The Hymns of Prudentius Part 17

Audit tyrannus anxius adesse regum principem, qui nomen Israel regat 95 teneatque David regiam.

Exclamat amens nuntio, successor instat, pellimur; satelles i, ferrum rape, perfunde cunas sanguine. 100

Mas omnis infans occidat, scrutare nutric.u.m sinus, interque materna ubera ensem cruentet pusio.

Suspecta per Bethlem mihi 105 puerperarum est omnium fraus, ne qua furtim subtrahat prolem virilis indolis.

Transfigit ergo carnifex mucrone destricto furens 110 effusa nuper corpora, animasque rimatur novas.

Loc.u.m minutis artubus vix interemptor invenit, quo plaga descendat patens 115 iuguloque maior pugio est.

O barbarum spectaculum!

inlisa cervix cautibus spargit cerebrum lacteum oculosque per vulnus vomit. 120

Aut in profundum palpitans mersatur infans gurgitem, cui subter artis faucibus singultat unda et halitus.

Salvete flores martyrum, 125 quos lucis ipso in limine Christi insecutor sustulit, ceu turbo nascentes rosas.

Vos prima Christi victima, grex inmolatorum tener, 130 aram ante ipsam simplices palma et coronis luditis.

Quid proficit tantum nefas, quid crimen Herodem iuvat?

unus tot inter funera 135 inpune Christus tollitur.

Inter coaevi sanguinis fluenta solus integer ferrum, quod orbabat nurus, partus fefellit virginis. 140

Sic stulta Pharaonis mali edicta quondam fugerat Christi figuram praeferens Moyses, receptor civium.

Cautum et statutum ius erat, 145 quo non liceret matribus, c.u.m pondus alvi absolverent, puerile pignus tollere.

Mens obstetricis sedulae pie in tyrannum contumax 150 ad spem potentis gloriae furata servat parvulum:

Quem mox sacerdotem sibi adsumpsit orbis conditor, per quem notatam saxeis 155 legem tabellis traderet.

Licetne Christum noscere tanti per exemplum viri?

dux ille caeso Aegyptio absolvit Israel iugo. 160

At nos subactos iugiter erroris inperio gravi dux noster hoste saucio mortis tenebris liberat.

Hic expiatam fluctibus 165 plebem marino in transitu repurgat undis dulcibus, lucis columnam praeferens:

Hic praeliante exercitu, pansis in altum brachiis, 170 sublimis Amalech premit, crucis quod instar tunc fuit.

Hic nempe Iesus verior, qui longa post dispendia victor suis tribulibus 175 promissa solvit iugera.

Qui ter quaternas denique refluentis amnis alveo fundavit et fixit petras, apostolorum stemmata. 180

Iure ergo se Iudae ducem vidisse testantur Magi, c.u.m facta priscorum duc.u.m Christi figuram finxerint.

Hic rex priorum iudic.u.m, 185 rexere qui Iacob genus, dominaeque rex ecclesiae, templi et novelli et pristini.

Hunc posteri Efrem colunt, hunc sancta Mana.s.se domus 190 omnesque suspiciunt tribus bis sena fratrum semina.

Quin et propago degener ritum secuta inconditum, quaec.u.mque dirum fervidis 195 Baal caminis c.o.xerat,

fumosa avorum numina saxum, metallum, stipitem, rasum, dolatum, sectile, in Christi honorem deserit. 200

Gaudete quidquid gentium est, Iudaea, Roma, et Graecia, Aegypte, Thrax, Persa, Scytha, rex unus omnes possidet.

Laudate vestrum principem 205 omnes beati, ac perditi, vivi, inbecilli ac mortui: iam nemo posthac mortuus.

XII. HYMN FOR THE EPIPHANY

Lift up your eyes, whoe'er ye be That fare the new-born Christ to see: For yonder is the s.h.i.+ning sign Of grace perennial and divine.

What means this star, whose piercing rays Outs.h.i.+ne the sun's resplendent blaze?

'Tis token sure that G.o.d is come In mortal flesh to make His home.

No courtier of the realms of night Nor monthly moon's bright acolyte, This star directs the course of day, Sole sovereign of the heavenly way.

Although the Bears their track retrace, Nor wholly their clear beams efface, Yet ofttimes 'neath the dun cloud's haze They hide themselves from mortal gaze.

But yon Star's glory hath no end, Nor to the depths can it descend: It ne'er is whelmed by envious cloud That seeks its beauty to enshroud.

Now let the baleful comet die, The brood of blazing Sirius fly: G.o.d's...o...b..shall quench their sultry heats And drive them from their haughty seats.

Lo! from the regions of the morn Wherein the radiant sun is born, The Persian sages see on high G.o.d's ensign s.h.i.+ning in the sky.

Soon as its rising beams prevail The starry hosts in order pale: E'en Lucifer durst not upraise The silvery splendours of his face.

Who is this sovereign (they enquire) That lords it o'er the ethereal choir?

'Fore whom the heavens bow down afraid, Of all the worlds of light obeyed?

Sure 'tis the sign most reverend Of Being that doth know no end: Of One in state sublime arrayed Ere sky and chaos yet were made.

This is the King of Israel, Of all in Gentile lands that dwell: The King to Abram and his seed Throughout all ages erst decreed.

To him 'twas given his progeny As stars innumerous to see: First of believers! moved to slay His only son, so G.o.d to obey.

Behold the Flower of David s.h.i.+ne, Of Jesse's root the Branch benign: The sceptre spread with blossoms rare Wields o'er the world its lords.h.i.+p fair.

Roused by the portent of the sky The sages fix their gaze on high, And speed them 'neath the furrowed way Marked by the star's effulgent ray.

At length its flaming steps it stayed Poised over where the Child was laid: Straightway with downcast mien it shed Its splendours on the sacred Head.

Whereat the travellers outpour Of Eastern gifts their treasure-store, Myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense, Gold meet for regal opulence.