Part 12

_In vulnera pendentis Domini._ Matt. xxviii. 26-53.

Sive oculos, sive ora vocem tua vulnera; certe Undique sunt ora, heu, undique sunt oculi. Ecce ora, o nimium roseis florentia labris! Ecce oculi, saevis ah madidi lacrymis! Magdala, quae lacrymas solita es, quae basia sacro Ferre pedi, sacro de pede sume vices. Ora pedi sua sunt, tua quo tibi basia reddat: Quo reddat lacrymas scilicet est oculus.[63]

_On the wounds of the crucified Lord._

Thy wounds, O Lord, are mouths and eyes-- Let not the strange words breed surprise: Where'er I look, wounds seem to speak; Where'er I look, wounds in tears break; Mouths with ruddy lips disparted, Eyes as of the broken-hearted. Thou, Mary, on His sacred feet Rainedst thy tears and kisses sweet. Now retake thy kisses, tears; Cling thee there, there hush thy fears. See, mouths and eyes are here also; Swift they'll pay back thy loving woe. G.

CIX.

_Paralyticus convalescens._ Marc. ii. 1-13.

Christum, quod misero facilis peccata remittit, Scribae blasphemum dicere non dubitant. Hoc scelus ut primum Paralyticus audiit: ira Impatiens, lectum sustulit atque abiit.

_The paralytic healed._

The Scribes audaciously blaspheme the Lord, That He a poor man pardon'd with a word. The Paralytic hears all that they say; Indignant takes his bed, and walks away. G.

CX.

_Tunc sustulerunt lapides._ Joan. viii. 59.

Saxa? illi? quid tam foedi voluere furores? Quid sibi de saxis hi voluere suis? Indolem, et antiqui agnosco vestigia patris: Panem de saxis hi voluere suis.

_Then took they up stones._

'They took up stones:' What meant they by such rage? What wanted they with them? Their meaning's plain: 'Tis their old father's way--O sad presage! He too took up the stones for bread amain.[64] G.

CXI.

_In resurrectionem Domini._ Matt. xxviii. 6.

Nasceris, en, tecumque tuus, Rex auree, mundus, Tecum[65] virgineo nascitur e tumulo. Tecum in natales properat natura secundos, Atque novam vitam te novus orbis habet. Ex vita, Sol alme, tua vitam omnia sumunt: Nil certe, nisi mors, cogitur inde mori. At certe neque mors: nempe ut queat illa sepulchro, Christe, tuo condi, mors volet ipsa mori.

_On the Resurrection of the Lord._

Thou'rt born, and, lo, bright King, Thy world is born, Is born with Thee from virgin tomb this morn. Hastes Nature to its second day of birth, And a new life in Thee crowns a new earth. Dear Sun, from Thy life all things draw life's breath; Nought thence is forced to die, save only Death. Nor is Death forced--since in Thy grave to lie, Death will itself, O Christ, be glad to die. R. WI.

CXII.

_Aliqui vero dubitabant._ Matt. xxviii. 17.

Scilicet et tellus dubitat,[66] tremebunda: sed ipsum hoc, Quod tellus dubitat, vos dubitare vetat. Ipsi custodes vobis, si quaeritis, illud Hoc ipse dicunt,[67] dicere quod nequeunt.

_But some doubted._

Earth, quaking, wavers: if that fact be true, The wavering earth forbids you waver too. The very keepers, if their voice you seek, Though speechless, even by their silence speak. R. WI.

CXIII.

_In vulnerum vestigia quae ostendit Dominus, ad firmandam suorum fidem._ Joan. xx. 20.

His oculis, nec adhuc clausis coiere fenestris, Invigilans nobis est tuus usus amor. His oculis nos cernit amor tuus: his et amorem, Christe, tuum gaudet cernere nostra fides.

_The scars of the wounds which the Lord showed to the strengthening of His disciples' faith._

Thy love these eyes did open; They're watching for us still: These eyes, of love the token, Our faith with love do fill. G.

CXIV.

_Mittit Joannes qui quaerant a Christo, an is sit._ Luc. vii. 19.

Tu qui adeo impatiens properasti agnoscere Christum, Tunc cum claustra uteri te tenuere tui, Tu, quis sit Christus, rogitas? et quaeris ab ipso? Hoc tibi vel mutus dicere quisque potest.[68]

_John sends to Jesus ... saying, Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another?_

And dost _thou_ ask, who in thy mother's womb So eager wast to hail Messiah come? Thou ask, and of Himself, if Christ He be? Why, even the very dumb can answer thee. CL.

CXV.

_In Petrum auricidam._ Joan. xviii. 10.

Quantumcunque ferox tuus hic, Petre, fulminat ensis, Tu tibi jam pugnas, o bone, non Domino. Scilicet in miseram furis implacidissimus aurem, Perfidiae testis ne queat esse tuae.

_On St. Peter cutting off Malchus his eare._

Well, Peter, dost thou wield thy active sword; Well for thyselfe, I meane, not for thy Lord. To strike at eares is to take heed there bee No witnesse, Peter, of thy perjury. CR.

CXVI.

_Manus arefacta sanatur._ Marc. iii. 1-5.

Felix, ergo tuae spectas natalia dextrae, Quae modo spectanti flebile funus erat! Quae nec in externos modo dextera profuit usus, Certe erit illa tuae jam manus et fidei.[69]

_The withered hand healed._

O happy man, thy right-hand's birth beholding, Erewhile a sad funereal sight enfolding! The hand of no use, by the word Christ saith, Restor'd, is now become the hand of faith. G. & B.

CXVII.

_In Pontium male lautum._ Matt. xxvii. 24.

Illa manus lavat unda tuas, vanissime judex: Ah tamen illa scelus non lavat unda tuum! Nulla scelus lavet unda tuum: vel si lavet ulla, O volet ex oculis illa venire tuis.

_To Pontius washing his hands._

Thy hands are washt; but, O, the water's spilt That labour'd to have washt thy guilt: The flood, if any can, that can suffice, Must have its fountaine in thine eyes. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

The unjust judge washt his hands at the time: Ah, but no water can wash out thy crime. No water washt it out: if any will, 'Tis that which must from thy owne eyes distil. B.

CXVIII.

_In piscem dotatum._ Matt. xvii. 27.

Tu piscem si, Christe, velis, venit ecce, suumque Fert pretium: tanti est vel periisse tibi. Christe, foro tibi non opus est; addicere nummos Non opus est: ipsum se tibi piscis emet.

_The stater-giving fish._

A fish Thou wishest, Lord; And without e'er a word, Behold, it swims to Thee, Fetching its own cost, free. Thou needest not to go In markets to and fro; Nor need'st Thou price to bring-- The fish owns Thee its king. G.

CXIX.

_Ego vici mundum._ Joan. xvi. 33.

Tu contra mundum dux es meus, optime Jesu? At tu, me miserum! dux meus ipse jaces. Si tu, dux meus, ipse jaces, spes ulla salutis? Immo, ni jaceas tu, mihi nulla salus.

_I have overcome the world._

Jesus, my Captain, give me victories! Alas, Jesus Himself, my Captain, dies. And if my Captain fall, what hope have I? No hope at all, unless my Captain die. B.

ANOTHER VERSION.

Art Thou my Chief, best Lord, against the foe? But Thou, my Chief, me wretched! liest low. If Thou, my Chief, liest low, what help for me? Nay, if Thou liest not low, no help can be. A.

CXX.

_In ascensionem Dominicam._ Act. i. 10.

Vadit, io, per aperta sui penetralia coeli: It coelo, et coelum fundit ab ore novum. Spargitur ante pedes, et toto sidere pronus Jam propius solis sol bibit ora sui. At fratri debere negans sua lumina Phoebe, Aurea de Phoebo jam meliore redit. Hos, de te victo, tu das, Pater, ipse triumphos: Unde triumphares, quis satis alter erat?

_On the ascension of our Lord._

Through open'd depths of His own heaven He soars, And from His face in heaven a new heaven pours. Scatter'd before Him down the welkin sinks The sun, and its own sun's near glory drinks. Moon unto sun for light no more beholden, Now from more lustrous sun returns all golden. These triumphs o'er Thyself Thou grantest, Lord; Triumphs no other could suffice to 'accord. R. WI.

CXXI.

_In descensum Spiritus Sancti._ Act. ii.

Jam coeli circum tonuit fragor: arma minasque Turbida cum flammis mista ferebat hiems. Exclamat Judaeus atrox: Venit ecce nefandis, Ecce venit meriti fulminis ira memor. Verum ubi composito sedit fax blandior astro, Flammaque non laesas lambit amica comas; Judaeis, fulmen quia falsum apparuit esse, Hoc ipso verum nomine fulmen erat.

{Ouranou ektypese bromos; polemon kai apeilas Ege trechon anemos syn phlogi smerdalee. Auen Ioudaios; miara stygeron ta karena Ephthase tes orges to prepon ouranies. Alla galenaio hote keitai hesychon astro Phlegma, kai abletous leiche philon plokamous, Hekthambei. hoti gar keinois ouk een alethes, Nyn eteon dioti tode keraunos een.}

_The descent of the Holy Spirit._

Booms the thunder through the sky, Flash the lightnings, threats the storm; Cries the Jew with vengeful eye: See SIN doom'd in fitting form! But, lo, the lightning, paled to light Mild and calm as ev'ning's star, Binds their brows with nimbus bright, Playing softly i' their hair. To the Jews it is not lightning, Yet the more the name's enlightening.[70] G.

CXXII.

_Sic dilexit mundum Deus, ut Filium morti traderet._ Joan. iii. 16.

Ah nimis est, illum nostrae vel tradere vitae: Guttula quod faceret, cur facit oceanus? Unde et luxuriare potest, habet hinc mea vita: Ample et magnifice mors habet unde mori.

_God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son...._

Ah, 'tis too much to give Him for our sake: A drop might serve, why then an ocean take? Here may my life expatiate gloriously-- Amply, magnificently, Death may die. R. WI.

CXXIII.

_Juga boum emi._ Luc. xiv. 19.

Ad coenam voco te, domini quod jussa volebant; Tu mihi, nescio quos, dicis, inepte, boves. Imo vale, nobis nec digne nec utilis hospes; Coena tuos, credo, malit habere boves.

_I have bought five yoke of oxen._

I call thee to His Supper, for so The Master spake: Thou sayest 'No,' pretending thou must thy oxen take. Farewell, O thou unworthy and wholly useless guest; Thy oxen for the Supper in truth were better prest. G.

CXXIV.

_D. Paulum, verbo sanantem claudum, pro Mercurio Lystres adorant._ Act. xiv. 8-18.

Quis Tagus hic, quae Pactoli nova volvitur unda? Non hominis vox est haec: Deus ille, Deus. Salve, mortales nimium dignate penates: Digna Deo soboles, digna tonante Deo. O salve, quid enim, alme, tuos latuisse volebas? Te dicit certe vel tua lingua Deum. Laudem hanc haud miror: meruit facundus haberi, Qui claudo promptos suasit habere pedes.

_St. Paul, healing the lame man with a word, is worshipped by the Lystrians as Mercury._

What Tagus, what Pactolus here is rolled? 'Tis not man's voice: a God, a God behold. Hail, too much honour thou to men hast done, Of Jove, of thundering Jove the worthy son. Hail, Lord, for why wouldst hide thee from thine own? A God e'en by thy tongue assuredly art known. The praise of eloquence for him was meet Who could persuade the lame to use swift feet. R. WI.

CXXV.

_In S. Columbam ad Christi caput sedentem._

Cui sacra siderea volueris suspenditur ala? Hunc nive plus niveum cui dabit illa pedem? Christe, tuo capiti totis se destinat auris, Qua ludit densae blandior umbra comae. Illic arcano quid non tibi murmure narrat, Murmure mortales non imitante sonos? Sola avis haec nido hoc non est indigna cubare: Solus nidus hic est hac bene dignus ave.[71]

{Pe tachyergos agei pteryg' asteroessan eretmos? E tini keina pherei ten poda chioneen? Christe, tee kephale pasais pterygessin epeigei; Pe skia toi dasiois paize mala plokamois. Poia soi arrheto psithyrismati kein' agoreuei? Arret', ouk eches isa men andromees. Mouna men hed' ornis kalias est' axia tautes. Axia d' ornithos mouna men he kalia.}

_To the sacred Dove alighting on the head of Christ._

On whom doth this blest Bird its wings outspread? Where will it suffer its white feet to rest? O Jesus, hovering o'er Thy hallow'd head, Within Thy hair's sweet shade it seeks a nest. There does it breathe a mystic song to Thee, A melody unlike all earthly sound: That Bird alone to this pure nest may flee; This nest alone worthy the Bird is found. W.

CXXVI.

_In fores divo Petro sponte apertas._ Act. xii. 10.

Quid juvit clausisse fores, bone janitor, istas? Et Petro claves jam liquet esse suas. Dices, sponte patent: Petri ergo hoc scilicet ipsum Est clavis, Petro clave quod haud opus est.

_The doors of the prison self-opening to Peter._

Good jailor, how is this, These doors thou lockest here? That Peter has the keys 'Tis now to all men clear. Thou say'st the doors self-open, And well thou sayest indeed; For by this very token He no other key doth need. G.

CXXVII.

_Murmurabant Pharisaei, dicentes, Recipit peccatores, et comedit cum illis._ Luc. xv. 2.

Ah male, quisquis is est, pereat, qui scilicet istis Convivam, saevus, non sinit esse suum! Istis cum Christus conviva adjungitur, istis O non conviva est Christus, at ipse cibus.[72]

_The Pharisees murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them._

Ah, let him perish in his harsh protests Who sinners checks to be the Saviour's guests! Sinners do entertain Christ as a guest: They spread the table, but He is the feast. G. & B.

CXXVIII.

_In trabem Pharisaicam._ Matt. vii. 3.

Cedant, quae, rerum si quid tenue atque minutum est, Posse acie certa figere, vitra dabunt. Artis opus mirae! Pharisaeo en optica trabs est, Ipsum, vera loquor, qua videt ille nihil.

_On the beam of the Pharisee._

Grant you can fix upon a needle's end Each smallest object microscopes will lend. Rare beam to look through has the Pharisee, Whereby, in sooth, nothing itself sees he! R. WI.

CXXIX.

_Constituerunt ut si quis confiteretur eum esse Christum, synagoga moveretur._ Joan. ix. 22.

Infelix, Christum reus es quicunque colendi; O reus infelix, quam tua culpa gravis! Tu summis igitur, summis damnabere coelis: O reus infelix, quam tua poena gravis!

_They determined that if any man should confess Him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue._

Alas, unhappy, own the Christ thou wilt; Unhappy culprit, fearful is thy guilt. The gates of heaven for aye should keep thee close: Unhappy culprit, fearful are thy woes. A.

CXXX.

_De voto filiorum Zebedaei._ Matt. xx. 20.

Sit tibi, Joannes, tibi sit, Jacobe, quod optas; Sit tibi dextra manus; sit tibi laeva manus. Spero alia in coelo est, et non incommoda, sedes; Si neque laeva manus, si neque dextra manus. Coeli hanc aut illam nolo mihi quaerere partem; O coelum, coelum da, Pater alme, mihi.

_Concerning the prayer of the sons of Zebedee._

O brothers twain, may it be yours to fill At right and left your places as ye will! A seat remains, I trust--a fair one too-- Besides those high ones that were sought for you. I pray not that to me some part be given, But heaven itself, kind Father, grant me heaven. CL.

ANOTHER VERSION.

John and James, take your place at God's command: One at the right, th' other at the left hand. I ask not to be placed so, or so: To heaven, to heaven, good Father, let me go. B.

CXXXI.

_Ad hospites coenae miraculosae quinque panum._ Joan. vi. 9-13.

Vescere pane tuo, sed et, hospes, vescere Christo; Et panis pani scilicet ille tuo. Tunc pane hoc Christi recte satur, hospes, abibis, Panem ipsum Christum si magis esurias.[73]

_To the guests at the miraculous supper of the five loaves._

Feed on thy bread, on Christ too feed, O guest; With Bread on bread forsooth thou shalt be blest. Then shalt thou go, with Christ's bread satisfied, If hungering for the living Bread beside. R. WI.

CXXXII.

_De Christi contra mundum pugna._ Joan. xvi. 33.

Tune, miser, tu, mundus ait, mea fulmina contra Ferre manus, armis cum tibi nuda manus? I, lictor, manibusque audacibus injice vinc'la: Injecit lictor vincula, et arma dedit.

_Christ overcoming the world._

O wretched! the world mutters. I do wonder Thou dar'st lift unarm'd hands against my thunder. Go, tyrant; put thy chains upon these hands: 'Tis done; and now full-arm'd the prisoner stands. G.

CXXXIII.

_Graeci disputatores divo Paulo mortem machinantur._ Act. ix. 29.

Euge, argumentum! sic disputat: euge, sophista! Sic pugnum Logices stringere, sic decuit. Hoc argumentum in causam quid, Graecule, dicit? Dicit, te in causam dicere posse nihil.[74]

_The Grecian disputants go about to kill St. Paul._

O noble argument, Sophister rare! Thus Logic's fist to double be your care. This argument, poor Greek, what does it weigh? It says that you have nought at all to say. R. WI.

CXXXIV.

_Qui maximus est inter vos, esto sicut qui minimus._ Luc. xxii. 26.

O bone, discipulus Christi vis maximus esse? At vero fies hac ratione minor. Hoc sanctae ambitionis iter, mihi crede, tenendum est, Haec ratio: Tu, ne sis minor, esse velis.

_He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger._

The greatest of disciples wouldst thou be? Whoever's so ambitious, less is he. That thou mai'st not go less, to every one Submit: this, this is Christ's ambition. B.

CXXXV.

_In lacrymantem Dominum._ Luc. xix. 41.

Vobis, Judaei, vobis haec volvitur unda; Quae vobis, quoniam spernitis, ignis erit. Eia faces, Romane, faces! seges illa furoris, Non nisi ab his undis, ignea messis erit.

_He beheld the city, and wept over it._

For you, O Jews, is roll'd this tearful tide, Which as a flame shall glow, since ye deride. Torches, Rome's torches--those wild-waving ears A fiery crop shall prove, fed by these tears. R. WI.

CXXXVI.

_Christus in Aegypto._ Matt. ii. 19-21.

Hunc tu, Nile, tuis majori flumine monstra; Hunc, nimis ignotum, dic caput esse tibi. Jam tibi, Nile, tumes; jam te quoque multus inunda: Ipse tuae jam sis laetitiae fluvius.

_Christ in Egypt._

With prouder stream, Nile, show Him to thine own; Call Him thy fountain-head, too little known: Now swelling for thyself, thyself o'erflow; And with its own joy let thy current glow. R. WI.

CXXXVII.

_In caecos Christum confitentes, Pharisaeos abnegantes._ Matt. ix. 27-31.

Ne mihi tu, Pharisaee ferox, tua lumina jactes: En caecus! Christum caecus at ille videt. Tu, Pharisaee, nequis in Christo cernere Christum: Ille videt caecus; caecus es ipse videns.[75]

_The blind confessing Christ, the Pharisees denying._

Cast not thine eyes on me, proud Pharisee, Lo, this blind man, though blind, yet Christ can see. Thou, Pharisee, canst not in Christ Christ find; The blind man sees Him, and the seer's blind. G. & B.

CXXXVIII.

_Si quis pone me veniet, tollat crucem et sequatur me._ Matt. xvi. 24.

Ergo sequor, sequor, en, quippe et mihi crux mea, Christe, est: Parva quidem; sed quam non satis, ecce, rego. Non rego? non parvam hanc? ideo neque parva putanda est. Crux magna est, parvam non bene ferre crucem.

_If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me._

Therefore I follow, lo, I follow on; My cross is with me, yet not rightly worn. It little is compar'd with Thine, I own; Yet little is not being wrongly borne. G.

CXXXIX.

_Relictis omnibus sequutus est eum._ Luc. v. 28.

Quas Matthaeus opes, ad Christi jussa, reliquit; Tum primum vere coepit habere suas.[76] Iste malarum est usus opum bonus, unicus iste; Esse malas homini, quas bene perdat, opes.

_And he left all ... and followed Him._

To be rich, truly rich, Matthew did take The right way, when he left all for Christ's sake. This is the one good use of ill-got wealth; For ill-got 'tis which, leaving, bringeth health. B. & G.

CXL.

_Aedificatis sepulchra Prophetarum._ Matt. xxiii. 29.

Sanctorum in tumulis quid vult labor ille colendis? Sanctorum mortem non sinit ille mori. Vane, Prophetarum quot ponis saxa sepulchris, Tot testes lapidum, queis periere, facis.

_Ye build the sepulchres of the Prophets._

Thou trim'st a Prophet's tombe, and dost bequeath The life thou took'st from him unto his death. Vain man! the stones that on his tombe doe lye Keepe but the score[77] of them that made him dye. CR.

ANOTHER VERSION.

What means this labour on the tombs of saints, Causing their holy memory be cherish'd? Vain men! each stone which consecrates their plaints Doth tell us of the stones by which they perish'd. G.

CXLI.

_In manum aridam qua Christo mota est miseratio._ Marc. iii. 3-5.

Prende, miser, Christum; et cum Christo prende salutem: At manca est, dices, dextera: prende tamen. Ipsum hoc, in Christum, manus est: hoc prendere Christum est, Qua Christum prendas, non habuisse manum.

_The man with the withered hand, who excited Christ's compassion._

Take hold of Christ, O wretched one, And with Christ take salvation. But thy right hand, thou say'st, is dead; Yet take thee hold: His word is said. Take hold of Christ e'en without hand; Then safe in Christ, and well, thou'lt stand: Take hold of Christ in simple faith; This will be hand to thee, He saith. G.

CXLII.

_Ad D. Lucam medicum._ Coloss. iv. 14.

Nulla mihi, Luca, de te medicamina posco, Ipse licet medicus sis, licet aeger ego: Quippe ego in exemplum fidei dum te mihi pono, Tu, medice, ipse mihi es tu medicina mea.

{Ouden ego, Louka, para sou moi pharmakon aito, Kan sy d' iatros ees, kan men ego noseros. All' en hoso paradeigma peleis moi pistios, autos, Autos iatros emoi g' essi akestorie.}

_Luke the beloved physician._

No medicine of thee, O Luke, I seek, Though thou art a physician, and I sick: Th' example of thy faith before my eyen, To me, physician, is the medicine. B.

ANOTHER VERSION.

_To St. Luke as a physician._

No medicine will I crave, Saint Luke, of thee, Though I be sick, though thou physician be: Pattern of faith, I plant thee in my soul, And thou thyself the medicine makest me whole. A.

CXLIII.

_Hydropicus sanatus, Christum jam sitiens._ Luc. xiv. 4.

Pellitur inde sitis, sed et hinc sitis altera surgit; Hinc sitit ille magis, quo sitit inde minus. Felix o, et mortem poterit qui temnere morbus; Cui vitae ex ipso fonte sititur aqua.

_The dropsical man thirsting now for Christ._

Thy dropsy's quench'd, but other thirst now rises, Which craves the more, the less the former thirsts. O happy malady, which death despises: Thirst for the stream which from life's fountain bursts. G.

CXLIV.

_In coetum coelestem omnium Sanctorum._

Felices animae, quas coelo debita virtus Jam potuit vestris inseruisse polis: Hoc dedit egregii non parcus sanguinis usus, Spesque per obstantes expatiata vias. O ver, o longae semper seges aurea lucis; Nocte nec alterna dimidiata dies; O quae palma manu ridet, quae fronte corona; O nix virgineae non temeranda togae; Pacis inocciduae vos illic ora videtis; Vos Agni dulcis lumina; vos--quid ago?