminis in Christi solido corpore conditam, 10 qui dici stabilem se voluit petram, nostris igniculis unde genus venit.

Pinguis quos olei rore madentibus lychnis aut facibus pascimus aridis: quin et fila favis scirpea floreis 15 presso melle prius conlita fingimus.

Vivax flamma viget, seu cava testula sucum linteolo suggerit ebrio, seu pinus piceam fert alimoniam, seu ceram teretem stuppa calens bibit. 20

Nectar de liquido vertice fervidum guttatim lacrimis stillat olentibus, ambustum quoniam vis facit ignea imbrem de madido flere cacumine.

Splendent ergo tuis muneribus, Pater, 25 flammis mobilibus scilicet atria, absentemque diem lux agit aemula, quam nox cum lacero victa fugit peplo.

Sed quis non rapidi luminis arduam manantemque Deo cernat originem? 30 Moyses nempe Deum spinifera in rubo vidit conspicuo lumine flammeum.

Felix, qui meruit sentibus in sacris caelestis solii visere principem, iussus nexa pedum vincula solvere, 35 ne sanctum involucris pollueret locum.

Hunc ignem populus sanguinis incliti maiorum meritis tutus et inpotens, suetus sub dominis vivere barbaris, iam liber sequitur longa per avia: 40

qua gressum tulerant castraque caerulae noctis per medium concita moverant, plebem pervigilem fulgure praevio ducebat radius sole micantior.

Sed rex Niliaci littoris invido 45 fervens felle iubet praevalidam manum in bellum rapidis ire cohortibus ferratasque acies clangere classicum.

Sumunt arma viri seque minacibus accingunt gladiis, triste canit tuba: 50 hic fidit iaculis, ille volantia praefigit calamis spicula Gnosiis.

Densetur cuneis turba pedestribus, currus pars et equos et volucres rotas conscendunt celeres signaque bellica 55 praetendunt tumidis clara draconibus.

Hic iam servitii nescia pristini gens Pelusiacis usta vaporibus tandem purpurei gurgitis hospita rubris littoribus fessa resederat. 60

Hostis dirus adest cum duce perfido, infert et validis praelia viribus: Moyses porro suos in mare praecipit constans intrepidis tendere gressibus:

praebent rupta locum stagna viantibus 65 riparum in faciem pervia, sistitur circumstans vitreis unda liquoribus, dum plebs sub bifido permeat aequore.

Pubes quin etiam decolor asperis inritata odiis rege sub inpio 70 Hebraeum sitiens fundere sanguinem audet se pelago credere concavo:

ibant praecipiti turbine percita fluctus per medios agmina regia, sed confusa dehinc unda revolvitur 75 in semet revolans gurgite confluo.

Currus tunc et equos telaque naufraga ipsos et proceres et vaga corpora nigrorum videas nare satellitum, arcis iustitium triste tyrannicae. 80

Quae tandem poterit lingua retexere laudes Christe tuas? qui domitam Pharon plagis multimodis cedere praesuli cogis iustitiae vindice dextera.

Qui pontum rapidis aestibus invium 85 persultare vetas, ut refluo in salo securus pateat te duce transitus, et mox unda rapax devoret inpios.

Cui ieiuna eremi saxa loquacibus exundant scatebris, et latices novos 90 fundit scissa silex, quae sitientibus dat potum populis axe sub igneo.

Instar fellis aqua tristifico in lacu fit ligni venia mel velut Atticum: lignum est, quo sapiunt aspera dulcius; 95 uam praefixa cruci spes hominum viget.

Inplet castra cibus tunc quoque ninguidus, inlabens gelida grandine densius: his mensas epulis, hac dape construunt, quam dat sidereo Christus ab aethere. 100

Nec non imbrifero ventus anhelitu crassa nube leves invehit alites, quae conflata in humum, cum semel agmina fluxerunt, reduci non revolant fuga.

Haec olim patribus praemia contulit 105 insignis pietas numinis unici, cuius subsidio nos quoque vescimur pascentes dapibus pectora mysticis.

Fessos ille vocat per freta seculi discissis populum turbinibus regens 110 iactatasque animas mille laboribus iustorum in patriam scandere praecipit.

Illic purpureis tecta rosariis omnis fragrat humus calthaque pinguia et molles violas et tenues crocos 115 fundit fonticulis uda fugacibus.

Illic et gracili balsama surculo desudata fluunt, raraque cinnama spirant et folium, fonte quod abdito praelambens fluvius portat in exitum. 120

Felices animae prata per herbida concentu parili suave sonantibus hymnorum modulis dulce canunt melos, calcant et pedibus lilia candidis.

Sunt et spiritibus saepe nocentibus 125 paenarum celebres sub Styge feriae illa nocte, sacer qua rediit Deus stagnis ad superos ex Acheronticis.

Non sicut tenebras de face fulgida surgens oceano Lucifer inbuit, 130 sed terris Domini de cruce tristibus maior sole novum restituens diem.

Marcent suppliciis tartara mitibus, exultatque sui carceris otio functorum populus liber ab ignibus, 135 nec fervent solito flumina sulphure.

Nos festis trahimus per pia gaudia noctem conciliis votaque prospera certatim vigili congerimus prece extructoque agimus liba sacrario. 140

Pendent mobilibus lumina funibus, quae suffixa micant per laquearia, et de languidulis fota natatibus lucem perspicuo flamma iacit vitro.

Credas stelligeram desuper aream 145 ornatam geminis stare trionibus, et qua bosporeum temo regit iugum, passim purpureos spargier hesperos.

O res digna, Pater, quam tibi roscidae noctis principio grex tuus offerat, 150 lucem, qua tribuis nil pretiosius, lucem, qua reliqua praemia cernimus.

Tu lux vera oculis, lux quoque sensibus, intus tu speculum, tu speculum foris, lumen, quod famulans offero, suscipe, 155 tinctum pacifici chrismatis unguine.

Per Christum genitum, summe Pater, tuum, in quo visibilis stat tibi gloria, qui noster Dominus, qui tuus unicus spirat de patrio corde paraclitum. 160

Per quem splendor, honos, laus, sapientia, maiestas, bonitas, et pietas tua regnum continuat numine triplici texens perpetuis secula seculis.

V. HYMN FOR THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS

Blest Lord, Creator of the glowing light, At Whose behest the hours successive move, The sun has set: black darkness broods above: Christ! light Thy faithful through the coming night.

Thy courts are lit with stars unnumberèd, And in the cloudless vault the pale moon rides; Yet Thou dost bid us seek the fire that hides Till swift we strike it from its flinty bed.

So man may learn that in Christ's body came The hidden hope of light to mortals given: He is the Rock--'tis His own word--that riven Sends forth to all our race the eternal flame.

From lamps that brim with rich and fragrant oil, Or torches dry this heaven-sent fire we feed; Or make us rushlights from the flowering reed And wax, whereon the bees have spent their toil.

Bright glows the light, whether the resin thick Of pine-brand flares, or waxen tapers burn With melting radiance, or the hollow urn Yields its stored sweetness to the thirsty wick.

Beneath the might of fire, in slow decay The scented tears of glowing nectar fall; Lower and lower droops the candle tall And ever dwindling weeps itself away.

So by Thy gifts, great Father, hearth and hall Are all ablaze with points of twinkling light That vie with daylight spent; and vanquished Night Rends, as she flies away, her sable pall.

Who knoweth not that from high Heaven first came Our light, from God Himself the rushing fire? For Moses erst, amid the prickly brier, Saw God made manifest in lambent flame.

Ah, happy he! deemed worthy face to face To see heaven's Lord within that sacred brake; Bidden the sandals from his feet to take, Nor with his shoon defile that holy place.

The mighty children of the chosen name, Saved by the merits of their sires, and free After long years of savage tyranny, Through the drear desert followed still that flame.

Striking their camp beneath the silent night Where'er they went, to lead their darkling way, The cloud of glory lent its guiding ray And shone more splendid than the noonday light.

But, mad with jealous fury, Egypt's king Calls his great host to battle for their lord: Swiftly the cohorts gather at his word, And down the mail-clad lines the clarions ring.

Girding their trusty swords the warriors go To fill the ranks; hoarse bugles rend the air; These seize their massy javelins, these prepare The death-winged arrow and the Cretan bow.

The footmen throng in close battalions pressed; The chariots thunder; to the saddle spring The riders of the Nile, as forth they fling Egypt's proud banner with the serpent crest.

And now, forgetful of the bondage past, Thy children, tortured by the desert heat, Drag to the Red Sea's brink their weary feet, And on its sandy margin rest at last.

See! with their forsworn king the savage foe Draws nigh: the threatening squadrons nearer ride; But ever onward urged the intrepid guide And through the waves bade Israel fearless go.

Before that steadfast march the billows fall, Then raise on either hand their crystal mass, While through the sundered deep Thy people pass And ocean guards them with a liquid wall.

But, mad with baffled rage, the dusky horde Of Egypt, by their impious despot led, Athirst the hated Hebrews' blood to shed Pursued, all reckless of the o'er-arching flood.

Swift as the wind the royal squadrons ride, But swifter yet the crystal barriers break, The waves exultantly their bounds forsake And roll together in a roaring tide.

'Mid steeds and chariots and drifting mail The drownèd lords of Egypt found a grave With all their swart retainers 'neath the wave; And in their haughty courts the mourners wail.

What tongue, O Christ, Thy glories can unfold? Thine was the arm, outstretched in wrath, that made The stricken land of Pharaoh, sore afraid, Bow down before Thy minister of old.

Thy pathless deep did at the voice restrain Its surging billows, till with Thee for guide Thy host passed scathless, and the refluent tide Swept down the wicked to the engulfing main.

At Thy command the desert, parched and dry, Breaks into laughing rills, and water clear Wells from the smitten rock Thy flock to cheer And quench their thirst beneath that brazen sky.

Then Marah's bitterness grew passing sweet, Touched by the mystic tree; so by the grace Of Thine own Tree, O Christ, our sinful race Regains its lost hopes at Thy piercèd feet.

Faster than icy hail the manna falls, Like snow down drifting from a wintry sky; The feast is set: they heap the tables high With that rich food from Thy celestial halls.

Fresh blow the breezes from the distant shore And bear a fluttering cloud that hides the light, Till the frail pinions, faltering in their flight, Sink in the wilderness to rise no more.

How great the love of God's own Son, that shed Such wondrous bounty on His chosen race! And still to us He proffers in His grace The mystic Feast, wherewith our souls are fed.

Through the world's raging sea He bids us come, And 'twixt the sundered billows guides our path, Till, spent and wearied with the ocean's wrath, He calls His storm-tossed saints to Heaven and home.

There in His paradise red roses blow, With golden daffodils and lilies pale And gentle violets, and down the vale The murmuring rivulets for ever flow.

Sweet balsams, welling from the slender tree, And precious spices fill the fragrant air, And, hiding by the stream, that blossom rare Whose leaves the river hurries to the sea.

There the blest souls with one accord unite To hymn in dulcet song their Saviour's praise, And as the chanting quire their voices raise They tread with shining feet the lilies bright.