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Expulerat primogenitum saevissimus anguis

Florigera de sede virum blandique saporis

Inlecebris letum misero portarat amarum.

Nec solus meritam praesumptor senserat iram

5Mortali sub lege iacens, sed prorsus ab ipso

Humanum simul omne genus. heu, noxia coniux!

Noxia tu coniux magis an draco perfidus ille?

Perfidus ille draco, sed tu quoque noxia coniux.

Pro dolor! aeterni fuerant duo. crescere posquam

10Coepit origo, perit clademque a semine sumpsit.

Quid numerosa dies, quid tempore proderat illo

Cernere nongentos ultra feliciter annos

Progeniemque senum decimam spectare nepotum

Iamque suum nescire genus: cum victa supremis

15Cursibus extremae sors inreparabilis horae,

Sera licet, ventura foret longumque per aevum

Vita brevis nihil esse diu cum fine doloret?

Nec reducem spes ferret opem primique sepulchrum

Terrigenae caeca sorberet fauce nepotes,

20Ni pius ille sator culpas ignoscere promptus,

Reddere difficilis, sua ne factura periret

Quaeque Deo similis vivens adstaret imago

Dissimilis de morte foret, veniale misertus

Instauret opus pomisque vetaret acerbis,

25Quae mandere patres, natorum horrescere dentes

Donaretque suis semper placatus, ut unde

Culpa dedit mortem, pietas daret inde salutem,

Et velut e spinis mollis rosa surgit acutis

Nil quod laedat habens matremque obscurat honore:

30Sic Evae de stirpe sacra veniente Maria

Virginis antiquae facinus nova virgo piaret:

Ut quoniam natura prior vitiata iacebat

Sub dicione necis, Christo nascente renasci

Possit homo et veteris maculam deponere carnis.

35Haec ventura senes posquam dixere prophetae,

Angelus intactae cecinit properata Mariae:

Et dictum comitata fides, uterumque puellae

Sidereum mox implet onus, rerumque creator

Nascendi sub lege fuit. stupet innuba tensos

40Virgo sinus gaudetque suum paritura parentem.

Iamque novem lapsis decimi de limine mensis

Fulgebat sacrata dies, cum virgine feta

Promissum conplevit opus 'verbum caro factum',

In nobis habitare volens. tunc maximus infans

45Intemerata sui conservans viscera templi

Inlaesum vacuavit iter: pro virgine testis

Partus adest, clausa ingrediens et clausa relinquens.

Quae nova lux mundo, quae toto gratia caelo!

Quis fuit ille nitor, Mariae cum Christus ab alvo

50Processit splendore novo, velut ipse decoro

Sponsus ovans thalamo, 'forma speciosus' amoena

'Prae filiis hominum', cuius radiante figura

Blandior in labiis diffusa est gratia pulchris.

O facilis pietas! ne nos servile teneret

55Peccato dominante iugum, servilia summus

Membra tulit Dominus, primique ab origine mundi

Omnia qui propriis vestit nascentia donis

Obsitus exiguis habuit velamina pannis;

Quemque procellosi non mobilis unda profundi,

60Terrarum non omne solum, spatiosaque lati

Non capit aula poli, puerili in corpore plenus

Mansit et angusto Deus in praesepe quievit.

Salve, sancta parens, enixa puerpera regem,

Qui caelum terramque tenet per saecula, cuius

65Nomen et aeterno conplectens omnia gyro

Imperium sine fine manet; quae ventre beato

Gaudia matris habens cum virginitatis honore

Nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem:

Sola sine exemplo placuisti femina Christo.

70Tunc prius ignaris pastoribus ille creatus

Enituit, quia pastor erat, gregibusque refulsit

Agnus et angelicus cecinit miracula coetus.

Talia Bethleis dum signa geruntur in oris,

Eoi venere magi saevumque tyrannum

75Grandia sollicitis perturbant nuntia dictis:

Iudaicis nuper populis orientis ab axe

Progenitum fulsisse ducem, | hoc caelitus astra,

Hoc stellam radiare novam. ferus arbiter aulae

Aestuat Hebreae ratus hunc succedere posse

80Mox sibimet, qui primus erat: tunc fronte serena

Nubila mentis alens clam mandat ubique requiri

Sicut adorandum, quem tractat fraude necandum.

Quid furis, Herodes! Christum sermone fateris,

Et sensu iugulare cupis, legemque legendo

85Neglegis et regi regum tua regna minaris.

Ne tamen insano careant tua nomina facto,

Patrandum sub honore crucis (sed crimine gentis)

Herodes alius quod tu molire videbit.

Ergo alacres summo servantes lumina caelo

90Fixa magi sidusque micans regale secuti

Optatam tenuere viam, quae lege futura

Duxit adorantes sacra ad cunabula gentes.

Thensaurisque simul pro religione solutis,

Ipsae etiam ut possint species ostendere Christum,

95Aurea nascenti fuderunt munera regi,

Tura dedere Deo, myrram tribuere sepulchro.

Cur tria dona tamen? quoniam spes maxima vitae est

Hunc numerum confessa fides, et tempora summus

Cernens cuncta Deus, praesentia, prisca, futura,

100Semper adest semperque fuit semperque manebit

In triplici virtute sui. Tunc caelitus illi

Per somnum moniti contemnere iussa tyranni

Per loca mutati gradientes devia callis

In patriam rediere suam. Sic nos quoque sanctam

105Si cupimus patriam tandem contingere, posquam

Venimus ad Christum, iam non repetamus iniquum.

Ergo ubi delusum se conperit, impius iram

Rex aperit (si iure queat rex ille vocari,

Qui pietate caret, propriam qui non tegit iram)

110Ereptumque gemens facinus sibi, ceu leo frendens,

Cuius ab ore tener subito cum labitur agnus,

In totum movet arma gregem manditque trahitque

Molle pecus trepidaeque vocant sua pignera fetae

Nequiquam et vacuas implent balatibus auras

115Haut secus Herodes Christo stimulatus adempto

Sternere conlisas parvorum strage catervas

Inmerito non cessat atrox. quo crimine simplex

Turba perit? cur qui vixdum potuere creari

Iam meruere mori? furor est in rege cruento,

120Non ratio; primosque necans vagitus et audens

Innumerum patrare nefas puerilia mactat

Milia plangoremque dedit tot matribus unum.

Haec laceros crines nudato vertice rupit,

Illa genas secuit, nudum ferit altera pugnis

125Pectus et infelix mater (nec iam modo mater)

Orba super gelidum frustra premit ubera natum.

Quis tibi tunc, lanio, cernenti talia sensus?

Quosque dabas fremitus, cum vulnera fervere late

Prospiceres arce ex summa vastumque videres

130Misceri ante oculos tantis plangoribus aequor?

Extinctisque tamen quamvis infantibus absens

Praesens Christus erat, qui sancta pericula semper

Suscipit et poenas alieno in corpore sentit.

Ast ubi bis senos aetatis contigit annos,

135Hoc spatium de carne trahens, aevique meatus

Humana pro parte tulit, senioribus esse

Corde videbatur senior legisque magistros

Inter ut emeritus residebat iure magister.

Nec mora (quas etenim volitans per tempora mundus

140Novit habere moras?) usus maiore iuventa,

Sex quasi lustra gerens placidam Iordanis ad undam

Venit ut acciperet hoc, quod dare venerat ipse.

Hunc Baptista potens ut vidit ab amne Iohannes,

Quem matris dum ventre latet nondumque creatus

145Senserat obstruso iam tunc sermone prophetes

Ut muto genitore fluens, cui munera linguae

Post noni taciturna diu spiramina mensis

Parto redduntur nato, mox praedicat: agnus

Ecce Dei veniens peccatum tollere mundi.

150Tollere cum dicit, quod non habet, hoc mihi tollit:

Non mala ut ipse gerat, sed ut ipse nocentia perdat.

Qualiter in medias cum lux praeclara tenebras

Funditur et proprium non obfuscata serenum

Decutit expulsas inlaesis vultibus umbras,

155Sic delicta fugans Salvator nostra gerendo

Tersit et adactu procul evanescere iussit.

Tunc vada torrentum simplex ingressus aquarum,

In se cuncta lavat nostrae contagia vitae

Ipse nihil quod perdat habens, sanctoque liquentes

160Corpore mundavit latices famamque beavit

Gurgitis et propriis sacravit flumina membris.

Senserunt elementa Deum, mare fugit, et ipse

Iordanis refluas cursum convertit in undas.

Namque propheta canens: quidnam est, mare, quod fugis, inquit

165Et tu, Iordanis, retro quia subtrahis amnem?

Ergo ubi flumineum post mystica dona lavacrum

Egrediens siccas Dominus calcavit harenas,

Confestim patuere poli, sanctusque columbae

Spiritus in specie Christum vestivit honore

170Mansuetumque docet multumque incedere mitem

Per volucrem quae felle caret, Natoque vocato

Voce Patris triplici Deus ex ratione probatur,

Quod Pater et Natus, quod Spiritus est ibi sanctus,

Quo manet indignus qui non numeraverit unum.

175Inde quater denis iam noctibus atque diebus

Ieiunum dapibus, sacro Spiramine plenum

Insidiis temptator adit doctusque per artem

Fallaces offerre dapes: si filius, inquit,

Cerneris esse Dei, dic ut lapis iste repente

180In panis vertatur opem, miracula tamquam

Haec eadem non semper agat, qui saxea terrae

Viscera frugiferis animans fecundat aristis

Et panem de caute creat. Hac ergo repulsus

Voce prius hominem non solo vivere pane

185Sed cuncto sermone Dei, labefactus et amens,

Altera vipereis instaurans arma venenis

Cum Domino montana petit cunctasque per orbem

Regnorum monstravit opes: haec omnia, dicens,

Me tribuente feres, si me prostratus adores,

190Quantum perversus, tantum perversa locutus:

Scilicet ut fragilis regna adfectaret honoris

Qui populis aeterna parat, monstrumque nefandum

Pronus adoraret, cuius super aethera sedes,

Terra pedum locus est, quem nullus cernit et omnis

195Laudat in excelsis submissa voce potestas.

Christus ad haec: tantum Dominum scriptura Deumque

Iussit adorari et soli famularier uni.

His quoque deficiens congressibus audet iniquus

Ter sese adtollens animo perstare superbo,

200Terque volutus humo fragili confidere bello.

Tunc adsumpsit eum sanctam sceleratus in urbem,

Et statuens alti supra fastigia templi:

Si natum genitore Deo tete adseris, inquit,

Inpiger e summo dilapsus labere tecto.

205Nam scriptura docet de te mandasse Tonantem,

Angelicis subvectus eas ut tutior ulnis,

Ad lapidem ne forte pedem conlidere possis.

O quam caeca gerit nigro sub pectore corda

Mens tenebris obscura suis! hunc ardua templi

210Culmina et erectae quamvis fastigia pinnae

Credidit in praeceps horrescere, maxima summi

Curvavit qui membra poli caelosque per omnes

Vectus in extremae discendit humillima terrae,

Inferiora petens et non excelsa relinquens.

215Dixerat, et validi confossus cuspide verbi,

Quod temptare suum Dominumque Deumque nequiret,

Victoris fugit ora gemens. tunc hoste repulso

Caelicolae adsistunt proceres coetusque micantes,

Angelici Christo famulantur rite ministri.

220Protinus ergo viros ex piscatoribus aptos

Humanas piscari animas, quae lubrica mundi

Gaudia sectantes tamquam vaga caerula ponti

Caecaque praecipites tranant incerta profundi,

Discipulos iubet esse suos talesque supernae

225Conciliat vitae, quos non ventosa loquendi

Gloria nec vana de nobilitate superbus

Sanguis alat sed fama tacens, humilique refulgens

Mente nitor caelo faciat de plebe propinquos.

Namque stulta potens elegit et infima mundi

230Fortia confringens Deus et sapientia perdens.

Quin etiam celerem cupiens conferre salutem

Orandi praecepta dedit, iudexque benignus

Indulgenda peti breviter iubet, ut cito praestet,

Sic dicens: orate patrem, baptismate nostrum,

235Iure suum; propriumque homini concessit honorem

Et quod solus habet cunctos permisit habere.

Qui dominum caeli patrem memoramus, in ipso

Iam fratres nos esse decet nec origine carnis

Germanum tractare odium, sed spiritus igne

240Flagrantes abolere doli monumenta vetusti

Atque novum gestare hominem, ne forsan ab alto

Degenerent terrena Deo, cui nos duce Christo

Fecit adoptivos caelestis gratia natos.

Sanctificetur ubi Dominus, qui cuncta creando

245Sanctificat, nisi corde pio, nisi pectore casto?

Ut mereamur eum nos sanctificare colendo,

Annuit, ipse prior, sicut benedicier idem

Se iubet a nobis, a quo benedicimur omnes.

Adveniat regnum iam iamque scilicet illud,

250Morte vacans et fine carens, cui nulla per aevum

Tempora succedunt, quia nescit tempus habere

Continuus sine nocte dies: ubi principe Christo

Nobile perpetua caput amplectente corona

Victor opima ferens gaudebit praemia miles.

255Hoc iugibus votis, hoc nocte dieque precemur,

Illius ut fiat caelo terraque voluntas,

Qui nusquam vult esse nefas hostemque nocentem

Utque polo sic pellat humo, ne corpora nostra

Tamquam vile solum saevus sibi vindicet hydrus;

260Sed qui cuncta fovet plena pietate redundans

Omnipotens animas pariter conservet et artus:

Altera pars etenim caeli sumus, altera terrae.

Annonam fidei speramus pane diurno,

Ne mens nostra famem doctrinae sentiat umquam

265A Christo ieiuna, suo qui corpore et ore

Nos saturat simul ipse manens verbumque cibusque.

Dulcia nam Domini nostris in faucibus haerent

Eloquia exuperantque favos atque omnia mella.

Debita laxari qui nobis cuncta rogamus,

270Nos quoque laxemus; proprii nam cautio verbi

Spondentes manifesta tenet, gravisque soluti

Nectimur alterius si solvere vincla negemus:

Incipietque pius decies millena talenta

Dimittens Dominus, si nos adfligere propter

275Denarios centum conservum senserit ullum,

Tradere confestim tortoribus, inque feroci

Carcere constricti non permittemur abire,

Donec cuncta brevem reddamus adusque quadrantem.

Non quia nos Dominus, lucis via, semita pacis,

280In laqueos temptantis agat, sed cum mala nostra

Deserit, ire sinit. nam quisquis retia mundi

Deliciosa sequens luxus et gaudia blandae

Perditionis amat, Deus hunc, virtutis amator,

Linquit, et ingreditur qua se temptatio ducit.

285Ab hac ergo pedem retro faciamus et artum

Corde petamus iter, tenuis qua semita monstrat

Ire per angustam regna ad caelestia portam.

Si cupimus vitare malum, debemus adire

Sectarique bonum: hic quia liberat, ille trucidat;

290Hic alit, ille necat. nam quantum sidera terris,

Ignis aquis, lumen tenebris, concordia bellis,

Vita sepulturis, tantum bona longius absunt

Dissociata malis. dextrum quicumque necesse est

Aut laevum gradiatur iter. sed dextra bonorum

295Semita conspicuos vocat in sua gaudia iustos

Inque tuos, patriarcha, sinus: at laeva malorum

Exercet poenas et ad impia tartara mittit.

Ergo agnis ovibusque Dei est haec sola voluntas

Et bona libertas: evadere torva cruenti

300Ora lupi vitaque frui per pascua Christi.

Ēxpŭlĕrāt prīmōgĕnĭtūm saēvīssĭmŭs ānguīs

Flōrĭgĕrā dē sēdĕ vĭrūm blāndīquĕ săpōrīs

Īnlĕcĕbrīs lētūm mĭsĕrō pōrtārăt ămārūm.

Nēc sōlūs mĕrĭtām praēsūmptōr sēnsĕrăt īrām

Mōrtālī sūb lēgĕ iăcēns, sēd prōrsŭs ăb īpsō5

Hūmānūm sĭmŭl ōmnĕ gĕnūs. heū, nōxĭă cōniūx!

Nōxĭă tū cōniūx măgĭs ān drăcŏ pērfĭdŭs īllĕ?

Pērfĭdŭs īllĕ drăcō, sēd tū quŏquĕ nōxĭă cōniūx.

Prō dŏlŏr! aētērnī fŭĕrānt dŭŏ. crēscĕrĕ pōsquām

Coēpĭt ŏrīgŏ, pĕrīt clādēmque ā sēmĭnĕ sūmpsīt.10

Quīd nŭmĕrōsă dĭēs, quīd tēmpŏrĕ prōdĕrăt īllō

Cērnĕrĕ nōngēntōs ūltrā fēlīcĭtĕr ānnōs

Prōgĕnĭēmquĕ sĕnūm dĕcĭmām spēctārĕ nĕpōtūm

Iāmquĕ sŭūm nēscīrĕ gĕnūs: cūm vīctă sŭprēmīs

Cūrsĭbŭs ēxtrēmaē sōrs īnrĕpărābĭlĭs hōraē,15

Sēră lĭcēt, vēntūră fŏrēt lōngūmquĕ pĕr aēvūm

Vītă brĕvīs nĭhĭl ēssĕ dĭū cūm fīnĕ dŏlōrēt?

Nēc rĕdŭcēm spēs fērrĕt ŏpēm prīmīquĕ sĕpūlchrūm

Tērrĭgĕnaē caēcā sōrbērēt faūcĕ nĕpōtēs,

Nī pĭŭs īllĕ sătōr cūlpās īgnōscĕrĕ prōmptūs,20

Rēddĕrĕ dīffĭcĭlīs, sŭă nē fāctūră pĕrīrēt

Quaēquĕ Dĕō sĭmĭlīs vīvēns ādstārĕt ĭmāgŏ

Dīssĭmĭlīs dē mōrtĕ fŏrēt, vĕnĭālĕ mĭsērtūs

Īnstaūrēt ōpūs pōmīsquĕ vĕtārĕt ăcērbīs,

Quaē māndērĕ pătrēs, nātōrum hōrrēscĕrĕ dēntēs25

Dōnārētquĕ sŭīs sēmpēr plācātŭs, ŭt ūndĕ

Cūlpă dĕdīt mōrtēm, pĭĕtās dărĕt īndĕ sălūtēm,

Ēt vĕlŭt ē spīnīs mōllīs rŏsă sūrgĭt ăcūtīs

Nīl quōd laēdăt hăbēns mātrēmque ōbscūrăt hŏnōrĕ:

Sīc Ēvaē dē stīrpĕ săcrā vĕnĭēntĕ Mărīā30

Vīrgĭnĭs āntīquaē făcĭnūs nŏvă vīrgŏ pĭārēt:

Ūt quŏnĭām nātūră prĭōr vĭtĭātă iăcēbāt

Sūb dĭcĭōnĕ nĕcīs, Chrīstō nāscēntĕ rĕnāscī

Pōssĭt hŏmo ēt vĕtĕrīs măcŭlām dēpōnĕrĕ cārnīs.

Haēc vēntūră sĕnēs pōsquām dīxērĕ prŏphētaē,35

Āngĕlŭs īntāctaē cĕcĭnīt prŏpĕrātă Mărīaē:

Ēt dīctūm cŏmĭtātă fĭdēs, ŭtĕrūmquĕ pŭēllaē

Sīdĕrĕūm mōx īmplĕt ŏnūs, rērūmquĕ crĕātōr

Nāscēndī sūb lēgĕ fŭīt. stŭpĕt īnnŭbă tēnsōs

Vīrgŏ sĭnūs gaūdētquĕ sŭūm părĭtūră părēntēm.40

Iāmquĕ nŏvēm lāpsīs dĕcĭmī dē līmĭnĕ mēnsīs

Fūlgēbāt sācrātă dĭēs, cūm vīrgĭnĕ fētā

Prōmīssūm cōnplēvĭt ŏpūs 'vērbūm cărŏ fāctūm',

Īn nōbīs hăbĭtārĕ vŏlēns. tūnc māxĭmŭs īnfāns

Īntĕmĕrātă sŭī cōnsērvāns vīscĕră tēmplī45

Īnlaēsūm văcŭāvĭt ĭtēr: prō vīrgĭnĕ tēstīs

Pārtŭs ădēst, claūsa īngrĕdĭēns ēt claūsă rĕlīnquēns.

Quaē nŏvă lūx mūndō, quaē tōtō grātĭă caēlō!

Quīs fŭĭt īllĕ nĭtōr, Mărĭaē cūm Chrīstŭs ăb ālvō

Prōcēssīt splēndōrĕ nŏvō, vĕlŭt īpsĕ dĕcōrō50

Spōnsŭs ŏvāns thălămō, 'fōrmā spĕcĭōsŭs' ămoēnā

'Praē fĭlĭīs hŏmĭnūm', cūiūs rădĭāntĕ fĭgūrā

Blāndĭŏr īn lăbĭīs dīffūsa ēst grātĭă pūlchrīs.

Ō făcĭlīs pĭĕtās! nē nōs sērvīlĕ tĕnērēt

Pēccātō dŏmĭnāntĕ iŭgūm, sērvīlĭă sūmmūs55

Mēmbră tŭlīt Dŏmĭnūs, prīmīque ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ mūndī

Ōmnĭă quī prŏprĭīs vēstīt nāscēntĭă dōnīs

Ōbsĭtŭs ēxĭgŭīs hăbŭīt vēlāmĭnă pānnīs;

Quēmquĕ prŏcēllōsī nōn mōbĭlĭs ūndă prŏfūndī,

Tērrārūm nōn ōmnĕ sŏlūm, spătĭōsăquĕ lātī60

Nōn căpĭt aūlă pŏlī, pŭĕrīli īn cōrpŏrĕ plēnūs

Mānsĭt ĕt āngūstō Dĕŭs īn praēsēpĕ quĭēvīt.

Sālvē, sānctă părēns, ēnīxă pŭērpĕră rēgēm,

Quī caēlūm tērrāmquĕ tĕnēt pēr saēcŭlă, cuīūs

Nōmĕn ĕt aētērnō cōnplēctēns ōmnĭă gŷrō65

Īmpĕrĭūm sĭnĕ fīnĕ mănēt; quaē vēntrĕ bĕātō

Gaūdĭă mātrĭs hăbēns cūm vīrgĭnĭtātĭs hŏnōrĕ

Nēc prīmām sĭmĭlēm vīsa ēs nĕc hăbērĕ sĕquēntēm:

Sōlă sĭne ēxēmplō plăcŭīstī fēmĭnă Chrīstō.

Tūnc prĭŭs īgnārīs pāstōrĭbŭs īllĕ crĕātūs70

Ēnĭtŭīt, quĭă pāstŏr ĕrāt, grĕgĭbūsquĕ rĕfūlsīt

Āgnŭs ĕt āngĕlĭcūs cĕcĭnīt mīrācŭlă coētūs.

Tālĭă Bēthlēīs dūm sīgnă gĕrūntŭr ĭn ōrīs,

Ēōī vēnērĕ măgī saēvūmquĕ tўrānnūm

Grāndĭă sōllĭcĭtīs pērtūrbānt nūntĭă dīctīs:75

Iūdăĭcīs nūpēr pŏpŭlīs ŏrĭēntĭs ăb āxĕ

Prōgĕnĭtūm fūlsīssĕ dŭcēm, | hōc caēlĭtŭs āstră,

Hōc stēllām rădĭārĕ nŏvām. fĕrŭs ārbĭtĕr aūlaē

Aēstŭăt Hēbrēaē rătŭs hūnc sūccēdĕrĕ pōssĕ

Mōx sĭbĭmēt, quī prīmŭs ĕrāt: tūnc frōntĕ sĕrēnā80

Nūbĭlă mēntĭs ălēns clām māndăt ŭbīquĕ rĕquīrī

Sīcŭt ădōrāndūm, quēm trāctāt fraūdĕ nĕcāndūm.

Quīd fŭrĭs, Hērōdēs! Chrīstūm sērmōnĕ fătērīs,

Ēt sēnsū iŭgŭlārĕ cŭpīs, lēgēmquĕ lĕgēndō

Nēglĕgĭs ēt rēgī rēgūm tŭă rēgnă mĭnārīs.85

Nē tămĕn īnsānō cărĕānt tŭă nōmĭnă fāctō,

Pātrāndūm sŭb hŏnōrĕ crŭcīs (sēd crīmĭnĕ gēntīs)

Hērōdēs ălĭūs quōd tū mōlīrĕ vĭdēbīt.

Ērgo ălăcrēs sūmmō sērvāntēs lūmĭnă caēlō

Fīxă măgī sīdūsquĕ mĭcāns rēgālĕ sĕcūtī90

Ōptātām tĕnŭērĕ vĭām, quaē lēgĕ fŭtūrā

Dūxĭt ădōrāntēs sācra ād cūnābŭlă gēntēs.

Thēnsaūrīsquĕ sĭmūl prō rēlĭgĭōnĕ sŏlūtīs,

Īpsae ĕtĭam ūt pōssīnt spĕcĭēs ōstēndĕrĕ Chrīstūm,

Aūrĕă nāscēntī fūdērūnt mūnĕră rēgī,95

Tūră dĕdērĕ Dĕō, mŷrrām trĭbŭērĕ sĕpūlchrō.

Cūr trĭă dōnă tămēn? quŏnĭām spēs māxĭmă vītae ēst

Hūnc nŭmĕrūm cōnfēssă fĭdēs, ēt tēmpŏră sūmmūs

Cērnēns cūnctă Dĕūs, praēsēntĭă, prīscă, fŭtūră,

Sēmpĕr ădēst sēmpērquĕ fŭīt sēmpērquĕ mănēbīt100

Īn trĭplĭcī vīrtūtĕ sŭī. Tūnc caēlĭtŭs īllī

Pēr sōmnūm mŏnĭtī cōntēmnĕrĕ iūssă tўrānnī

Pēr lŏcă mūtātī grădĭēntēs dēvĭă cāllīs

Īn pătrĭām rĕdĭērĕ sŭām. Sīc nōs quŏquĕ sānctām

Sī cŭpĭmūs pătrĭām tāndēm cōntīngĕrĕ, pōsquām105

Vēnĭmŭs ād Chrīstūm, iām nōn rĕpĕtāmŭs ĭnīquūm.

Ērgo ŭbĭ dēlūsūm sē cōnpĕrĭt, īmpĭŭs īrām

Rēx ăpĕrīt (sī iūrĕ quĕāt rēx īllĕ vŏcārī,

Quī pĭĕtātĕ cărēt, prŏprĭām quī nōn tĕgĭt īrām)

Ērēptūmquĕ gĕmēns făcĭnūs sĭbĭ, ceū lĕŏ frēndēns,110

Cūiŭs ăb ōrĕ tĕnēr sŭbĭtō cūm lābĭtŭr āgnūs,

Īn tōtūm mŏvĕt ārmă grĕgēm māndītquĕ trăhītquĕ

Mōllĕ pĕcūs trĕpĭdaēquĕ vŏcānt sŭă pīgnĕră fētaē

Nēquīquam ēt văcŭās īmplēnt bālātĭbŭs aūrās

Haūt sĕcŭs Hērōdēs Chrīstō stĭmŭlātŭs ădēmptō115

Stērnĕrĕ cōnlīsās pārvōrūm strāgĕ cătērvās

Īnmĕrĭtō nōn cēssăt ătrōx. quō crīmĭnĕ sīmplēx

Tūrbă pĕrīt? cūr quī vīxdūm pŏtŭērĕ crĕārī

Iām mĕrŭērĕ mŏrī? fŭrŏr ēst īn rēgĕ crŭēntō,

Nōn rătĭō; prīmōsquĕ nĕcāns vāgītŭs ĕt aūdēns120

Īnnŭmĕrūm pātrārĕ nĕfās pŭĕrīlĭă māctāt

Mīlĭă plāngōrēmquĕ dĕdīt tōt mātrĭbŭs ūnūm.

Haēc lăcĕrōs crīnēs nūdātō vērtĭcĕ rūpīt,

Īllă gĕnās sĕcŭīt, nūdūm fĕrĭt āltĕră pūgnīs

Pēctŭs ĕt īnfēlīx mātēr (nēc iām mŏdŏ mātēr)125

Ōrbă sŭpēr gĕlĭdūm frūstrā prĕmĭt ūbĕră nātūm.

Quīs tĭbĭ tūnc, lănĭō, cērnēntī tālĭă sēnsūs?

Quōsquĕ dăbās frĕmĭtūs, cūm vūlnĕră fērvĕrĕ lātē

Prōspĭcĕrēs ārce ēx sūmmā vāstūmquĕ vĭdērēs

Mīscēri ānte ŏcŭlōs tāntīs plāngōrĭbŭs aēquōr?130

Ēxtīnctīsquĕ tămēn quāmvīs īnfāntĭbŭs ābsēns

Praēsēns Chrīstŭs ĕrāt, quī sānctă pĕrīcŭlă sēmpēr

Sūscĭpĭt ēt poēnās ălĭēno īn cōrpŏrĕ sēntīt.

Āst ŭbĭ bīs sēnōs aētātīs cōntĭgĭt ānnōs,

Hōc spătĭūm dē cārnĕ trăhēns, aēvīquĕ mĕātūs135

Hūmānā prō pārtĕ tŭlīt, sĕnĭōrĭbŭs ēssĕ

Cōrdĕ vĭdēbātūr sĕnĭōr lēgīsquĕ măgīstrōs

Īntĕr ŭt ēmĕrĭtūs rĕsĭdēbāt iūrĕ măgīstēr.

Nēc mŏră (quās ĕtĕnīm vŏlĭtāns pēr tēmpŏră mūndūs

Nōvĭt hăbērĕ mŏrās?) ūsūs māiōrĕ iŭvēntā,140

Sēx quăsĭ lūstră gĕrēns plăcĭdām Iōrdānĭs ăd ūndām

Vēnĭt ŭt āccĭpĕrēt hōc, quōd dărĕ vēnĕrăt īpsĕ.

Hūnc Bāptīstă pŏtēns ūt vīdĭt ăb āmnĕ Iŏhānnēs,

Quēm mātrīs dūm vēntrĕ lătēt nōndūmquĕ crĕātūs

Sēnsĕrăt ōbstrūsō iām tūnc sērmōnĕ prŏphētēs145

Ūt mūtō gĕnĭtōrĕ flŭēns, cuī mūnĕră līnguaē

Pōst nōnī tăcĭtūrnă dĭū spīrāmĭnă mēnsīs

Pārtō rēddūntūr nātō, mōx praēdĭcăt: āgnūs

Ēccĕ Dĕī vĕnĭēns pēccātūm tōllĕrĕ mūndī.

Tōllĕrĕ cūm dīcīt, quōd nōn hăbĕt, hōc mĭhĭ tōllīt:150

Nōn măla ŭt īpsĕ gĕrāt, sĕd ŭt īpsĕ nŏcēntĭă pērdāt.

Quālĭtĕr īn mĕdĭās cūm lūx praēclāră tĕnēbrās

Fūndĭtŭr ēt prŏprĭūm nōn ōbfūscātă sĕrēnūm

Dēcŭtĭt ēxpūlsās īnlaēsīs vūltĭbŭs ūmbrās,

Sīc dēlīctă fŭgāns Sālvātōr nōstră gĕrēndō155

Tērsĭt ĕt ādāctū prŏcŭl ēvānēscĕrĕ iūssīt.

Tūnc vădă tōrrēntūm sīmplēx īngrēssŭs ăquārūm,

Īn sē cūnctă lăvāt nōstraē cōntāgĭă vītaē

Īpsĕ nĭhīl quōd pērdăt hăbēns, sānctōquĕ lĭquēntēs

Cōrpŏrĕ mūndāvīt lătĭcēs fāmāmquĕ bĕāvīt160

Gūrgĭtĭs ēt prŏprĭīs sācrāvīt flūmĭnă mēmbrīs.

Sēnsērūnt ĕlĕmēntă Dĕūm, mărĕ fūgĭt, ĕt īpsĕ

Iōrdānīs rĕflŭās cūrsūm cōnvērtĭt ĭn ūndās.

Nāmquĕ prŏphētă cănēns: quīdnam ēst, mărĕ, quōd fŭgĭs, īnquīt

Ēt tū, Iōrdānīs, rētrō quĭă sūbtrăhĭs āmnēm?165

Ērgo ŭbĭ flūmĭnĕūm pōst mŷstĭcă dōnă lăvācrūm

Ēgrĕdĭēns sīccās Dŏmĭnūs cālcāvĭt hărēnās,

Cōnfēstīm pătŭērĕ pŏlī, sānctūsquĕ cŏlūmbaē

Spīrĭtŭs īn spĕcĭē Chrīstūm vēstīvĭt hŏnōrĕ

Mānsuētūmquĕ dŏcēt mūltūmque īncēdĕrĕ mītēm170

Pēr vŏlŭcrēm quaē fēllĕ cărēt, Nātōquĕ vŏcātō

Vōcĕ Pătrīs trĭplĭcī Dĕŭs ēx rătĭōnĕ prŏbātūr,

Quōd Pătĕr ēt Nātūs, quōd Spīrĭtŭs ēst ĭbĭ sānctūs,

Quō mănĕt īndīgnūs quī nōn nŭmĕrāvĕrĭt ūnūm.

Īndĕ quătēr dēnīs iām nōctĭbŭs ātquĕ dĭēbūs175

Iēiūnūm dăpĭbūs, sācrō Spīrāmĭnĕ plēnūm

Īnsĭdĭīs tēmptātŏr ădīt dōctūsquĕ pĕr ārtēm

Fāllācēs ōffērrĕ dăpēs: sī fīlĭŭs, īnquīt,

Cērnĕrĭs ēssĕ Dĕī, dīc ūt lăpĭs īstĕ rĕpēntĕ

Īn pānīs vērtātŭr ŏpēm, mīrācŭlă tāmquām180

Haēc ĕădēm nōn sēmpĕr ăgāt, quī sāxĕă tērraē

Vīscĕră frūgĭfĕrīs ănĭmāns fēcūndăt ărīstīs

Ēt pānēm dē caūtĕ crĕāt. Hāc ērgŏ rĕpūlsūs

Vōcĕ prĭūs hŏmĭnēm nōn sōlō vīvĕrĕ pānĕ

Sēd cūnctō sērmōnĕ Dĕī, lăbĕfāctŭs ĕt āmēns,185

Āltĕră vīpĕrĕīs īnstaūrāns ārmă vĕnēnīs

Cūm Dŏmĭnō mōntānă pĕtīt cūnctāsquĕ pĕr ōrbēm

Rēgnōrūm mōnstrāvĭt ŏpēs: haēc ōmnĭă, dīcēns,

Mē trĭbŭēntĕ fĕrēs, sī mē prōstrātŭs ădōrēs,

Quāntūm pērvērsūs, tāntūm pērvērsă lŏcūtūs:190

Scīlĭcĕt ūt frăgĭlīs rēgna ādfēctārĕt hŏnōrīs

Quī pŏpŭlīs aētērnă părāt, mōnstrūmquĕ nĕfāndūm

Prōnŭs ădōrārēt, cūiūs sŭpĕr aēthĕră sēdēs,

Tērră pĕdūm lŏcŭs ēst, quēm nūllūs cērnĭt ĕt ōmnīs

Laūdăt ĭn ēxcēlsīs sūbmīssā vōcĕ pŏtēstās.195

Chrīstŭs ăd haēc: tāntūm Dŏmĭnūm scrīptūră Dĕūmquĕ

Iūssĭt ădōrāri ēt sōlī fămŭlārĭĕr ūnī.

Hīs quŏquĕ dēfĭcĭēns cōngrēssĭbŭs aūdĕt ĭnīquūs

Tēr sēse ādtōllēns ănĭmō pērstārĕ sŭpērbō,

Tērquĕ vŏlūtŭs hŭmō frăgĭlī cōnfīdĕrĕ bēllō.200

Tūnc ādsūmpsĭt ĕūm sānctām scĕlĕrātŭs ĭn ūrbēm,

Ēt stătŭēns āltī sūprā fāstīgĭă tēmplī:

Sī nātūm gĕnĭtōrĕ Dĕō tēte ādsĕrĭs, īnquīt,

Īnpĭgĕr ē sūmmō dīlāpsūs lābĕrĕ tēctō.

Nām scrīptūră dŏcēt dē tē māndāssĕ Tŏnāntēm,205

Āngĕlĭcīs sūbvēctŭs ĕās ūt tūtĭŏr ūlnīs,

Ād lăpĭdēm nē fōrtĕ pĕdēm cōnlīdĕrĕ pōssīs.

Ō quām caēcă gĕrīt nīgrō sūb pēctŏrĕ cōrdă

Mēns tĕnĕbrīs ōbscūră sŭīs! hūnc ārdŭă tēmplī

Cūlmĭna ĕt ērēctaē quāmvīs fāstīgĭă pīnnaē210

Crēdĭdĭt īn praēcēps hōrrēscĕrĕ, māxĭmă sūmmī

Cūrvāvīt quī mēmbră pŏlī caēlōsquĕ pĕr ōmnēs

Vēctŭs ĭn ēxtrēmaē dīscēndĭt hŭmīllĭmă tērraē,

Īnfĕrĭōră pĕtēns ēt nōn ēxcēlsă rĕlīnquēns.

Dīxĕrăt, ēt vălĭdī cōnfōssūs cūspĭdĕ vērbī,215

Quōd tēmptārĕ sŭūm Dŏmĭnūmquĕ Dĕūmquĕ nĕquīrēt,

Vīctōrīs fŭgĭt ōră gĕmēns. tūnc hōstĕ rĕpūlsō

Caēlĭcŏlae ādsīstūnt prŏcĕrēs coētūsquĕ mĭcāntēs,

Āngĕlĭcī Chrīstō fămŭlāntūr rītĕ mĭnīstrī.

Prōtĭnŭs ērgŏ vĭrōs ēx pīscātōrĭbŭs āptōs220

Hūmānās pīscāri ănĭmās, quaē lūbrĭcă mūndī

Gaūdĭă sēctāntēs tāmquām văgă caērŭlă pōntī

Caēcăquĕ praēcĭpĭtēs trānānt īncērtă prŏfūndī,

Dīscĭpŭlōs iŭbĕt ēssĕ sŭōs tālēsquĕ sŭpērnaē

Cōncĭlĭāt vītaē, quōs nōn vēntōsă lŏquēndī225

Glōrĭă nēc vānā dē nōbĭlĭtātĕ sŭpērbūs

Sānguĭs ălāt sēd fāmă tăcēns, hŭmĭlīquĕ rĕfūlgēns

Mēntĕ nĭtōr caēlō făcĭāt dē plēbĕ prŏpīnquōs.

Nāmquē stūltă pŏtēns ēlēgĭt ĕt īnfĭmă mūndī

Fōrtĭă cōnfrīngēns Deūs ēt săpĭēntĭă pērdēns.230

Quīn ĕtĭām cĕlĕrēm cŭpĭēns cōnfērrĕ sălūtēm

Ōrāndī praēcēptă dĕdīt, iūdēxquĕ bĕnīgnūs

Īndūlgēndă pĕtī brĕvĭtēr iŭbĕt, ūt cĭtŏ praēstēt,

Sīc dīcēns: ōrātĕ pătrēm, bāptīsmătĕ nōstrūm,

Iūrĕ sŭūm; prŏprĭūmque hŏmĭnī cōncēssĭt hŏnōrēm235

Ēt quōd sōlŭs hăbēt cūnctōs pērmīsĭt hăbērĕ.

Quī dŏmĭnūm caēlī pātrēm mĕmŏrāmŭs, ĭn īpsō

Iām frātrēs nōs ēssĕ dĕcēt nĕc ŏrīgĭnĕ cārnīs

Gērmānūm trāctāre ŏdĭūm, sēd spīrĭtŭs īgnĕ

Flāgrāntēs ăbŏlērĕ dŏlī mŏnŭmēntă vĕtūstī240

Ātquĕ nŏvūm gēstāre hŏmĭnēm, nē fōrsăn ăb āltō

Dēgĕnĕrēnt tērrēnă Dĕō, cuī nōs dŭcĕ Chrīstō

Fēcĭt ădōptīvōs caēlēstīs grātĭă nātōs.

Sānctĭfĭcētŭr ŭbī Dŏmĭnūs, quī cūnctă crĕāndō

Sānctĭfĭcāt, nĭsĭ cōrdĕ pĭō, nĭsĭ pēctŏrĕ cāstō?245

Ūt mĕrĕāmŭr ĕūm nōs sānctĭfĭcārĕ cŏlēndō,

Ānnŭĭt, īpsĕ prĭōr, sīcūt bĕnĕdīcĭĕr īdēm

Sē iŭbĕt ā nōbīs, ā quō bĕnĕdīcĭmŭr ōmnēs.

Ādvĕnĭāt rēgnūm iām iāmquē scīlĭcĕt īllūd,

Mōrtĕ văcāns ēt fīnĕ cărēns, cuī nūllă pĕr aēvūm250

Tēmpŏră sūccēdūnt, quĭă nēscīt tēmpŭs hăbērĕ

Cōntĭnŭūs sĭnĕ nōctĕ dĭēs: ŭbĭ prīncĭpĕ Chrīstō

Nōbĭlĕ pērpĕtŭā căpŭt āmplēctēntĕ cŏrōnā

Vīctŏr ŏpīmă fĕrēns gaūdēbīt praēmĭă mīlēs.

Hōc iŭgĭbūs vōtīs, hōc nōctĕ dĭēquĕ prĕcēmūr,255

Īllĭŭs ūt fīāt caēlō tērrāquĕ vŏlūntās,

Quī nūsquām vūlt ēssĕ nĕfās hōstēmquĕ nŏcēntēm

Ūtquĕ pŏlō sīc pēllăt hŭmō, nē cōrpŏră nōstră

Tāmquām vīlĕ sŏlūm saēvūs sĭbĭ vīndĭcĕt hŷdrūs;

Sēd quī cūnctă fŏvēt plēnā pĭĕtātĕ rĕdūndāns260

Ōmnĭpŏtēns ănĭmās părĭtēr cōnsērvĕt ĕt ārtūs:

Āltĕră pārs ĕtĕnīm caēlī sŭmŭs, āltĕră tērraē.

Ānnōnām fĭdĕī spērāmūs pānĕ dĭūrnō,

Nē mēns nōstră fămēm dōctrīnaē sēntĭăt ūmquām

Ā Chrīstō iēiūnă, sŭō quī cōrpŏre ĕt ōrĕ265

Nōs sătŭrāt sĭmŭl īpsĕ mănēns vērbūmquĕ cĭbūsquĕ.

Dūlcĭă nām Dŏmĭnī nōstrīs īn faūcĭbŭs haērēnt

Ēlŏquĭa ēxŭpĕrāntquĕ făvōs ātque ōmnĭă mēllă.

Dēbĭtă lāxārī quī nōbīs cūnctă rŏgāmūs,

Nōs quŏquĕ lāxēmūs; prŏprĭī nām caūtĭŏ vērbī270

Spōndēntēs mănĭfēstă tĕnēt, grāvīsquĕ sŏlūtī

Nēctĭmŭr āltĕrĭūs sī sōlvĕrĕ vīnclă nĕgēmūs:

Īncĭpĭētquĕ pĭūs dĕcĭēs mīllēnă tălēntă

Dīmīttēns Dŏmĭnūs, sī nōs ādflīgĕrĕ prōptēr

Dēnărĭōs cēntūm cōnsērvūm sēnsĕrĭt ūllūm,275

Trādĕrĕ cōnfēstīm tōrtōrĭbŭs, īnquĕ fĕrōcī

Cārcĕrĕ cōnstrīctī nōn pērmīttēmŭr ăbīrĕ,

Dōnēc cūnctă brĕvēm rēddāmŭs ădūsquĕ quădrāntēm.

Nōn quĭă nōs Dŏmĭnūs, lūcīs vĭă, sēmĭtă pācīs,

Īn lăquĕōs tēmptāntĭs ăgāt, sēd cūm mălă nōstră280

Dēsĕrĭt, īrĕ sĭnīt. nām quīsquīs rētĭă mūndī

Dēlĭcĭōsă sĕquēns lūxūs ēt gaūdĭă blāndaē

Pērdītiōnĭs ămāt, Dĕŭs hūnc, vīrtūtĭs ămātōr,

Līnquĭt, ĕt īngrĕdĭtūr quā sē tēmptātĭŏ dūcīt.

Āb hāc ērgŏ pĕdēm rētrō făcĭāmŭs ĕt ārtūm285

Cōrdĕ pĕtāmŭs ĭtēr, tĕnŭīs quā sēmĭtă mōnstrāt

Īrĕ pĕr āngūstām rēgna ād caēlēstĭă pōrtām.

Sī cŭpĭmūs vītārĕ mălūm, dēbēmŭs ădīrĕ

Sēctārīquĕ bŏnum: hīc quĭă lībĕrăt, īllĕ trŭcīdāt;

Hīc ălĭt, īllĕ nĕcāt. nām quāntūm sīdĕră tērrīs,290

Īgnĭs ăquīs, lūmēn tĕnĕbrīs, cōncōrdĭă bēllīs,

Vītă sĕpūltūrīs, tāntūm bŏnă lōngĭŭs ābsūnt

Dīssŏcĭātă mălīs. dēxtrūm quīcūmquĕ nĕcēsse ēst

Aūt laēvūm grădĭātŭr ĭtēr. sēd dēxtră bŏnōrūm

Sēmĭtă cōnspĭcŭōs vŏcăt īn sŭă gaūdĭă iūstōs295

Īnquĕ tŭōs, pătrĭārchă, sĭnūs: āt laēvă mălōrūm

Ēxērcēt poēnās ĕt ăd īmpĭă tārtără mīttīt.

Ērgo āgnīs ŏvĭbūsquĕ Dĕi ēst haēc sōlă vŏlūntās

Ēt bŏnă lībērtās: ēvādĕrĕ tōrvă crŭēntī

Ōră lŭpī vītāquĕ frŭī pēr pāscŭă Chrīstī.300