11 October 2011

Nun treiben wir den Bapst hinaus

Here is my translation of “Nun treiben wir den Bapst hinaus” (Luther,* 1541), probably first created by Luther, or at least printed with his permission and approval, as a parody of the folksong “Nun treiben wir den Winter aus.” Straßburg appoints this for Laetare Sunday (i.e., Midfast), when effigies of death (or men dressed up so) used to be driven out of town and village, here being replaced with effigies of the Pope. The melodies appointed are “Jesus hat heut vom Vater herab” and “Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort,” obviously meaning in addition to the original folk tune named above.





NOW DRIVE we out the Pope and purge

The house of God and Christian Church
Where murd’rously he hath held sway
And countless souls hath led astray.

2. Thou damnèd son, away, begone!
Thou crimson bride of Babylon,
Abomination, Antichrist,
All full of murder, craft and lies!

3. Indulgences, decretals, bulls,
Now sealed up, cannot harm our souls:
By which thou robbedst all the world
And Jesus’ blood to shame was hurled.

4. Rome’s idol now is off his throne,
The true Pope now in faith we own:
It is God’s Son and Christ, our Rock,
On which is built His Church and flock.

5. He is our High and gracious Priest;
Upon the Cross, our offered Feast,
He for our sin poured out His blood,
Indulgence true from His wounds flowed,

6. He rules His Church by His true Word
The Father pow’r on Him conferred;
The Church’s Head and King is He:
To Him be praise eternally.

7. The pleasant Summer now is come,
Christ, fill with peace Thy Christendom,
Give us, O Lord, a blessed year,
From pope and Turk defend us e’er. Amen.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

GERMAN
1. Nun treiben wir den Bapst hinaus
Aus Christi Kirch und Gottes Haus,
darinn er mördlich hat regiert,
unzählich viel Seeln verführt.

2. Troll dich aus, du verdammter Sohn,
du rote Braut von Babylon,
du bist der Greul und Antichrist,
voll Lügens, Mords, und arge List.

3. Dein Ablaßbrief, Bull und Decret
liegt nun versiegelt im Sekret,
damit stahlstu der Welt ihr Gut,
und schändst dadurch auch Christi Blut.

4. Der Römisch Götz ist ausgethan,
den rechten Bapst wir nehmen an,
das ist Gotts Sohn, der Fels und Christ,
auf dem sein Kirch erbauet ist.

5. Er ist der höchste Priester zart,
vom Kreuz er aufgeopfert ward,
Sein Blut für unser Sünd vergoß,
recht Ablaß aus sein Wunden floß.

6. Sein Kirch er durch sein Wort regiert,
Gott Vater selbst ihn investiert,
er ist das Haupt der Christenheit,
dem sei Lob, Preis in Ewigkeit.

7. Es geht ein frischer Sommr herzu,
verleih uns, Christus, Fried und Ruh,
bescheer uns, Herr, ein seligs Jahr,
vorm Bapst und Türken uns bewahr. Amen.

10 October 2011

Laus tibi, Christe, qui es Creator

At last, here is my translation of “Laus tibi, Christe, qui es Creator” (Gottschalk of Limburg, d. 1098.), the Sequence for S. Mary Magdalene. Too late for this year, but plenty early for next. I give it as found in Lossius’ Psalmodia, with minor corrections from Migne, PL 141:1326f. Note that stanzas 6a and 6b have been reversed from the original order. It is unclear whether this occurs in Lossius by accident, though I see no apparent reason to have Mary come first in the contrast. In phrase 6b I have connected peccati nescius with the preceding, not the following, words. In both text and tune I have normalized the meter of some lines which are uneven or have abnormal stress in the Latin.


O CHRIST, WE praise Thee,
Who art the Maker and Redeemer,
And the only Savior

2a. Of earth, heav’n, and ocean,
Angel-choirs and humankind;
2b. Whom alone we worship
And confess both God and Man.

3a. Who, on this earth found incarnate,
Camest to save sinful men.
3b. And, though eternally sinless,
Didst assume the form of sin.

4a. Of Thy flock, as the Canaanite woman,
Thou didst visit Mary—her called Magdalene:
4b. At the table of Thy Divine Scripture,
One by crumbs, one by cup was revitalized.

5a. While all were reclining
Of Simon the Leper’s house,
Thy feast foreshadowing,
5b. The Pharisee murmured
As the woman tearfully
Owned her iniquity.

6a. Her master’s feet adoring, embracing,
She bathed them in tears and dried them,
With her loosened hair, them anointed
With costly ointment,
With kisses circled them.
6b. The sinner his fellow-soul despising,
Of his sin ignorant;
Thou the penitent hearing, absolvest,
Yea, her Thou lovest,
Her thus to beautify.

7a. These fair festivities
Thou foundest pleasing,
O Wisdom of the Trinity,
7b. Born of virginity,
Yet not disdaining
Sinful woman’s piety.

8a. Thou by the Pharisee wast invited,
By Mary’s boundless banquet wast sated,
8b. She loved Thee much, and much was remitted,
Who never after her error repeated.

9a. Thou drov’st from her seven devils,
Working by Thy Spirit sevenfold,
9b. Thou to her first didst reveal Thee
When Thou from the dead wast ris’n again.

10a. By her, O Christ, Thou showest Thy grafted Christendom,
Who, though foreign-born, is summoned
To the table of Thy progeny.
10b. Who, between the feasts of law and mercy interposed,
Scorned by pharasaic judgment,
Must e’er chafe of leprous heresy.

11a. Thou know’st her errors,
Touched by her, erstwhile a sinner,
Now a seeker of Thy mercy.
11b. What would she, ailing,
Have, if she had not received it?
Had not this Physician been there?

12. King of kings, rich unto all men: Oh, save us!
Thou that blottest out all sinners’ trespasses,
Thou hope and glory_of all the saints!

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN
1. Laus tibi Christe, qui es Creátor
et Redémptor idem et Salvátor.

2a. Caeli, terrae, maris
angelórum et hóminum
2b. –Quem solum Deum
confitémur et hóminem.

3a. Qui peccatóres venísti
ut salvos fáceres,
3b. Sine peccáto peccáti
assúmens fórmulam.

4a. Quorum de grege ut C[h]ananaéam,
Maríam visitásti Magdàlenam.
4b. Éadem ménsa vérbi divíni
íllam mícis [hanc] réfovens póculis.

5a. In domo Simónis
leprósi convíviis
accú(m)bans typicis
5b. Múrmurat Pharisaéus,
úbi plorat fémina
críminis cónscia.

(6a and 6b are reversed)
6a. Pedes ampléctitur Domínicos,
lác(h)rymis lavat, tergit
crínibus, lavándo, tergéndo
unguénto unxit,
ósculis círcuit.
6b. Peccátor contémnit compeccántem:
peccáti néscius
poeniténtem exáudis: emúndas
foedam (ád)amas,
ut pulchram fácias.

7a. Haec sunt convívia
quae tibi placent,
O Patris sapiéntia.
7b. Natus de Vírgine,
qui non dedignátus [ = dedignáris]
tangi à peccatrice.

8a. A Pharisaeo es invitátus:
Maríae férculis saturátus.
8b. Multum dimíttis, multum amánti,
nec crimen póstea repeténti.

9a. Daemóniis eam septem
mundans septifórmi Spirítu.
9b. Ex mórtuis te [re]surgéntem
das cunctis vidére priórem.

10. Hac Christe, prosélytam signas Ecclésiam,
quam ad filiórum mensam
vocas alienígenam.
10b. Quam inter convívia Legis et gratiae
spernit Pharisaeus
fastus quem lepra vexat haeretica.

11a. Qualis sit, tu scis,
tangit te quia pec[c]átrix,
quia veniae optátrix.
11b. Quidnam habéret
aegra, si non accepísset,
si non Médicus adésset.

12. Rex regum dives in omnes nos salva,
peccatórum tergens cuncta crímina,
sanctórum spes et glória.

06 October 2011

Herr, neig dein Ohren, erhör mich

Here is my translation of the hymn paraphrase “Herr, neig dein Ohren, erhör mich” (J. Dachser, †1567), modeled, without much variation, on Inclina Domine (Psalm LXXXVI), which supplies the Introits for the 15th and 16th Sundays after Trinity according to the Lutheran use (cf. Lossius). Dachser, like many of the authors of psalm paraphrases later picked up by Lutherans, was Reformed. The tune is “O Herre Gott, begnade mich.”




BOW DOWN Thine ear, Lord, I implore!
Hear me, who hopeless am and poor:
Let me not be rejected,
Who am Thy saint elected;
God, help Thy servant who on Thee
Depends and calls unceasingly
And pleads: O Lord have mercy,
I for Thy balm am thirsty.
O Lord, my soul I raise to Thee,
For Thou art good, of mercy free,
Abounding in all steadfast love,
To all who cry to Thee above:
Lord God, receive my prayer!


2. Give ear, Lord, to my pray’r, I plead!
On Thee I call in time of need,
When trouble threatens near me,
Then dost Thou ever hear me
Among the gods is none like Thee.
With all Thy deeds and majesty.
The heathen shall before Thee
Be gathered and adore Thee
And give all glory to Thy name
For Thou art great, Thy works have fame,
And Thou art God eternally.
Lead me, Lord, in Thy way that I
May walk in Thy truth ever.


3. My heart let joy exceedingly
To fear God’s name. Thanks give I Thee
With all my heart, O Savior,
My Lord, who help’st ever.
Unceasingly Thy name I praise,
Great is to me Thy loving grace,
Which brought my soul redemption,
From deepest hell’s damnation,
The proud are risen up, O Lord,
Against me, and the mighty horde
Doth seek my soul; my death they prize,
They set Thee not before their eyes,
Nor find a cause to fear Thee.


4. But Thou, O God, art merciful
Most gracious, and amenable,
Thy truth and goodness send me,
Lord, ever to defend me.
Oh, turn and mercy have on me,
Give me Thy servant, strength from Thee,
Help to Thy maid’s son showing
For heavn’ly good bestowing
A sign, that they which hate me may
Perceive it and be shamed alway,
For Thou, Lord God, with aid art nigh,
In need my comfort dost supply
If I but call upon Thee.


Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.


GERMAN
1. Herr, neig dein Ohren, erhör mich,
denn elend und dürftig bin ich,
bhüt mein Seel unverhindert,
denn ich bin dir abgsündert
Hilf mein Gott deinem Knecht, der sich
auf dich verläßt und ruft täglich
zu dir: Herr, dich erbarme,
tröst die Seel deines Armen,
O Herr, mein Seel heb ich zu dir,
dann du bist gut und gnädig mir,
von grosser Güte allen den,
die dich, Herr, treulich anrufen,
mein Gott, vernimm mein Beten.


2. Merk auf die Stimme meiner Bitt,
Herr Gott, ich ruf [dich] zur Zeit der Noth,
wenn sich mein Angst thut mehr[en]
[dann] thustu mich erhören.
Untern Göttern ist keinr dein gleich,
mit allem thun, so groß und reich,
des werden für dich treten
all Heiden und anbeten
und deinem Namen geben Ehr,
dann bist du groß und thust Wunder,
und bist allein Gott ewiglich,
leit mich, Herr, deinen Weg, daß ich,
in deiner Wahrheit wandle.


3. Mein Herz freu sich zu fürchten sehr,
deinen Namen ich danke dir Herr,
mein Gott, von ganzem Herzen,
dann du hilfst mir aus Schmerzen
Ich lob dein Namen ewiglich,
groß ist dein Güte über mich,
du hast errett mein Seele,
aus der untersten Helle,
die Stolzen setzen sich, O Gott,
wider mich, und die mächtig Rott
steht meiner Seel nach alle Tritt,
und setzen dich für Augen nit,
daß sie sich darum fürchten.


4. Aber, Gott, du bist barmherzig,
genädig und sehr langmütig,
dein große Treu und Güte,
Herr, mich allzeit behüte.
Wend dich zu mir, erbarm dich mein,
gib deinem Knecht die Stärke dein,
hilf deinr Magd Sohn bevesten,
und thu an mir zum besten
ein Zeichen, daß es vernehmen,
die mich hassen und sich schämen,
daß du mir beistehest, Herr Gott,
und tröstest mich in meiner Noth,
wenn ich dich anruf. Amen.

04 October 2011

Herr, der du vormals große Gnad



Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase “Herr, der du vormals große Gnad” (C. Schneegaß, 1597), based on Psalm LXXXV, Benedixisti Domine. The hymn was  eventually supplanted by the paraphrases by Becker (1617), Gerhardt (1653), and Vogel (1673). The appointed melody is “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ.”


O LORD, WHO hast unto Thy land
Showed favor rich and fervent,
And back from bondage by Thy hand
Hast brought Thy captive servant,
And saved their soul from sin and death,
Vouchsafing full remission
For transgression,
And, sparing them Thy wrath,
Life given in addition.

2. O Savior, God, console, we pray,
Let cease Thy great disfavor!
Wilt Thou not turn Thy wrath away,
Nor spare Thy children ever?
Wilt not revive us by Thy grace
And fill with jubilation
This Thy nation
At all Thy faithfulness!
Lord, show us Thy salvation.

3. Oh, how I long to hear again
The Lord our land addressing,
His people pledging to sustain
With heav’nly peace and blessing.
And to console them by His Word,
His wondrous deeds declaring,
Lest, despairing,
Some souls should leave their Lord,
In folly blindly erring.

4. Yet nigh to them that fear His name
He comes with His salvation;
God, fill our land with Thy acclaim,
Let glory fill our nation.
Let all with love and faithfulness
His neighbor be attending,
Service lending,
That we may dwell in peace
No man with sin offending.

5. Oh, may the Lord by grace each day
For bounteous good ordain us,
And with His Spirit be our stay,
And in His Word sustain us;
Our land with fruit may He increase,
Rich blessings thus bestowing,
Wrath forgoing,
And help authorities
True justice to be showing.

GERMAN
1. Herr, der du vormals große Gnad
Erzeiget hast deim Lande,
Dein Knecht nach deinem weisen Rath
Erlöst aus schweren Banden,
Der du vormals die Missethat
Hast deinem Volk vergeben
Und daneben
Dein Zorn gewendet ab,
Damit sie möchten leben.


2. Gott, unser Heiland, tröste uns,
Laß all Ungnade schwinden.
Willt du denn ewig über uns
Und unser Kinder zürnen?
Willt du denn uns erquicken nicht?
Daß sich dein Volk mag freuen
Deiner Treue.
Dein gnädig Angesicht,
O Herr, ja uns erzeige.


3. Ach, daß ich wieder hören sollt,
Daß Gott der Herr thät reden,
Daß er zusagte seinem Volk
Sein göttlich Fried und Segen,
Und sie durch sein Wort trösten ließ,
Erinnern früh und spate
Seiner Thaten,
Daß nicht manch frommer Christ
In Thorheit möcht gerathen.


4. Doch denen, die ihn fürchten thu,
Kommt er zu Steur und Hande.
Hilf Gott, daß es geh löblich zu
Hier und im ganzen Lande,
Daß Eins dem Andern Dienst und Lieb
Erzeig mit treuem Herzen
Ohne Scherzen,
Daß wir in Ruh und Fried
Fein freundlich uns ergötzen.


5. Der Herr uns gnädiglich verleih
Viel Guts an allem Orte,
Steh uns mit seinem Geiste bei,
Erhalt uns bei seim Worte;
Laß unser Land mit Fruchtbarkeit
Gedeihen, daß es gebe
Reichen Segen;
Helf aller Obrigkeit
Gericht und Rechts zu pflegen.