The Hymns of Prudentius Part 9

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 cib.u.mque 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 quat.i.t. 95

Sed paenitendi dum datur diecula, si forte vellent inprobam libidinem veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere, suspendit ictum terror exorabilis paullumque dicta subst.i.tit 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 vert.i.t 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 reflect.i.t, quos ut increpaverat pudenda censor inputans opprobria; Inpendet, inquit, ira summi vindicis, urbemque flamma mox cremabit, credite. 135

Apicem deinceps ardui montis pet.i.t 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 b.e.s.t.i.a.libus 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 madesc.u.n.t parvulorum cunulae, suc.u.m 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, p.r.o.na nam clementia haud difficulter supplicem mortalium solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium. 175

Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor?

pridem caducis c.u.m gravatus artubus Iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit, praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico Emanuel est, sive n.o.bISc.u.m DEUS. 180

Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo virtutis arta lege fecit liberum: emanc.i.p.ator 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, c.u.m 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 tabesc.u.n.t 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 G.o.d, 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 l.u.s.ts, Our sinful flesh we thus restrain, Lest gluttony and drunkenness Should choke the soul and cloud the brain.

Hence appet.i.te and luxury Are forced their empire to resign; The wanton sport, the jest obscene, The ign.o.ble 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 l.u.s.ts 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 G.o.d to man was told, No food might touch till through the sky The sun full forty times had rolled, Ere G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d'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 G.o.dhead blest.