 | Miscellaneous Poems |  |
144
“PANGE LINGUA, GLORIOSI PRÆLIUM CERTAMINIS
Sing, my tongue, of glorious warfare,
Sing the last, the dread affray!
O'er the Cross, high Victory's token,
Sound the glad triumphant lay,
How the Sacrifice enduring
Earth's Redeemer won the day.
Sing the last, the dread affray!
O'er the Cross, high Victory's token,
Sound the glad triumphant lay,
How the Sacrifice enduring
Earth's Redeemer won the day.
He with our first father mourning
For his crime and broken faith,
Who of that ill fruit partaking
In a moment died the death,—
Mark'd e'en then a Tree to ransom
All the first tree's woe and scathe.
For his crime and broken faith,
Who of that ill fruit partaking
In a moment died the death,—
Mark'd e'en then a Tree to ransom
All the first tree's woe and scathe.
Such the work for our salvation
In its order fix'd and due;
Art, the Traitor's art to baffle
And his wiles of changeful hue;
Thence to draw the balm and healing
Whence the foe the poison drew.
In its order fix'd and due;
Art, the Traitor's art to baffle
And his wiles of changeful hue;
Thence to draw the balm and healing
Whence the foe the poison drew.
145
Wherefore in His season's fitness,
When the sacred years were spent,
Came the Son, the world's Creator,
From the Father's palace sent,
From the Virgin's womb proceeding,
Flesh most pure and innocent.
When the sacred years were spent,
Came the Son, the world's Creator,
From the Father's palace sent,
From the Virgin's womb proceeding,
Flesh most pure and innocent.
Hear His cries, an Infant hidden
Where the narrow manger stands;
See the Mother Maid His members
Wrapping in rude lowly bands:
See the cradle-garments swathing
God's own feeble feet and hands!
Where the narrow manger stands;
See the Mother Maid His members
Wrapping in rude lowly bands:
See the cradle-garments swathing
God's own feeble feet and hands!
Now, the thirty years accomplish'd,
(All the time to flesh assign'd,)
With good will, for therefore came He,
To His Agony resign'd,
On the Cross our Lamb is lifted,
There the Sacrifice they bind.
(All the time to flesh assign'd,)
With good will, for therefore came He,
To His Agony resign'd,
On the Cross our Lamb is lifted,
There the Sacrifice they bind.
Gall and vinegar, and spittle,
Reed and nails and lance, and lo!
Now the tender Form is piercèd,
Now the Blood and Water flow!
Earth and stars, and sky, and ocean
Well that cleansing river know.
Reed and nails and lance, and lo!
Now the tender Form is piercèd,
Now the Blood and Water flow!
146
Well that cleansing river know.
Faithful Cross! above all other,
One and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit Thy peer may be.
Sweetest wood, and sweetest iron,
Sweetest weight is hung on Thee
One and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit Thy peer may be.
Sweetest wood, and sweetest iron,
Sweetest weight is hung on Thee
To the Trinity be glory
Everlasting, as is meet,
Equal to the Father, equal
To the Son and Paraclete;
Trinal Unity, whose praises
All created things repeat.
Everlasting, as is meet,
Equal to the Father, equal
To the Son and Paraclete;
Trinal Unity, whose praises
All created things repeat.
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