A Handbook for Latin Clubs Part 29

Translation

Fuscus, the man of life upright and pure Needeth nor javelin, nor bow of Moor Nor arrows tipped with venom deadly-sure, Loading his quiver.

Whether o'er Afric's burning sand he rides, Or frosty Caucasus' bleak mountain-sides, Or wanders lonely, where Hydaspes glides, That storied river.

Place me where no life-laden summer breeze Freshens the meads, or murmurs 'mongst the trees; Where clouds oppress, and withering tempests' breeze From sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e.

Place me beneath the sunbeams' fiercest glare, On arid sands, no dwelling anywhere, Still Lalage's sweet smile, sweet voice _e'en there_ I will adore.

--Tr. William Greenwood

ROCK OF AGES

Iesu, pro me perforatus, Condar intra tuum latus, Tu per lympham profluentem, Tu per sanguinem tepentem, In peccata mi redunda, Tolle culpam, sordes munda.

Coram te nec iustus forem, Quamvis tota vi laborem.

Nec si fide nunquam cesso, Fletu stillans indefesso: Tibi soli tantum munus: Salva me, Salvator unus!

Nil in manu mec.u.m fero Sed me versus crucem gero; Vestimenta nudus oro, Opem debilis imploro; Fontem Christi quaero immundus, Nisi laves, moribundus.

Dum hos artus vita regit; Quando nox sepulchre tegit; Mortuos c.u.m stare iubes; Sedens iudex inter nubes; Iesu, pro me perforatus, Condar intra tuum latus.

--Toplady. Tr. by Gladstone

_DIES IRAE_[7]

Dies irae, dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla, Teste David c.u.m Sybilla.

Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando iudex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus!

Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit, et natura, c.u.m resurget creatura Iudicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur, Inquo totum continetur, Unde mundus iudicetur.

Iudex ergo c.u.m sedebit, Quidquid latet, apparebit, Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, Quem patronum rogaturus, c.u.m vix iustus sit securus?

Rex tremendae maiestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis!

Recordare, Iesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae; Ne me perdas illa die!

Quaerens me sedisti la.s.sus, Redemisti crucem pa.s.sus: Tantus labor non sit ca.s.sus!

Iuste iudex ultionis, Donum fac remissionis Ante diem rationis!

--Thomas of Celano

[Footnote 7: "This marvelous hymn is the acknowledged masterpiece of Latin poetry and the most sublime of all uninspired hymns."

--Schaff.]

Translation

Day of Wrath,--that Day of Days,-- When earth shall vanish in a blaze, As David, with the Sibyl, says!

What a trembling will come o'er us, When the Judge shall be before us, For every hidden sin to score us!

The trumpet with its wondrous sound, Piercing each sepulchral mound, Shall summon all, the throne around.

Nature and death will stand aghast, When those who to the grave have past, Come answering to the judgment blast!

The Written Book shall be unrolled, Wherein the deeds of all are told, And shall the doom of all unfold.

For when the Judge shall be enthroned, No secret shall be left unowned, No crime or trespa.s.s unatoned.

When for a guilty wretch like me, What plea, what pleader, will there be, When scarcely shall the just go free!

King of tremendous majesty, Whose grace saves all who saved may be, Fountain of mercy, oh save me!

Forget not then, dear Son of G.o.d, For my sake Thou thy way hast trod, Nor let me sink beneath thy rod.

Yes, me to save Thou sat'st in pain, Nor didst the bitter Cross disdain,-- Let not such anguish be in vain!

Unerring Judge, thy wrath restrain, And let my sins remission gain, While still the days of grace remain.

--Tr. Robert C. Winthrop

_AD SANCTUM SPIRITUS_[8]

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte coelitus Lucis tuae radium.

Veni, pater pauperum, Veni, dator munerum, Veni, lumen cordium;

O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium!

Sine tuo numine Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium.

Da tuis fidelibus In te confitentibus Sacrum septenarium; Da virtutis meritum, Da salutis exitum, Da perenne gaudium!

[Footnote 8: Ascribed to Innocent III, Robert II, of France, and others. Ranks second to _Dies Irae_ among the Great Hymns. Can be sung to the tune of Rock of Ages.]

Translation

Holy Spirit, come, we pray Shed from Heaven thine inward ray, Kindle darkness into day.

Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come, Thou source of all our store, Light of hearts forevermore.