Part 3

Yea, e'en the spirits of the lost, that dwell Where the black stream of sullen Acheron flows, Rest on that holy night when Christ arose, And for a while 'tis holiday in Hell.

No sun from ocean rising drives away Their darkness, with his flaming shafts far-hurled, But from the cross of Christ o'er that wan world There streams the radiance of a new-born day.

The sulphurous floods with lessened fury glow, The aching limbs find respite from their pain, While, in glad freedom from the galling chain, The tortured ghosts a short-lived solace know.

In holy gladness let this night be sped, As here we gather, Lord, to watch and pray; To Thee with one consent our vows we pay And on Thy altar set the sacred Bread.

From pendent chains the lamps of crystal blaze; By fragrant oil sustained the clear flame glows With strength undimmed, and through the darkness throws High o'er the fretted roof a golden haze,

As 'twere Heaven's starry floor our wondering eye Beheld, wherein the Bears their light display, Where Phosphor heralds the approach of day And Hesper's radiance floods the evening sky.

Meet is the gift we offer here to Thee, Father of all, as falls the dewy night; Thine own most precious gift we bring--the light Whereby mankind Thy other bounties see.

Thou art the Light indeed; on our dull eyes And on our inmost souls Thy rays are poured; To Thee we light our lamps: receive them, Lord, Filled with the oil of peace and sacrifice.

O hear us, Father, through Thine only Son, Our Lord and Saviour, by Whose love bequeathed The Paraclete upon our hearts has breathed, With Him and Thee through endless ages one.

Through Christ Thy Kingdom shall for ever be, Thy grace, might, wisdom, glory ever shine, As in the Triune majesty benign He reigns for all eternity with Thee.

VI. HYMNUS ANTE SOMNUM

Ades Pater supreme, quem nemo vidit unquam, Patrisque sermo Christe, et Spiritus benigne.

O Trinitatis huius 5 vis una, lumen unum, Deus ex Deo perennis, Deus ex utroque missus.

Fluxit labor diei, redit et quietis hora, 10 blandus sopor vicissim fessos relaxat artus.

Mens aestuans procellis curisque sauciata totis bibit medullis 15 obliviale poclum.

Serpit per omne corpus Lethaea vis, nec ullum miseris doloris aegri patitur manere sensum. 20

Lex haec data est caducis Deo iubente membris, ut temperet laborem medicabilis voluptas.

Sed dum pererrat omnes 25 quies amica venas, pectusque feriatum placat rigante somno:

Liber vagat per auras rapido vigore sensus, 30 variasque per figuras, quae sunt operta, cernit.

Quia mens soluta curis, cui est origo caelum, purusque fons ab aethra 35 iners iacere nescit.

Imitata multiformes facies sibi ipsa fingit, per quas repente currens tenui fruatur actu. 40

Sed sensa somniantum dispar fatigat horror, nunc splendor intererrat qui dat futura nosse.

Plerumque dissipatis 45 mendax imago veris animos pavore maestos ambage fallit atra.

Quem rara culpa morum non polluit frequenter, 50 nunc lux serena vibrans res edocet latentes.

At qui coinquinatum vitiis cor inpiavit, lusus pavore multo 55 species videt tremendas.

Hoc patriarcha noster sub carceris catena geminis simul ministris interpres adprobavit. 60

Quorum reversus unus dat poculum tyranno, ast alterum rapaces fixum vorant volucres.

Ipsum deinde regem 65 perplexa somniantem monuit famem futuram clausis cavere acervis.

Mox praesul ac tetrarches regnum per omne iussus 70 sociam tenere virgam dominae resedit aulae.

O quam profunda iustis arcana per soporem aperit tuenda Christus, 75 quam clara! quam tacenda!

Evangelista summi fidissimus magistri signata quae latebant nebulis videt remotis: 80

ipsum tonantis agnum de caede purpurantem, qui conscium futuri librum resignat unus.

Huius manum potentem 85 gladius perarmat anceps et fulgurans utrimque duplicem minatur ictum.

Quaesitor ille solus animaeque corporisque 90 ensisque bis timendus prima ac secunda mors est.

idem tamen benignus ultor retundit iram paucosque non piorum 95 patitur perire in aevum.

Huic inclitus perenne tribuit Pater tribunal, hunc obtinere iussit nomen supra omne nomen. 100

Hic praepotens cruenti extinctor antichristi, qui de furente monstro pulchrum refert tropaeum.

Quam bestiam capacem 105 populosque devorantem, quam sanguinis charybdem Ioannis execratur.

Haec nempe, quae sacratum praeferre nomen ausa est, 110 imam petit gehennam Christo perempta vero.

Tali sopore iustus mentem relaxat heros, ut spiritu sagaci 115 caelum peragret omne.

Nos nil meremur horum, quos creber inplet error, concreta quos malarum vitiat cupido rerum. 120

Sat est quiete dulci fessum fovere corpus: sat, si nihil sinistrum vanae minentur umbrae.

Cultor Dei memento 125 te fontis et lavacri rorem subisse sanctum, te chrismate innotatum.

Fac, cum vocante somno castum petis cubile, 130 frontem locumque cordis crucis figura signet.

Crux pellit omne crimen, fugiunt crucem tenebrae: tali dicata signo 135 mens fluctuare nescit.

Procul, o procul vagantum portenta somniorum, procul esto pervicaci praestigiator astu! 140

O tortuose serpens, qui mille per Maeandros fraudesque flexuosas agitas quieta corda,

Discede, Christus hic est, 145 hic Christus est, liquesce: signum quod ipse nosti damnat tuam catervam.

Corpus licet fatiscens iaceat recline paullum, 150 Christum tamen sub ipso meditabimur sopore.

VI. HYMN BEFORE SLEEP

Draw near, Almighty Father, Ne'er seen by mortal eye; Come, O Thou Word eternal, O Spirit blest, be nigh.

One light of threefold Godhead, One power that all transcends; God is of God begotten, And God from both descends.

The hour of rest approaches, The toils of day are past, And o'er our tired bodies Sleep's gentle charm is cast.

The mind, by cares tormented Amid life's storm and stress, Drinks deep the wondrous potion That brings forgetfulness.

O'er weary, toil-worn mortals The spells of Lethe steal; Sad hearts lose all their sorrow, Nor pain nor anguish feel.

For to His frail creation God gave this law to keep, That labour should be lightened By soft and healing sleep.

But while sweet languor wanders Through all the pulsing veins, And, wrapt in dewy slumber, The heart at rest remains,

The soul, in wakeful vigour, Aloft in freedom flies, And sees in many a semblance The hidden mysteries.

For, freed from care, the spirit That came from out the sky, Born of the stainless aether, Can never idle lie.

A thousand changing phantoms She fashions through the night, And 'midst a world of fancy Pursues her rapid flight.

But divers are the visions That night to dreamers shows; Rare gleams of straying splendour The future may disclose;

More oft the truth is darkened, And lying fantasy Deceives the affrighted sleeper With cunning treachery.

To him whose life is holy The things that are concealed Lie open to his spirit In radiant light revealed;

But he whose heart is blackened, With many a sin imbued, Sees phantoms grim and ghastly That beckon and delude.

So in the Egyptian dungeon The patriarch of old Unto the king's two servants Their fateful visions told:

And one is brought from prison The monarch's wine to pour, One, on the gibbet hanging, Foul birds of prey devour,

He warned the king, distracted By riddles of the night, To hoard the plenteous harvests Against the years of blight.

Soon, lord of half a kingdom, A mighty potentate, He shares the royal sceptre And dwells in princely state.

But ah! how deep the secrets The holy sleeper sees To whom Christ shows His highest, Most sacred mysteries.

For God's most faithful servant The clouds were rolled away, And John beheld the wonders That sealed from mortals lay.

The Lamb of God, encrimsoned With sacrificial stains, Alone the Book can open That destiny contains.

By His strong hand is wielded A keen, two-edgèd brand That, flashing like the lightning, Smites swift on either hand.

Before His bar of judgment Both soul and body lie; He whom that dread sword smiteth The second death shall die.

Yet mercy tempers justice, And few the Avenger sends (Whose guilt is past all pardon) To death that never ends.

To Him the Father yieldeth The judgment-seat of Heaven; To Him a Name excelling All other names is given.

For by His strength transcendent Shall Antichrist be slain, And from that raging monster Fair trophies shall He gain:

That all-devouring Dragon, With blood of martyrs red, On whose abhorrèd power John's solemn curse is laid.

And thus the proud usurper Of His high name is cast By Him, the true Christ, vanquished To deepest hell at last.

Upon the saint heroic Such wondrous slumber falls That, in the spirit roaming, He treads heaven's highest halls.

We may not, in our weakness, To dreams like these aspire, Whose souls are steeped in error And evil things desire.

Enough, if weary bodies In peaceful sleep may rest; Enough, if no dark powers Our slumbering souls molest.

Christian! the font remember, The sacramental vow, The holy water sprinkled, The oil that marked thy brow!

When at sleep's call thou seekest To rest in slumber chaste, Let first the sacred emblem On breast and brow be traced.

The Cross dispels all darkness, All sin before it flies, And by that sign protected The mind all fear defies.

Avaunt! ye fleeting phantoms That mock our midnight hours; Avaunt! thou great Deceiver With all thy guileful powers.

Thou Serpent, old and crafty, Who by a thousand arts And manifold temptations Dost vex our sleeping hearts,

Vanish! for Christ is with us; Away! 'tis Christ the Lord: The sign thou must acknowledge Condemns thy hellish horde.

And, though the weary body Relaxed in sleep may be, Our hearts, Lord, e'en in slumber, Shall meditate on Thee.

VII. HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM

O Nazarene, lux Bethlem, verbum Patris, quem partus alvi virginalis protulit, adesto castis Christe parsimoniis, festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice, ieiuniorum dum litamus victimam. 5

Nil hoc profecto purius mysterio, quo fibra cordis expiatur uvidi, intemperata quo domantur viscera, arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat. 10

Hinc subiugatur luxus et turpis gula, vini atque somni degener socordia, libido sordens, inverecundus lepos, variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt. 15

Nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo ieiuna rite membra non coerceas, sequitur frequenti marcida oblectamine scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis, animusque pigris stertat in praecordiis. 20

Frenentur ergo corporum cupidines, detersa et intus emicet prudentia: sic excitato perspicax acumine liberque flatu laxiore spiritus rerum parentem rectius precabitur. 25

Elia tali crevit observantia, vetus sacerdos, ruris hospes aridi: fragore ab omni quem remotum et segregem sprevisse tradunt criminum frequentiam, casto fruentem syrtium silentio. 30

Sed mox in auras igneis iugalibus curruque raptus evolavit praepete, ne de propinquo sordium contagio dirus quietum mundus adflaret virum, olim probatis inclitum ieiuniis. 35

Non ante caeli principem septemplicis Moyses tremendi fidus interpres throni potuit videre, quam decem recursibus quater volutis sol peragrans sidera omni carentem cerneret substantia. 40

Victus precanti solus in lacrimis fuit: nam flendo pernox inrigatum pulverem humi madentis ore pressit cernuo, donec loquentis voce praestrictus Dei expavit ignem non ferendum visibus. 45

Ioannis huius artis hand minus potens, Dei perennis praecucurrit filium, curvos viarum qui retorsit tramites et flexuosa conrigens dispendia dedit sequendam calle recto lineam. 50

Hanc obsequelam praeparabat nuntius mox adfuturo construens iter Deo, clivosa planis, confragosa ut lenibus converterentur, neve quidquam devium inlapsa terris inveniret veritas. 55

Non usitatis ortus his natalibus oblita lactis iam vieto in pectore matris tetendit serus infans ubera: nec ante partu de senili effusus est, quam praedicaret virginem plenam Deo. 60

Post in patentes ille solitudines amictus hirtis bestiarum pellibus setisve tectus hispida et lanugine secessit, horrens inquinari et pollui contaminatis oppidorum moribus. 65

Illic dicata parcus abstinentia potum cibumque vir severae industriae in usque serum respuebat vesperum, parvum locustis et favorum agrestium liquore pastum corpori suetus dare. 70

Hortator ille primus et doctor novae fuit salutis, nam sacrato in flumine veterum piatas lavit errorum notas: sed tincta postquam membra defaecaverat, caelo refulgens influebat spiritus. 75

Hoc ex lavacro labe dempta criminum ibant renati non secus, quam si rudis auri recocta vena pulchrum splendeat, micet metalli sive lux argentei, sudum polito praenitens purgamine. 80

Referre prisci stemma mine ieiunii libet fideli proditum volumine, ut diruendae civitatis incolis fulmen benigni mansuefactum Patris pie repressis ignibus pepercerit. 85

Gens insolenti praepotens iactantia pollebat olim, quam fluentem nequiter conrupta vulgo solverat lascivia, et inde bruto contumax fastidio cultum superni negligebat numinis. 90

Offensa tandem iugis indulgentiae censura iustis excitatur motibus, dextram perarmat rhompheali incendio nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines vibrans tonantum nube flammarum quatit. 95

Sed paenitendi dum datur diecula, si forte vellent inprobam libidinem veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere, suspendit ictum terror exorabilis paullumque dicta substitit sententia. 100

Ionam prophetam mitis ultor excitat, paenae inminentis iret ut praenuntius, sed nosset ille qui minacem iudicem servare malle, quam ferire ac plectere, tectam latenter vertit in Tharsos fugam. 105

Celsam paratis pontibus scandit ratem, udo revincta fune puppis solvitur, itur per altum, fit procellosum mare: tum causa tanti quaeritur periculi, sors in fugacem missa vatem decidit. 110

Iussus perire solus e cunctis reus, cuius voluta crimen urna expresserat, praeceps rotatur et profundo inmergitur: exceptus inde beluinis faucibus alvi capacis vivus hauritur specu. 115

* * * * *

Intactus exin tertiae noctis vice monstri vomentis pellitur singultibus, qua murmuranti fine fluctus frangitur, salsosque candens spuma tundit pumices, ructatus exit seque servatum stupet. 130

In Ninivitas se coactus percito gressu reflectit, quos ut increpaverat pudenda censor inputans opprobria; Inpendet, inquit, ira summi vindicis, urbemque flamma mox cremabit, credite. 135

Apicem deinceps ardui montis petit visurus inde conglobatum turbidae fumum ruinae cladis et dirae struem, tectus flagellis multinodis germinis, nato et repente perfruens umbraculo. 140

Sed maesta postquam civitas vulnus novi hausit doloris, heu supremum palpitat: cursant per ampla congregatim moenia plebs et senatus, omnis aetas civium, pallens iuventus, eiulantes feminae. 145

Placet frementem publicis ieiuniis placare Christum, mos edendi spernitur, glaucos amictus induit monilibus matrona demptis, proque gemma et serico crinem fluentem sordidus spargit cinis. 150

Squalent recincta veste bullati patres, setasque plangens turba sumit textiles, inpexa villis virgo bestialibus nigrante vultum contegit velamine, iacens arenis et puer provolvitur. 155

Rex ipse Coos aestuantem murices laenam revulsa dissipabat fibula, gemmas virentes et lapillos sutiles, insigne frontis exuebat vinculum turpi capillos inpeditus pulvere. 160

Nullus bibendi, nemo vescendi memor, ieiuna mensas pubis omnis liquerat, quin et negato lacte vagientium fletu madescunt parvulorum cunulae, sucum papillae parca nutrix derogat. 165

Greges et ipsos claudit armentalium sollers virorum cura, ne vagum pecus contingat ore rorulenta gramina, potum strepentis neve fontis hauriant, vacuis querelae personant praesepibus. 170

Mollitus his et talibus brevem Deus iram refrenat temperans oraculum prosper sinistrum, prona nam clementia haud difficulter supplicem mortalium solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium. 175

Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor? pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus Iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit, praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico Emanuel est, sive NOBISCUM DEUS. 180

Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo virtutis arta lege fecit liberum: emancipator servientis plasmatis regnantis ante victor et cupidinis. 185

Inhospitali namque secretus loco quinis diebus octies labentibus nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam, firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis. 190

Miratus hostis posse limum tabidum tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti, explorat arte sciscitator callida, Deusne membris sit receptus terreis, sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit. 195

Hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus, quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis tuis dedisti Christe sectatoribus, ut, cum vorandi vicerit libidinem, late triumphet inperator spiritus. 200

Hoc est, quod atri livor hostis invidet, mundi polique quod gubernator probat, altaris aram quod facit placabilem, quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem, quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem. 205

Perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur, nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives, ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio, si blanda semper misceatur largitas. 210

Est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus operire nudos, indigentes pascere, opem benignam ferre supplicantibus, unam paremque sortis humanae vicem inter potentes atque egenos ducere. 215

Satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit, laudis rapacem, prodigam pecuniae, cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat: illum perennes protinus conplent opes, ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex. 220

VII. HYMN FOR THOSE WHO FAST

O Jesus, Light of Bethlehem, True Son of God, Incarnate Word; Thou offspring of a Virgin's womb, Be present at our frugal board; Accept our fast, our sacrifice, And smile upon us, gracious Lord.

For by this holiest mystery The inward parts are cleansed from stain, And, taming all the unbridled lusts, Our sinful flesh we thus restrain, Lest gluttony and drunkenness Should choke the soul and cloud the brain.

Hence appetite and luxury Are forced their empire to resign; The wanton sport, the jest obscene, The ignoble sway of sleep and wine, And all the plagues of languid sense Feel the strict bonds of discipline.

For if, full fed with meat and drink, The flesh thou ne'er dost mortify, The mind, that spark of sacred flame, By pleasure dulled, must fail and die, And pent in its gross prison-house The soul in shameful torpor lie.

So be thy carnal lusts controlled, So be thy judgment clear and bright; Then shall thy spirit, swift and free, Be gifted with a keener sight, And breathing in an ampler air To the All-Father pray aright.

Elias by such abstinence, Seer of the desert, grew in grace, Who left the madding haunts of men And found a peaceful resting-place, Where, far from sinful crowds, he trod The pure and silent wilderness.

Till by those fiery coursers drawn The swift car bore him through the air, Lest earth's defiling touch should mar The holiness it might not share, Or some polluting breath disturb The peace attained by fast and prayer.

Moses, through whom from His dread throne The will of God to man was told, No food might touch till through the sky The sun full forty times had rolled, Ere God before him stood revealed, Lord of the heavens sevenfold.

Tears were his meat, while bent in prayer Through the long night he bowed his head E'en to the thirsty dust, that drank The drops in bitter weeping shed; Till, at God's call, he saw the flame No eye may bear, and was afraid.

The Baptist, too, was strong in fast-- Forerunner in a later day Of God's Eternal Son--who made The byepaths plain, the crooked way A road direct, wherein His feet Might travel on without delay.

This was the messenger's great task Who for God's advent zealously Prepared the way, the rough made smooth, The mountain levelled to the sea; That, when Truth came from heaven to earth, All fair and straight His path should be.

He was not born in common wise, For dry and wrinkled was the breast Of her that bare him late in years, Nor found she from her labour rest, Till she had hailed with lips inspired The Maid with unborn Godhead blest.

For him the hairy skins of beasts Furnished a raiment rude and wild, As forth into the lonely waste He fared, an unbefriended child, Who dwelt apart, lest he should be By evil city-life defiled.

There, vowed to abstinence, he grew To manhood, and with stern disdain He turned from meat and drink, until He saw night's shadow fall again; And locusts and the wild bees' store Sufficed his vigour to sustain.

The first was he to testify Of that new life which man might win; In Jordan's consecrating stream He purged the stains of ancient sin, And, as he made the body clean, The radiant Spirit entered in.

Forth from the holy tide they came Reborn, from guilt's pollution free, As bright from out the cleansing fire Flows the rough gold, or as we see The glittering silver, purged of dross, Flash into polished purity.

Now let us tell, from Holy Writ, Of olden fasts the fairest crown; How God in pity stayed His hand, And spared a doomed and guilty town, In clemency the flames withheld And laid His vengeful lightnings down.

A mighty race of ancient time Waxed arrogant in boastful pride; Debauched were they, and borne along On foul corruption's loathsome tide, Till in their stiff-necked self-conceit They e'en the God of Heaven denied.

At last Eternal Mercy turns To righteous judgment, swift and dire; He shakes the clouds; the mighty sword Flames in His hand, and in His ire He wields the roaring hurricane 'Mid murky gloom and flashing fire.

Yet in His clemency He grants To penitence a brief delay, That they might burst the bonds of lust And put their vanities away; His sentence given, He waits awhile And stays the hand upraised to slay.

To warn them of the wrath to come The Avenger in His mercy sent Jonah the seer; but,--though he knew The threatening Judge would fain relent Nor wished to strike,--towards Tarshish town The prophet's furtive course was bent.

As up the galley's side he climbed, They loosed the dripping rope, and passed The harbour bar: then on them burst The sudden fury of the blast; And when their peril's cause they sought, The lot was on the recreant cast.

The man whose guilt the urn declares Alone must die, the rest to save; Hurled headlong from the deck, he falls And sinks beneath the engulfing wave, Then, seized by monstrous jaws, is plunged Into a vast and living grave.

* * * * *

At last the monster hurls him forth, As the third night had rolled away; Before its roar the billows break And lash the cliffs with briny spray; Unhurt the wondering prophet stands And hails the unexpected day.

Thus turned again to duty's path To Nineveh he swiftly came, Their lusts rebuked and boldly preached God's judgment on their sin and shame; "Believe!" he cried, "the Judge draws nigh Whose wrath shall wrap your streets in flame."

Thence to the lofty mount withdrew, Where he might watch the smoke-cloud lower O'er blasted homes and ruined halls, And rest beneath the shady bower Upspringing in swift luxury Of twining tendril, leaf and flower.

But when the guilty burghers heard The impending doom, a dull despair Possessed their souls; proud senators, Poor craftsmen, throng the highways fair; Pale youth with tottering age unites, And women's wailing rends the air.

A public fast they now decree, If they may thus Christ's anger stay: No food they touch: each haughty dame Puts silken robes and gems away, In sable garbed, and ashes casts Upon her tresses' disarray.

In dark and squalid vesture clad The Fathers go: the mourning crowd Dons rough attire: in shaggy skins Enwrapped, fair maids their faces shroud With dusky veils, and boyish heads E'en to the very dust are bowed.

The King tears off his jewelled brooch And rends the robe of Coan hue; Bright emeralds and lustrous pearls Are flung aside, and ashes strew The royal head, discrowned and bent, As low he kneels God's grace to sue.

None thought to drink, none thought to eat; All from the table turned aside, And in their cradles wet with tears Starved babes in bitter anguish cried, For e'en the foster-mother stern To little lips the breast denied.

The very flocks are closely penned By careful hands, lest they should gain Sweet water from the babbling stream Or wandering crop the dewy plain; And bleating sheep and lowing kine Within their barren stalls complain.

Moved by such penitence, full soon God's grace repealed the stern decree And curbed His righteous wrath; for aye, When man repents, His clemency Is swift to pardon and to hear His children weeping bitterly.

Yet wherefore of that bygone race Should we anew the story tell? For Christ's pure soul by fasting long The clogging bonds of flesh did quell; He Whom the prophet's voice foretold As GOD WITH US, Emmanuel.

Man's body--frail by nature's law And bound by pleasure's easy chain-- He freed by virtue's strong restraint, And gave it liberty again: He broke the bonds of flesh, and Lust Was driven from his old domain.

Deep in the inhospitable wild For forty days He dwelt alone Nor tasted food, till, thus prepared, All human weakness overthrown By fasting's power, His mortal frame Rejoiced the spirit's sway to own.