O heiliger Geist! sei heut und allezeit mit uns

Here is my translation of the Sequence “O heiliger Geist! sei heut und allezeit mit uns” (Peter Herbert, 1531), in ELGB #298 (as a Confirmation hymn), a German rendering of the Latin Pentecost Day sequence, “Sancti Spiritus assit nobis gratia” (Bl. Notker, 9th c.), the Latin of which was retained by early Lutheran music compendia (e.g., Bonnus, Ludecus, Eler, Lossius, and Cantica sacra Magdeburg). The German, which follows roughly the Latin sense and melody but adds rhymes, appears in Kirchengeseng (1531, 1566), fol. 105b ff. Having already translated the Latin text for my book Lutheran Sequences, I here present a translation of the Bohemian Brethren version, which may be interesting to compare. Herbert has made different choices in dividing the text, generally preferring longer lines, and rhyming mostly across the repeat rather than within where lines are shorter, but rhyming within each half of the “stanza” when longer lines are used.  

 

Choir:
O SPIRIT of God
Be with us now and evermore.

Congregation:
1 Be pleased our hearts to borrow,
For Thine eternal dwelling own us:
Blot out all sin and sorrow,
Pour Thy holy unction upon us.

2 O Spirit, we pray,
Our mind and sense enlighten:
Work in us this day,
Our ways begin to righten.

3 O Thou Lover of the godly,
Consoler of the lowly:
Come and spread Thy succor broadly,
Perform Thy purpose holy.

4 Believers’ minds Thou dost render clean
From error, sins, and foolishness:
O brighten our hearts to heav’nly sheen,
Our foot upon truth’s pathway press.

5 That so we may know and own by Thy light
The Savior aright:
Whom only those hearts made pure, Lord, by Thee
In faith come to see.

6 Godly prophets by pow’r of Thee
Foretold the coming of the Christ so many a century:
Thou didst th’ Apostles strengthen so
That by their preaching they did the works of Christ the Lord forthshow.

7 By Thee was the Gospel’s message comforting
Spread abroad, and the Church made forth to spring:
With wonders and signs attested with great pow’r,
And enlarged quickly like a summer show’r.

8 Fountain pure and sweet,
That flows with healing from the Mercy-seat:
Thou restor’st the heart,
And soft’ning it, dost Thy new Law impart.

9 Thou gatherest here Christ’s flock as one,
From lands and tribes of every language known:
Thou givest them love for all His Word,
And mak’st them live to glorify the Lord.

10 Therefore we beseech Thee suppliantly,
Hear us on this day, O Holy Ghost, graciously:
For without Thee is our work in vain,
And without Thy help, no man may God’s favor gain.

11 Thou by whom all the saints to the faith were brought,
By whose gifts they also were well taught,
Made strong in the faith, and salvation got:
Strengthen us also in faith and confidence,
Defend us from the foe’s virulence,
Make us perfect before God’s countenance:

12 And lead us to eternal luminance. Amen.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Chor:
O heiliger Geist! sei heut und allezeit mit uns.

Gemeine:
1 Mach Dir in unsern Herzen,
eigne und ewige Wohnung:
Tilg alle Sünd und Schmerzen,
geuß auf uns aus Deine Salbung.

2 O heiliger Geist!
erleucht heut unser Sinnen:
Gieb, was du uns heißst,
so mögn wir Guts beginnen.

3 O Du Liebhaber aller Frommen,
Du Tröster der Elenden:
Du wollest uns auch zu Hülf kommen,
Deinn Willen zu vollenden.

4 Du reinigst der Gläubigen Gemüth
von Irrthum, Sünden und Thorheit:
Mach rein unser Herz durch Deine Güt,
und leit uns in alle Wahrheit;

5 Auf daß von uns hie der wahre Heiland,
recht werde erkannt:
Den allein sehen die reinen Herzen
im wahren Glauben.

6 Die Propheten han durch Dein Macht,
die Zukunft Christi längst verkündigt und an Tag gebracht.
Die Apostel hast Du gestärkt,
daß sie durch ihre Predigt offenbart haben Christi Werk.

7 Durch Dich ist das tröstlich Evangelium
ausgebreitt, und erbaut das Christenthum:
Mit Wunder und Zeichenkräftig bewähret,
und schnell, als ein Platzregen gemehret.

8 Du bist der Heils-Bronn,
das rein Wasser, welches fleußt vom Gnaden-Thron:
Du erfrischst das Herz,
erweichst es, und schreibst drein Dein neu Gesetz.

9 Du sammlest allhie Christi Gemein,
von der Welt aus allen Zungen in Ein:
Du giebst ihnen Lieb zu Christi Lehr,
schaffst auch, das sie leben zu Gottes Ehr.

10 Darum bitten wir demüthiglich:
O erhör uns heut heiliger Geist gnädiglich:
Denn ohn Dich ist unser Thun umsonst,
und ohn Deine Hülf kommt niemand zu Gottes Gunst.

11 Du, durch den alle Heiligen sind bekehrt,
durch des Gaben sie auch sind gelehrt,
im Glauben gestärkt und des Heils gewährt:
Du stärk uns auch im Glauben und Zuversicht,
und thu Hülf, wenn der feind uns ansicht,
mach uns völlig vor Gottes Angesicht.

12 Und leit uns zu der ewigen Klarheit. Amen.

Komm, heiliger Geist, mit Wonn

Here is my translation of the Pentecost hymn (sequence), “Komm, heiliger Geist, mit Wonn” (Martin Behm, d. 1622), a translation of the old Pentecost sequence, “Veni sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus,” in ELGB #170. Fischer omits it from his lexicon. Mützell in his entry gives the translation from Centuria precationum Rhythmicarum (Wittenberg: Berger, 1606), p. 97f., from which it was taken up by Breslau 1644 (with wrong attribution to Michael Bohemus); also in Erfurt 1648, Olearius’ Singekunst 1671, Leipzig 1673, etc. B. Meisner includes it also in his Meditationes Sacrae (1634) at the end of the postil for Pentecost Day. The melody in Breslau 1673, where it is also given for the Latin original, is a simplification of an ancient melody.

 

COME, Thou Holy Ghost with cheer,
Let from heaven’s seat appear
Of Thy light a glimmer clear.

2 Come, Thou Father of the poor,
Come, bestow Thy goodly store,
Come, our heart make glad e’ermore.

3 Comforter to them that grieve,
Sweetest Guest that souls receive,
With Thy peace our hearts relieve!

4 In our labor rest provide,
Cool those by cross-fever tried,
Stem the mourner’s tearful tide.

5 O Thou Light of heaven blest,
Make Thy ray in hearts to rest,
Which in faith Thou hast possessed.

6 Wanting Thy supporting flame,
No good thing we men can claim,
Who are filled with sin and shame.

7 Cleansing for our sins impart,
Water well the parchèd heart,
heal the wounded with Thine art.

8 Soften what is hard as stone,
Warm the heart that cold hath grown,
By the Word call back Thine own.

9 Give to them that Thee do hold
Only God, with faith made bold,
Thy pure gifts and sevenfold.

10 To us let Thy virtue flow,
Bless our end and mortal woe,
And in heaven bliss bestow.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

Komm heiliger Geist mit Wonn,
schick herab vons Himmels Thron,
Dein Glanz von der Gnaden Sonn.

2 Komm, o Vater armer Leut,
komm, gieb uns die beste Beut,
komm, gieb unsern Herzen Freud.

3 Tröster gut ins Creuzes Last,
o Du süßer Seelen-Gast,
schaff dem Herzen Fried' und Rast.

4 Gieb uns in der Arbeit Ruh,
die Creuz-Hitz' uns lindern thu,
sprich uns Trost im Weinen zu.

5 O Du selig's Himmels-Licht,
Dein'n Glanz in die Herzen richt',
die Dir willig sein verpflicht't.

6 Ohn' Dein' göttlich' Hülf' und Rath,
der Mensch nichts Gut's kann, noch hat,
steckt voll Sünd' und Missethat.

7 Wasch' uns all' von Sünden rein,
feucht' die dürren Herzen fein,
heil die, so verwundet sein.

8 Lenk, was störrisch ist, so bald
wärm das Herz, wenn's ist erkalt't,
wer sich irrt, durchs Wort erhalt.

9 Gieb den'n, die da gläubig sein,
und auf Dich vertraun allein,
Dein mannigfältig' Gaben rein.

10 Durch Dein' Kraft an uns gedenk,
im Tod Dein Heil zu uns lenk,
und die Freud' im Himmel schenk.

Christo dem Oster-Lämmelein

Here is my translation of the Easter hymn, “Christo dem Oster-Lämmelein” (Nicolaus Herman, d. 1561), in ELGB #131, a paraphrase of sequence Victimae paschali laudes from the author’s Sontags-Evangelia (Wittenberg, 1560), where above each stanza is indicated the first few words of the analogous Latin text. The earlier version (as noted by my annotations below) had several variants, and our stanza 3 appeared originally as two stanzas, later combined. In addition, our stanza 8 was at first lacking. These changes in later additions of Sontags-Evangelia made the text agree more closely with the sequence. Herman indicates the melody “Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag,” called in the Buffalo synod hymnal after the name of a stanza of that hymn, “Am Sabbath früh Marien drei.” I also include a proper melody from Stenger 1663.

 

 

TO Christ the Paschal Lamb today,
Who did His flock’s redemption pay,
All Christians sing, All glory be
To God now and eternally!
Alleluia!

2 The Lamb of God, all free from stain,
For us the Father’s love did gain,
To favor true the sinner brought,
And him an heir of heaven wrought.
Alleluia!

3 When death and life to battle came
A lion strong and feeble Lamb,
Death thought that he had won the day
When in the tomb the Savior lay.
Alleluia!

4 Yet on the third day all was past,
Christ won, and death was downward cast,
And lost his strength and might and throne;
Christ rose by His great pow’r alone.
Alleluia!

5 O Mary, tell without delay,
Who was it met thee in the way?
“It was my Savior, Christ the Lord,
He’s ris’n, according to His Word.”
Alleluia!

6 “Two angels in the tomb there sat,
I saw the napkin folded flat,
And linen cloths nearby were laid,
Which had His burial cov’ring made.“
Alleluia!

7 “But Christ, my highest Hope, indeed
Out of the bonds of death is freed.
The tomb is bare where once He lay;
He also met me on the way.“
Alleluia!

8 “He said, ‘Go, Mary, quickly fare
Unto My brethren, and declare
They are to go to Galilee,
Where they shall have true sight of Me.’”
Alleluia!

9 That Mary’s word is true believe,
Much though the Jewish crowd deceive;
We know for sure that Christ our Head
Is truly risen from the dead.
Alleluia!

10 O Jesus, very Paschal Lamb,
In mortal strife help us o’ercome,
Thy help in our last trial lend,
And from eternal death defend.
Alleluia!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

[Victimae paschali]

Christo dem Oster-Lämmelein, […Osterlämblein rein]
welchs hat erlöst sein' Schäfelein, [Das uns erlöst die Schäflein sein]
singt heut die liebe Christenheit:
Lob, Ehr sei Gott in Ewigkeit.
Hallelujah!

[Agnus redemit etc.]

2 Das Lamm Gottes mit sein'r Unschuld […das gar ohn Schuld]
uns hat erworben Gottes Huld, [erworben hat uns…]
und den Sünder zu Gnaden bracht,
und zu ein'm Himmels-Erb'n gemacht. [und des Himmels Erben…]
Hallelujah!

[Mors et vita duello etc.]

3 Tod und Leben traten in Kampf, […im Kampf und Streit]
ein starker Löw' und schwaches Lamm. [zusammen traten zu der Zeit]
Der Tod meint', er hätt' schon gesiegt, [ein starker Löw und schwaches Lamm]
weil Christ der Herr im Grabe liegt. [der Streit der war ganz wundersam]
Hallelujah!

*4 [Der Tod meint, er hätt schon gesiegt,
weil Christ der Herr im Grabe liegt,
und hält dem lieben Vattern still,
bis an des dritten Tages Ziel.
Hallelujah!]

[Dux vitæ mortuus etc.]

5 Aber es währet nicht drei Tag, [Doch währet es nit gar…]
Christus siegt, der Tod unter lag, […unten lag]
und verlor all sein' Kraft und Macht; [verlor all sein Macht, Kraft, Herrschaft,]
Christus erstund aus eigner Kraft.
Hallelujah!

[Dix nobis Maria etc.]

6 Ach! Maria, sag uns ohn Scheu, […gar frei]
wer dir am Weg begegnet sei?–
Es war mein Heiland Jesus Christ' [es was…]
wahrhaftig Er erstanden ist.
Hallelujah!

[Angelicos testes etc.]

7 Zween Engel saßn in seinem Grab […saßen in dem Grab]
desgleichn ich auch gesehen hab [desgleichen ich gesehen…]
sein Schweiß-Tüchlein und die Leinwand,
darein Joseph Ihn ghüllet hat.
Hallelujah!

[Surrexit Christus spes mea]

8 Aber Christus mein höchster Trost, [Mein höchster Trost und Hoffnung Christ,]
ist wahrhaftig vom Tod erlöst. [Los von dem Tod warhaftig ist,]
Das Grab ist leer, sein Leib ist hin,
am Wege Er mir selbst erschien. [an dem Weg…]
Hallelujah!

[Præcedet suos in Galilæa]

** Er sprach: Maria, geh schnell hin
zu meinen Brüdern und sag ihn,
sie solln in Galliläam gehn,
da solln sie mich wahrhaftig sehn.
Hallelujah!

[Credendum est etc.]

9 Mariä Zeugniß, das ist wahr,
Gott geb', daß lüg' der Jüden Schaar, [Es lüg was wohl…]
wir wissen g'wiß, daß Jesus Christ [wir sind gewiß…]
wahrlich vom Tod erstanden ist. [vom Tod wahrlich…]
Hallelujah!

[Tu nobis victor etc.]

10 Jesu, du wahres Oster-Lamm, […Osterlämmlein wahr]
hilf uns siegen in Todes-Kampf, […Todes Gfahr]
steh bei uns in der Letzten Noth, [Steh uns bei…]
schütz uns für dem ewigen Tod.
Hallelujah!

Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis gratia (new translation)

Here is my revised, rhymed translation of the Whitsunday Sequence "Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis gratia" (Notker, 10th c.).

MAY the Holy Ghost
 On us shed His heav’nly grace!

2a. And for His pure indwelling
Make in our hearts a holy place,
2b. By purging and expelling
From thence all vices and disgrace.

3a. Spirit of kindness,
True Enlightener of men!
3b. Banish our blindness,
Clear the gloomy shades of sin.

4a. Chaste Friend of wisdom, e’er appointing
Prudent thoughts to fill the mind,
4b. In mercy by Thy blest anointing
Make our thoughts to Thine aligned.

5a. Thou Spirit of cleansing, for whose pow’r
No shame or wickedness can stay,
5b. The eye of our inward Adam scour,
Whatever impairs it cleanse away.

6a. Spirit Holy,
So grant us to espy
God the Father high,
6b. Who may solely
By such a heart be seen
As is pure and clean.

7a. The prophets by Thee were driven
As the heralds of heaven
To sing the glorious Savior’s birth;
7b. Th’ Apostles, by Thine inspiring
As Christ’s army untiring
His banner brought o’er all the earth.

8a. When in creation
God all did fashion—
Earth and heaven
And the oceans by His Word—
8b. Then Thou extending
Thy grace impending,
Pow’r was given,
And upon the deep outpoured.

9a. Thy breath of living
To waters giving,
Thou dost life endue;
9b. By breezes tender,
Men Thou dost render
Spirits live and new.

10a. Thou, O Lord, hast united
Men once divided
In their rites and languages,
10b. Called them from evil pastures
O Best of Masters,
Back to proper, godly praise.

11a. Wherefore, Spirit all-gracious,
Be Thou propitious,
Hear Thy servants who implore Thee here,
11b. For without Thee, our praying
Empty and straying,
Is unworthy of God’s holy ear.

12a. Thou who didst embrace
Saints of ev’ry nation,
With the heav’nly grace
Of Thy pure exhalation,—
Throughout time a host to raise—
12b. Thou didst on this day
To th’ Apostles’ station
Wondrous gifts convey,
Known to no generation,
Without like in means and ways,

13. Conferring
  On this day such glorious praise.

(14. May the Holy Ghost
On us shed His heav’nly grace.)

Translation © 2011, 2014 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

1. Sancti Spiritus
adsit nobis gratia:

2a. Qui corda nostra sibi
faciat habitaculum.
2b. Expulsis inde cunctis
vitiis spiritabilis,

3a. Spiritus alme
Illustrator hominum,
3b. Horridas nostrae
mentis purga tenebras,

4a. Amator sancte sensatorum,
semper cogitatuum.
4b. Infunde unctionem tuam
clemens nostris sensibus.

5a. Tu purificator omnium
flagitiorum Spiritus.
5b. Purifica nostri oculum
interioris hominis.

6a. Ut videri
supremus Genitor
possit a nobis.
6b. Mundi cordis
quem soli cernere
possunt oculi.

7a. Prophetas tu inspirasti,
ut praeconia Christi
praecinuissent inclyta.
7b. Apostolos confortasti,
uti trophaeum Christi
per totum mundum veherent.

8a. Quando machinam
per verbum suum
fecit Deus
coeli, terrae, marium.
8b. Tu super aquas
foturus eas,
numen tuum
expandisti Spiritus.

9a. Tu animabus
vivificandis
aquas foecundas.
9b. Tu aspirando
das spiritales
esse homines.

10a. Tu divisum per linguas
mundum et ritus
adunasti, Domine.
10b. Idolatras ad cultum
Dei revocas
Magistrorum optime.

11a. Ergo nos supplicantes
tibi exaudi
propitius sancte Spiritus.
11b. Sine quo preces omnes
cassae creduntur
et indignae Dei auribus.

12a. Tu qui omnium
saeculorum sanctos,
Tui numinis,
docuisti instinctu
amplectendo, Spiritus.
12b. Ipse hodie
Apostolos Christi
donans munere
insolito et cunctis
inaudito seculis.

13. Hunc diem
gloriosum fecisti.

14. Sancti Spiritus adsit
nobis gratia.

Agni paschalis esu

Here is my translation of Notker’s Sequence for Easter Tuesday, “Agni paschalis esu potuque dignas,” literally “[worthy] Of the Paschal Lamb to eat and drink.” Syntactically the opening phrase extends into the first double verse, delaying the subject and predicate, and so complicates understanding for modern English ears. I have restructured it slightly so that the Lamb still comes first and makes a clear title. The text and melody appear in early and late editions of Lossius. The theme is clearly the reception of the Lord’s Supper by the newly baptized with spiritual allusions to the Passover and the Exodus.

According to Daniel, the melody (“Graeca”) is not the original to “Agni paschalis,” but has been adapted. MSS with other melodies are not immediately available. Proof of this  is a definite irregularity in verses 2c. and 3a, which may have formed a double verse together in the original form. In the present version, 2c. melodically forms a transition between 2a-b. and 3a-c. Interestingly, the couplet 4a-b presents a melodic progression in the first half-lines, from sol-fa to sol-la.

NOW THAT the Lamb hath readied

The Paschal banquet,

2a. Let all Christian souls by ways sincere

Prove themselves worthy thereof to partake;

2b. For their great High Priest, as Victim dear

Hath offered Himself to God for all their sake.

2c. Now on the posts of their brows appear

Seals of royal red

By the sacred blood He shed,

A shade from the wrath that o’er Egypt brake;

3a. Now all the rival’s forces

Are swallowed up by the Red Sea tide.

3b. So let their loins all be girded well to stride,

3c. And for the serpents their feet be fortified.

4a. While wayfaring,

Let their hand be bearing

Spirit-staves alway,

Dogs to keep at bay;

4b. That they in fashion

Foll’wing Jesus’ Passion,

Share His Easter too,

Who the grave o’erthrew.

5a. Lo, earth awoken,

Florid with Christ doth rise,

5b. A gracious token

Showing to faithful eyes,

6a. O’er death, what vict’ry prize

Is with Christ bespoken!

Translation © 2014 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

1. Agni paschalis esu

potuque dignas,

2a. Moribus synceris praebeant

omnes se Christianae animae,

2b. Pro quibus se Deo hostias

obtulit ipse summus Pontifex.

2c. Quarum frons in postis est modum,

eius illita

sacrosancto cruore

et tuta a clade canopica,

3a. Qua[rum] crudeles hostes

in mari Rubro sunt obruti.

3b. Renes constringant ad pudicitiam.

3c. Pedes tutentur adversus viperas.

4a. Baculosque

spiritales contra

canes jugiter

manu bajulent.

4b. Ut pascha Jesu

mereantur sequi,

quo de barathro,

victor rediit.

5a. En redivivus

mundus ornatibus

5b. Christo consurgens

fideles admonet,

6. Post mortem melius

cum eo victuros.

Dixit Dominus ex Basan

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Here is my translation for the Sequence "Dominus dixit ex Basan" (Godescalcus) for the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25), as it appears in Bonnus, Lossius (1579), Keuchenthal, Ludecus' Missale, and Magdeburg (1613). Each cantional had a slightly different version of the melody (though there are two main strains). I include the slightly simpler version found in Bonnus. I have normalized the syllabic lines of the text in certain places, usually according to the longer version, but the melody does not reflect this yet. Use the longer of the repeated melodic lines.

OUT of Bashan, saith the Lord, I will turn him,

And in the deepest sea convert him.

2a. And God kept His saying:

Saul prostrate laying,

Paul then to life He brought,

2b. By His Word incarnate

Did He perform it

Through Whom the world He wrought.

3a. For, Him defying,

Saul heard Him crying,

“Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”

3b. I am that Jesus

Thou persecutest:

To kick the goads is hard for thee!”

4a. At the presence of the Lord

Did the earth tremble

As if to crumble,

Soon yet it rested:

4b. Paul, to faith in God restored,

In true contrition

His fellow Christian

No more molested.

5a. This is the tongue of Thy faithful hounds

Out of hostile grounds

Back to Thee, God, returning,

5b. Since Paul makes all mouths of preachers bold

(Where Thy Word be told),

With Thy commands and learning,

6a. For Paul says: No other

Is Christ the Crucified

Than true God, who reigneth,

6b. One with God the Father

And the Holy Ghost,

As Paul’s word maintaineth.

7a. Houndlike, the tongues of preachers

Drinking deep of Paul their teacher,

Much in those millstones twain have ground—

Law that demandeth,

Gospel that granteth,—

7b. Making by use most heedful

All kinds of medicines needful

By which the wounded are bound

And those that hunger

Fed and made stronger.

8a. When the sea his doctrine saw,

It fled; at his rehearsing

The Jordan

Was driven back, reversing:

8b. For the Gentiles turned in awe

From depths of their transgression;

Confounding

Great Og, the King of Bashan.

9. Now Christ, they adore Thee

Over all creation,

Giving the God-Man all glory

Who came and brought salvation.

Translation © 2014 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

1. Dixit Dominus,

Ex Basan convertam,

convertam in profundum maris.

2. Quod dixit et fecit:

Saulum et stravit,

Paulum et statuit

Per Verbum suum
Incarnatum, per quod

fecit et saecula:

3. Quod dum impugnat,

audivit Saule, {Saulus}

Saule quid me persequeris? {perspexeris}

Ego sum Jesus;

durum est tibi,

ut recalcitres stimulo.

4. A facie, Domini,

mota est terra,

contremuitque,

moxque {mox et} quievit.

Dum cognito credidit

Domino Paulus,

persequi cessat

conchristianos.

5. Haec {Hi[n]c} lingua tuorum est canum,

ex inimicis

rediens ad te Deus.

Cum Paulus in ore omnium

secretorum {sacerdotum}

jura dat praeceptorum,

6. Docens crucifixum

non esse alium

praeter Christum Deum.

Cum Patre qui regnat

et Sancto Spiritu,

cujus testis Paulus,

7. Hi[n]c lingua sacerdotum

more canis dum perlinxit

legis et evangelii

duos molares

in his contrivit. {contritos}

Corrasit universas

species medicinarum,

quibus curantur saucii,

reficiuntur

enutriendi.

8. Quod docente Deum

mare vidit et fugit,

Jordanis

conversus est retrorsum.


Quia turba gentium

relicto {rediens} vitiorum

profundo,

Og rege Basan confuso,




9. Te solum adorat

Christe creatorem

Teque {Quem et } cognoscit in carne

venisse 
redemptorem.

Psallite Regi nostro, psallite

Here is my translation of the sequence “Psallite Regi nostro, psallite” for the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The text, originally by Gottschalk (Gottescalcus), I take in its slightly amended form, along with the music, from Ludecus (1589) p. 29ff., which represents a transposition from the original mode.

SING PRAISES! Sing ye praises to our King!
Sing praises! Sing praises, wisely sing!

2. For the psalt’ry mild
Meets the harp with a joyful tone
2b. As the Virgin’s child
By the barren one’s child is known.

3a. His body sounding,
He strummed in the temple of the Lord,
3b. In manhood proving
What first he confessed by infant chord.

4a. By mortifying
Members and body
That earthly are, and teaching others in this,
4b. A folk supplying
For Christ made ready,
John was the voice that cried in the wilderness.

5a. Yet though that Voice accused,
Vicious Herod still refused
In goodness to be taught.
5b. Never that Voice was stilled:
Even till John’s blood was spilled,
Ever that foe he fought:

6a. “It is not lawful to rob thy brother
And for thy spouse take that of another,
Sin’s passions then smother!
From thine error turn.
Do not God’s commandment spurn!”
6b. As a deaf serpent, Herod would harm him
Who with his voice seeks wisely to charm him.
The king, to disarm him,
Doth the prophet find,
And within his prison bind.

7a. John in gloom reclineth,
Lamplike he shineth,
Friend of all light’s true Patrician.
7b. Herod, sin accruing,
Worldy joys pursuing,
Proves but the son of perdition

8a. The harlot spurreth,
Her daughter twirleth,
The King demands the saint beheaded,
8b. And to his daughter
Serveth the slaughter,
The saintly head of him he dreaded.

9a. But how doth the righteous perish,
As though God His saint did not cherish?
9b. Such a death is ever precious
In the sight of God, who is gracious.

10a. In spirit we well perceive,
Great was the saint we grieve!
So akin in his work, behavior,
And death, to His Savior.
10b. For just as to death of shame
They would the Bridegroom damn,
They the friend of the Bridegroom rightly
Damn to death unsightly.

11a. From bondage carnal
To heav’n eternal
High swinging,
The angels bore that angel singing,
11b. Grant us, o Jesus,
To sing Thee praises
In honor
Of St. John Thy Forerunner,

12. That, having spurned Herod’s table,
We also may be able
At Thy feast to receive Thee,
And all praise ever give Thee.

Translation © 2013 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

In die decollationis Johannis Baptistae Sequentia
de Gottschalk

1. Psallite Regi nostro, psallite,
psallite, psallite prudenter.

2a. Nam psalterium
est jucundum cum cithara,
2b. Nato virginis,
quo psallens natus sterilis.

3a. Citharam carnis
percussit in domo Domini.
3b. Dum, quod sonabat
clamando, docuit vivendo,

4a. Mortificando,
quae super terram sunt, membra
et hoc alios docendo,
4b. Praeparans Christo
plebem perfectam Johannes,
vox clamantis in deserto.

5a. Sed vox haec impium
Herodem, quem corripit,
minime corrigit.
5b. Haud tamen tacuit,
sed ad usque sanguinem
sceleri restitit.

6a. Non licet, inquit, te fratris tui
habere conjugem, raptam ei: [=sibi]
peccasti, quiesce:
poenitentibus
sic praecepit Dominus.
6b. Vocem incantantis sapienter
Herodes, ut aspis surda, spernit:
ut justum, ut sanctum
Johannem timet,
quem vinxit in carcere.

7a. Sedet in tenebris
lucerna, lucis
amicus omnipotentis.
7b. Studet deliciis
mundi principis
filius perditionis.

8a. Meretrix suadet,
puella saltat,            [nata precatur,]
Rex jubet,
sanctus decollatur.
8b. Dat rex saltanti
caput Johannis,
qui sanctus
ante fit, quam natus.

9a. En, quomodo perit justus,
quasi non sit Deo dilectus,
9b. Cum sit ejus pretiosa
mors haec in conspectu Domini.

10a. Nos corde percipimus,
qualis et quantus est,
quia vicinus dignitate     [convicinus…]
Christo fit [sit] et morte.
10b. Nam morte turpissima
damnatur sponsus, et                    (L. has “sponsus, spon- // si et…’)
sponsi amicum damnant recte
morte turpissima.

11a. Carcere carnis
ductum, quem ferunt
psallendo
coelis Angeli Angelum.
11b. Et nos in terris
tibi psallere
fac, Christe,
in memoriam Baptistae.

12. Herodis spreta
quo mensa
altaris tui mensa
ipsum te, dum sumimus,
semper tibi psallamus.

Hodiernae festum lucis

Here is my translation of the Sequence hymn for the Feast of the Lance and Arms of Christ. While not expressly met in Reformation cantionals, the regional German feast was historically celebrated as a vespertine mass on the Friday after Quasi modo geniti, paying due honor to the Lord's passion recently commemorated in Holy Week and recognizing the instruments of the Lord's Passion by which He built His church. The tune is from another Sequence, Hodiernae Lux Diei. Here it is with harmony from the New Office Hymn-Book, except that one stanza of the music is missing (one might simply repeat a section, such as the 3rd, since stanzas 3 and 4 have a similar voice; or else re-introduce the 2nd between the 3rd and 4th). A common tune that may be substituted is Johann König's "Alles ist an Gottes Segen."

This incomplete sample in the Aachen Proser suggests a more florid version of the melody.

ON THIS FEAST of solemn splendor,
Praise to Christ our Life we render,
For the Lance of vict’ry blest,
Echoing strains of jubilation
At the spear that for salvation
Pierced our Prince and Savior’s breast.

2. (All mankind must make confession:
Thee we thrust with our transgression,
Bound in sin and mortal strife):
Worship Him who wrought redemption
And from punishment, exemption:
Winning man the cure of life.

3. Hail, triumphant Iron, driven
Through the breast of Life, that, riven,
Shows to heav’n the open Door.
Thou made wholesome in the flowing:
Wound us, blessed Spear, bestowing
Love for Him, thy harm who bore.

4. Blessed Nails, by which were budded
Flow’rets red that sweetly flooded
Jesus’ every piercèd limb:
Let our hearts with love be spilling
By your sting our flesh be stilling,
Fastening our faith on Him.

5. Naz’reth-born! we hail Thee, Jesus,
Thou wast wounded to release us
From sin’s mortal penalty,
Turn to us the Father’s favor,
That with all the blest for ever
We with glory crown’d may be.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011–2012.

LATIN

1. Hodiernae festum lucis
Et sollemne vitae Ducis
pro victrici lancea:
decantemus laudes ei,
quem transfixit vice rei
haec salutis framea.

2. Omnis utriusque sexus
Te stringebat culpae nexus
et mortis angustia:
Psalle illi qui resolvit
culpam, poenam pro te solvit,
vitae dans remedia.

3. Ave ferrum triumphale,
Intrans pectus tu vitale
Coeli pandis ostia:
Fecundata tu cruore
Felix hasta nos amore
per te fixi saucia.

4. Florens cruor quem suderunt,
artus Christi quos foderunt
clavorum fixoria:
Fusa per te ac rigata
et per clavos solidata
Nostra sint praecordia.

5. Salve Iesu Nazarene,
tu pro nobis mortis poenae
Affectus iniuria:
Placa patrem maiestatis,
ut in aevum cum beatis
nos coronet gloria.

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.

Jucundare plebs fidelis*

I reproduce here Digby Wrangham's translation "O Be Joyful, Faithful Nation," a text that is true to the original meter (unlike Campbell's popular "Christians, Come in Sweetest Measure"). Its source, Wrangham's translation of Gautier's text, is here. Thanks to Christopher McAvoy for reference of the MS, I here provide a transcription of the melody from the Paris Missal:

O BE joyful, faithful nation!
Seed of God's own generation!
Mindful of the revelation
In Ezekiel's prophecy:
In that witness John uniteth,
Who th' Apocalypse inditeth;
"Witness true my true pen writeth
Of what truly met mine eye!"

2. Round the footstool of the Godhead,
'Mongst the blessed Saints included,
Stand four creatures there embodied,
Diverse in their form to view.
One an eagle's semblance weareth,
One a lion's likeness beareth,
But as man or ox appeareth
Each one of the other two.

3. As Evangelists, these creatures
Figure forth, in form and features,
Those, whose doctrines' stream, like Nature's
Rain, is on the Church outpoured;
Matthew, Mark, and Luke pourtraying,
Him too, who His sire obeying,
By the nets no longer staying,
Came to follow thee, O Lord!

4. Matthew as the man is treated,
Since 'tis he, who hath related,
How from man, by God created,
God did, as a man, descend.
Luke the ox's semblance weareth,
Since his Gospel first declareth,
As he thence the Law's veil teareth,
Sacrifices' aim and end.

5. Mark, the lion, his voice upraises,
Crying out in desert places:
"Cleanse your hearts from all sin's traces;
For our God a way prepare!"
John, the eagle's features having,
Earth on love's twain pinions leaving,
Soars aloft, God's truth perceiving
In light's purer atmosphere.

6. Thus the forms of brute creation
Prophets in their revelation
Use; but in their application
All their sacred lessons bring.
Mystic meaning underlieth
Wheels that run, or wing that flieth;
One consent the first implieth,
Contemplation means the wing.

7. These four writers in portraying
Christ, His fourfold acts displaying,
Show Him,—thou hast heard the saying,—
Each of them distinctively:
Man—of woman generated;
Ox—in off'ring dedicated;
Lion—having death defeated;
Eagle—mounting to the sky.

8. These four streams, through Eden flowing,
Moisture, verdure, still bestowing,
Make the flow'rs and fruit there growing
In rich plenty laugh and sing:
Christ the source, these streams forth sending;
High the source, these downward trending;
That they thus a taste transcending
Of life's fount to Saints may bring.

9. At their stream inebriated,
Be our love's thirst aggravated,
More completely to be sated
At a holier love's full fount!
May the doctrine they provide us
Draw us from sin's slough beside us,
And to things divine thus guide us,
As from earth we upward mount! Amen.

LATIN
1. Jocundare, plebs fidelis,
Cujus Pater est in caelis,
Recolens Ezechielis
Prophetae praeconia:
Est Joannes testis ipsi,
Dicens in Apocalypsi,
Vere vidi, vere scripsi
Vera testimonia.

2. Circa thronum majestatis,
Cum spiritibus beatis,
Quatuor diversitatis
Astant animalia.
Formam primum aquilinam,
Et secundum leoninam,
Sed humanam et bovinam
Duo gerunt alia.

3. Formae formant figurarum
Formas Evangelistarum,
Quorum imber doctrinarum
Stillat in Ecclesia:
Hi sunt Marcus et Matthaeus,
Lucas, et quem Zebedaeus
Pater tibi misit, Deus,
Dum laxaret retia.

4. Formam viri dant Matthaeo,
Quia scripsit sic de Deo,
Sicut descendit ab eo,
Quem plasmavit, homine.
Lucas bos est in figura,
Ut praemonstrat in Scriptura,
Hostiarum tangens jura
Legis sub velamine.


5. Marcus leo per desertum
Clamans, rugit in apertum,
Iter fiat Deo certum,
Mundum cor a crimine.
Sed Joannes, ala binâ
Caritatis, aquilina
Forma, fertur in divina
Puriori lumine.

6. Ecce forma bestialis,
Quam scriptura prophetalis
Notat; sed materialis
Haec est impositio.
Currunt rotis, volant alis;
Inest sensus spiritalis;
Rota gressus est aequalis,
Ala contemplatio.

7. Quatuor describunt isti
Quadriformes actus Christi,
Et figurant, ut audisti,
Quisque suâ formulâ.
Natus homo declaratur,
Vitulus sacrificatur,
Leo mortem depraedatur,
Et ascendit aquila.

8. Paradisus his rigatur,
Viret, floret, foecundatur,
His abundat, his laetatur
Quatuor fluminibus:
Fons est Christus, hi sunt rivi,
Fons est altus, hi proclivi,
Ut saporem fontis vivi
Ministrent fidelibus.

9. Horum rivo debriatis
Sitis crescat caritatis,
Ut de fonte pietatis
Satiemur plenius.
Horum trahat nos doctrina
Vitiorum de sentina,
Sicque ducat ad divina
Ab imo superius.

Psallite Regi nostro (Latin only, for now)

Here is Gottschalk's Sequence for the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, as found in Lossius' Psalmodia, hoc est…. I am too busy right now to translate it, but hope to before this time next year! Note the only difference between the melody lines 2a and 2b is that the first two notes of the latter form a neume on one syllable (Na-to); between 6a and 6b, that one note has a virga-double in the former. Brackets enclose original readings from Patrologia Latina.

In die decollationis Johannis Baptistae Sequentia

1. Psallite Regi
nostro, psallite,
psallite,
psallite prudenter. [= …sapienter]

2a. Nam psalterium
est jucundum cum cithara,
2b. Na-to virginis,
quo psallans [= psallens] natus sterilis.

3a. Citharam carnis
percussit
in domo Domini.
3b. Dum, quod sonabat
clamando,
docuit vivendo,

4a. Mortificando,
quae super terram
sunt, membra
et hoc alios docendo,
4b. Praeparans Christo
plebem perfectam
Johannes,
vox clamantis in deserto.

5a. Sed vox haec impium
Herodem, quem corripit,
minimo [-e] corrigit.
5b. Haud tamen tacuit,
sed ad usque sanguinem
sceleri restitit.

6a. Non licet, inquit, te
fratris tui
habere conjugem,
raptam ei: [=sibi]
peccasti,
quiesce:
poenitentibus
sic praecepit Dominus.
6b. Vocem incantantis
sapienter
Herodes, ut aspis
surda, spernit:
ut justum,
ut [=et] sanctum
Johannem timet,
quem vinxit in carcere.

7a. Sedet in tenebris
lucerna, lucis
amicus omnipotentis.
7b. Studet deliciis
mundi principis
filius perditionis.

8a. Meretrix suadet,
puella saltat,
Rex jubet, sanctus
decollatur.
8b. Dat Rex saltanti
caput Johannis,
qui sanctus ante
fit, quam natus.

9a. En quomodo
perit justus,
quasi non sit Deo
dilectus,
9b. Cum sit ejus
preciosa
mors haec in conspectu
Domini.

10a. Nos corde percipimus,
qualis et quantus est,
quia vicinus dignitate [= convicinus…]
Christo fit et morte.
10b. Nam morte turpissima
damnatur sponsus,
et sponsi amicum damnant
recte morte turpissima.

11a. Carcere carnis
ductum, quem ferunt
psallendo
coelis Angeli Angelum.
11b. Et nos in terris
tibi psallere
fac, Christe,
in memoriam Baptistae.

12. Herodis spreta
quo mensa,
altaris tui mensa * [not in orig.]
ipsum te, dum sumimus,
semper tibi psallamus.

Agone triumphali militum

Here is my translation of the Sequence for martyrs (plur.) by Notker, “Agone triumphali militum Regis summi,” as found in Lossius (amended by H. Bonnus). Brackets, unless noted otherwise, show the original reading. A discrepancy in the notation of the melody in Lossius should be noted. The 7th and 8th notes are given one step higher in line 3a (or one step lower in 3b). I have taken the higher ones (B - A instead of A - G) from the music given for 3b. The “D flat” in the melody for line 7 seems wrong but I cannot find any better reading. Suggestions are welcome.

THE CONTEST now completed,
Won by the High King’s soldiers,
Makes this day with praise to ring
In all the Church,
Faithful unto Christ, her King.

2a. They on earth rejected
Passing glories, joys, and pleasures,
2b. Every day the burden
Of the shameful cross they treasured.

3a. From their Lord no lust or vice
Did their soul separate,
3b. When they hastened from this life
Whither the saints await.

4a. No dungeon dark or iron fetter
Softened their confidence;
In Christ their heart believed;
4b. Nor did the bitter stings they suffered
Weaken the martyrs’ will,
However oft received.

5a. No sword o’er them threatening
Managed to terrify
5b. These boldest of warrìors,
Now with their Lord on high.

6a. Now in God’s keeping
Securely they ridicule
The cruèl hostilities
Shown by their torturers.
6b. And Christ’s own people
They comfort abundantly
Through all their adversities
In this world perilous.

7a. Now Christ’s in martyrdom, [Ye now with Christ reside]
7b. No more corruptible. [We weakly yet abide.]

8. Lo, what examples of constancy
In the true confession
Of Christ Jesus!

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN (“L” = Lossius’s/Bonnus’ variant)

1. Agone triumphali
militum Regis summi
dies ille celebris.
Est populis [L: Et populus]
Christo regi credulis. [L: credulus]

2a. Hi delectamentum
respuerant mundanorum
2b. Et crucem tunc turpem
quotidie bajularunt;

3a. Hos nullius feritas
a Christo separat,
3b. Dum ad eum mortibus [Quin…]
millenis properent. [L: nullenis…]
-
4a. Non carcer ullus aut cathena
molliunt fortia
in Christo pectora,
4b. Sed nec ferarum morsus diri
martyrum solidum
excavant animum;

5a. Non imminens capiti
gladius terreat […territat.]
5b. Fortissimos milites
optimi Domini.

6a. Nunc manu Dei
complexi persequentum
insultant furoribus
quondam crudelibus
6b. Et plebi Christi […Christi plebi]
solamen suppeditant
in cunctis laboribus
lubrici saeculi.

7a. Nunc Christi martyres, [Vos…]
7b. Non valde fragiles, [Nos…]

8. Exemplis faciunt constantes [Precibus nos justo judici]
in confessione [sinceris jugiter]
Jesu Christi. [commendare curate.]

Benedicta semper sancta sit Trinitas

Sorry this is a little late for this year. My translation of the Sequence by Notker Balbulus for the Feast of Holy Trinity, as found in Lossius’ Psalmodia… (1579), compared with the German version by Michael Weisse for the Bohemian Brethren (included below). Note that stanza 3b is not included in Lossius’ edition nor in the Nonantola collection.

BLESSED BE the Holy
Trinity evermore,
Deity in perfect Unity,
Glorious God co-equally.

2a. God, the Father and
Son and Holy Ghost:
Three are their names and yet all of them
One remain substantially.
2b. God, Begetting One
God, Begotten One
And the sacred Spirit from them both,
In one common Deity.

3a. And yet there are not three Gods,
God, the true God, is but one,
As God the Father one Lord remains,
So the Son and Spirit, too.
[3b. Three is He in personhood,
Nonetheless in essence One
The Lord Almighty of Sabaoth
Reigning over all the world.]

4a. In His persons three distinguished,
Yet in substance God is one unity.
4b. Like in majesty and power,
Glory_and honor same for eternity.

5a. Holder of heaven and ocean deep,
Earth and mountain, and all that fills the universe.
5b. Feared by the godless underworld,
Worshiped even by the profoundest pit of hell

6a. Now let all voices acclaim Him
And all tongues sing Him praises suitable,
Whom sun and moon hold in honor,
And the legions of angels venerate.

7a. Let us all with lofty voice
Also join in singing
Sweetest of canticles,
Anthems melodious,
7b.* Come ye, O come and sing, *[This line is shorter and differs melodically]
Jubilant in concert,
Adoring the Lord on high,
Who sits enthroned in heav’n.

8a. O Trinity most worshipful!
8b. O Unity most ven’rable!

9a. Through Thee is our creation,
Very Eternity!
9b. Through Thee is our redemption,
Consummate Charity!

10a. Guard all Thy people, keep them safe,
Save and set them free,
Rescue them and make them clean.
10b. Thee we adore, God omnipotent,
Unto Thee we sing,
Thine the glory, laud, and praise,

11. Be forevermore
While eternal ages run.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
LATIN

1. Benedicta semper
sancta sit Trinitas,
Deitas scilicet unitas
coaequalis gloria.

2a. Pater, Filius,
sanctus Spiritus,
tria sunt nomina, omnia
eadem substantia.

2b. Deus genitor,
Deus genitus,
in utroque sacer Spiritus,
deitate socia.

3[a]. Non tres tamen Dii sunt,
Deus verus unus est,
sic Pater Dominus, Filius,
Spiritusque Dominus.
[3b. Trinus in personis ?est,
unus in essentia,
immensus dominus Sabaoth
saecla regnat per cuncta.]

4a. Proprietas in personis,
unitas est et in essentia.
4b. Majestas par et potestas,
decus, honor aeque per omnia.

5a. Sidera, maria continens,
arva simul et universa condita.
5b. Quem tremunt impia tartara,
colit quoque quem et abyssus infima.

6a. Nunc omnis vox atque lingua
fateatur hunc laude debita.
6b. Quem laudat sol atque luna,
dignitas adorat angelica.

7a. Et nos voce praecelsa
omnes modulemur
organica cantica,
dulci melodia.
7b. Eia et eia,
[nunc] simul jubilemus
alti[-]throno Domino
laudes in excelsis.

8a. O adoranda Trinitas
8b. O veneranda unitas.

9a. Per Te sumus creati,
vera aeternitas.
9b. Per Te sumus re[d]empti,
summa Tu charitas.

10a. Populum cunctum Tu protege,
salva, libera,
eripe, et emunda.
10b. Te adoramus omnipotens,
tibi canimus,
tibi laus et gloria,

11. Per ìnfiníta saécula saèculórum.

M. WEISSE’S GERMAN VERSION:

1. Gebenedeit
und gelobt sei heut und allzeit
die heilige Dreifaltigkeit
und unzerteilte Einigkeit!

2. Der Vater und sein Sohn
samt der dritten Person,
welch uns die Schrift den Heiligen Geist
und ein milden Tröster heißt!
Der Vater ist ein Gott,
der nur einen Sohn hat,
den er gebührt in gleicher Gottheit
für und für in Ewigkeit.

3. Der Sohn ist ein wahrer Gott,
der nur einen Vater hat,
der ihn geobrn zu uns gesandt hat
aus unmäßiger Wohlthat.
Der Heilig Geist ist ein Gott,
der da seinen Ausgang hat
vom Vater und vom Sohn dort oben,
mit manchfaltigen Gaben.

4. Drei Personen werden genannt,
wird doch nicht mehr denn nur ein Gott bekannt,
ein Gott in der Dreifaltigkeit,
drei Personen in der Werk unterscheidt.

5. Gott der Vater durch seinen Sohn im Heiligen
Geist hat geschaffen alle Ding,
der Sohn Gottes durch die Gnad des Vatern hat im
Heiligen Geist die Welt erlöst.

6. Der Heilige Geist durch den Sohn Gottes
ins Vatern Gnad seliget uns.
So ist nu ein Gott allmächtig
weis und gütig in der Dreifaltigkeit.

7. Diesen söllen wir loben
und ihm danken d’ manchfaltigen Gaben
so wir von ihm haben.
Ei, so last uns nu singen,
und unser Gebet mit Dank für ihn bringen,
so wirds uns gelingen!

8. O Heilige Dreifaltigkeit,
o unzerteilte Einigkeit!

9. Von dir sind wir geschaffen,
ewig Allmächtigkeit!
Durch dich sind wir erlöset,
unerschaffne Weißheit!

10. In dir, unmäßige Gütigkeit,
warten wir ordentlich der ewigen Seligkeit!
O Gott Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist,
erbarm dich und steh uns bei auf diesem Erdenkreis!
Daß wir loben deinen Namen
ewiglich, Amen!

Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis gratia

Here is my translation of the alternate Sequence for Holy Whitsunday, “Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis gratia,” according to the version found in Lossius’ Psalmodia (1579). Note all the musical lines repeat except 1, 13, and 14.

* For comparison, here is a metrical couplet paraphrase of the original.

MAY THE GRACE of the Holy
Ghost be with us now.

2a. May He our hearts re-fashion
as His own holy dwelling-place.
2b. Expelling from them every
spiritu’l vice and wickedness.

3a. Nourishing Spirit,
all mankind’s Enlightener!
3b. Purge from our senses
all shades of obscurity,

4a. O holy Lover of the prudent,
ever keep us in Thy care;
4b. Pour out Thy gracious unction on us,
with it fill our heart and mind.

5a. Thou Cleanser, who makest pure every
shameful and gross impurity,
5b. O Spirit, now cleanse and purify
of blindess man’s interior eye.

6a. Let our Lord and Creator
Show Himself to us evermore,
6b. Who is visible only
Unto the eye of the pure in heart.

7a. Thou didst inspire the true Prophets
To proclaim the Messiah,
And His Gospel all-glorious.
7b. Thou didst inspire the Apostles
Christ’s own banner to carry
To the earth’s farthest boundaries.

8a. When by His Word of pow'r God created
Heaven, earth, and sea in wondrous symmetry,
8b. Thou o’er the waters, O Spirit, hov’ring,
Scatteredst abroad Thy breath of godliness.

9a. Thou by enriching waters dost quicken
souls of men again.
9b. Thou by Thine exhalation dost render
mankind spiritu’l.

10a. Thou, Lord, hast reunited
men once divided
In their rites and languages.
10b. Calling, O Best of Masters,
Back the idolater
To Thy worship orthodox.

11a. Wherefore, O Holy Spirit,
be Thou propitious ,
and hear us, Thy humble supplicants,
11b. For without Thee our every
prayer is empty
and odious in the ears of God.

12a. Thou, O Spirit, who by th’ embracing impulse
Of Thy breath hast filled with wisdom
The saints of every age in history,
12b. Who this day didst endow Christ’s own Apostles
With a gift unknown and unheard of,
For which the past could find no precedent:

13. Thus didst Thou
Make this day so glorious.

14. May the grace of the Holy 

Ghost be with us now.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011

LATIN

1. Sancti Spiritus adsit
nobis gratia:

2. Qui [< Quae…] corda nostra sibi
faciat habitaculum.
Expulsis inde cunctis
vitiis spiritabilis,

3. Spiritus alme
Illustrator hominum,
Horridas nostrae
mentis purga tenebras,

4. Amator sancte sensatorum,
semper cogitatuum.
Infunde unctionem tuam
clemens nostris sensibus.

5. Tu purificator omnium
flagitiorum Spiritus.
Purifica nostri oculum
interioris hominis.

6. Ut videri supremus
Genitor possit a nobis.
Mundi cordis quem soli
cernere possunt oculi.

7. Prophetas tu inspirasti,
ut praeconia Christi
praecinuissent inclyta.
Apostolos confortasti,
uti trophaeum Christi
per totum mundum veherent.

8. Quando machinam per verbum suum
fecit Deus coeli, terrae, marium.
Tu super aquas foturus eas,
numen tuum expandisti Spiritus.

9. Tu animabus vivificandis
aquas foecundas.
Tu aspirando das spiritales
esse homines.

10. Tu divisum per linguas
mundum et ritus
adunisti [= adunasti…] , Domine.
Idolatras ad cultum
Dei revocas
Magistrorum optime.

11. Ergo nos supplicantes
tibi exaudi propitius sancte Spiritus.
Sine quo preces omnes
cassae creduntur
et indignae Dei auribus.

12. Tu qui omnium saeculorum sanctos,
Tui numinis, docuisti
instinctu amplectendo, Spiritus.
Ipse hodie Apostolos Christi
donans munere insolito
et cunctis inaudito seculis.

13. Hunc diem
gloriosum fecisti.

14. Sancti Spiritus adsit
nobis gratia.

Aufdaß wir heut würdiglich empfahen

Here is my translation of “Aufdaß wir heut würdiglich empfahen” (P. Herbert, 1566), a typically Bohemian prose-like hymn on the Lord’s Supper, perhaps modeled on a communio, but very similar in structure to a sequence. The beginning resembles language of a eucharistic prayer followed by the Lord’s Prayer, while the musical incipit resembles that of “Trinitati laus aeterna Anna…”


THIS DAY, that we might worthily receive
The Testament of the Lord,
Let us therefore lift up our heart to God,
Beseeching Him in true faith,
That we worthy may be found.
1b. Our Father, let Thy name be hallow’d, Thy
Kingdom come, Thy will be done
Give us each day for aye our daily bread,
And our trespasses forgive,
Save from ill, that we may live.

2a. The Lord forever shall His people love,
And institutes this Supper so to prove.
2b. Communion of His body and His blood,
In which our spirit takes its life and good.

3a. Lo, He gave His Body here to the Church to eat,
Gave His precious blood to drink in form discreet
3b. Took the bread, said, Take ye and eat, this is My Flesh,
Took the cup and said, Drink ye, this is My blood.

4a. What a choice and wondrous fare!
One and all with ardent care
Should seek this precious treasure,
According to His pleasure
And in Him, as bidden, share,
4b. In true faith and longingly
As in Jesus’ words we see,
Who with desire and pining
Would with the twelve be dining—
Which desire must fitting be.

5a. Oh, let us then this Testament revere,
Christ’s perfect union with His flock is here.
And so by faith
We find new life and liberty from death,
And full assurance of God’s grace herein,
And forgiveness of our sin.
5b. This is a pledge of wonder without price,
Wherewith Christ our Redeemer testifies
His boundless love,
Which to us He heartily did prove,
When He to death submitted in our place,
And procured us every grace.

Translated © 2011 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

1a. Aufdaß wir heut würdiglich empfahen
das Testament des Herren:
laßt uns unser Herz zu Gott erheben,
ihn mit Glauben anrufen,
und um Würdigkeit bitten.
1b. Vater dein Nam werde geheiliget,
dein Reich komm, dein Will gescheh,
unser täglich Brod gib uns immerdar,
und vergib uns unser Schuld
Hilf aus Leid mit Gnad und Huld.

2a. Der Herr liebt bis ans End seine Gemein,
setzt zum Zeugnis das heilig Nachtmal ein:
2b. Das ist seines Leibs und Bluts Gemeinschaft,
darin unser Geist empfäht Stärk und Kraft.

3a. Sieh, er gab sein Fleisch der Kirchen zu einer Speis,
und sein theures Blut zu eim Trank verborgner Weis:
3b. Reicht das Brod, sprach, Nehmt und esset, das ist mein Leib,
nehmt auch den Kelch und sprach, Trinket, das ist mein Blut

4a. Das ist ein köstliche Speis,
dazu wir mit ganzem Fleiß
uns allsamt schicken sollen,
und nach seim Wohlgefallen,
der gnießen nach seim Geheiß.
4b. Mit Glauben, Lieb und Begierd,
wie man den am Herrn selbst spürt,
der mit grossem Verlangen,
das Nachtmal tat empfangen,
darum uns solchs auch gebührt.

5a. O lasst uns nun das Zeugnis nehmen wahr,
Christi Verinigung mit seiner Schaar,
drin wir haben
durch den Glauben unser neues Leben,
die Versicherung der Göttlichen Huld,
und Vergebung unser Schuld.
5b. Das ist ein wunderbarlich, theuer Pfand,
damit bezeugt Christus unser Heiland,
seine Liebe,
die er gegen uns so herzlich übe,
das er sich auch selbst in Tod geben hat
uns erworben alle Gnad.

Christe sanctorum (= Clare sanctorum, correcta)

Here is my translation of Bonnus' correcta of Notker's Sequence for Apostles, as given in Magdeburg 1613. Some of the accents are off, but then, Bonnus' version is slightly adapted from the original melody, not to mention the text, of course. Note that toward the end, the line structure has been adapted, which required departing from the numbering system employed by James Erb for the analysis of the original text, in his Recent Researches… Thanks to Rev. Weedon for the copy of the original (see this blog post.)


1. CHRIST, the Instructor of all Thine holy Apostles,
Prince of all things created, and Ruler of kingdoms:
2a. Direct, guide, and strengthen the ways and life of the churches.
2b. At first Thou didst summon fishermen, simple and common,
3a. And on them confer royal thrones and dominions across earth’s distant boundaries,
3b. By warfare to bring to an end sin and Satan’s twin tyranny,
4a. Not by the flesh’s poor weapons, but by the mighty Word of Thy ministry,
4b. Than which there is no office more worthy and dignified.
5. Peter Cephas, Paul, Matthew,
6a. Thomas, John, and Bartholomew, Philip, Simon, and James, both “Less” and of Zebedee.
6b. Andrew and Thaddeus, God’s faithful soldiers most luminous—
7. These men are they whom the whole world, from the dawn of the sun to its setting, acclaims as its fathers in doctrines of Christendom,
8. And therefore, we pray Thee, O Christ, that in their scriptural dogma we all may stand firm and unshaken forever.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

LATIN (correcta by H. Bonnus)
1a. Christe sanctorum Præceptor Apostolorum,
1b. Princeps orbis terrarum, Rectorque regnorum:
2. Ecclesiarum mores et vitam moderare
3. Tu primum rudes piscatores evocasti.
4. Illisque per totum orbem terrarum commisisti regni solium
5. Tyrannidem ut Satanae et peccati debellarent.
6. Non per arma carnalia: sed per Verbi tui ministerium.
7. Quo non est aliud munus sublimius atque dignius.
8. Petrus, Paulus, Matthæus, Thomas, Bartholomæus, Johannes, Philippus, Simon, et uterque; Jacobus,
9. Andreas, Thaddæus, Dei bellatores inclyti.
10. Hi sunt quos Oriens et Occidens, et totus mundi circulus se Patres habere gaudet, in doctrina Fidei.
11. Et idcirco omnes, ut in ipsorum dogmate sinceri permaneamus, te Christe precamur.

LATIN (original, by Notker Balbulus):
1a. Clare sanctorum senatus apostolorum,
1b. Princeps orbis terrarum, rectorque regnorum,
2. Ecclesiarum mores et vitam moderare,
3. Quae per doctrinam tuam fideles sunt ubique.
4. Antiochus et Remus concedunt tibi, Petre, regni solium.
5. Tyrannidem tu, Paule, Alexandriuam invasisti Graeciam.
6. Aethiopes horridos, Matthace, agnelli vellere.
7. Qui maculas nesciat aliquas, vestisti candido.
8. Thoma, Bartholomaee, Ioannes, Philippe, Simon Iacobique pariles,
9. Andrea, Thaddaee, Dei bellatores inclyti,
10. En vos oriens et occidens, immo teres mundi circulus se patres habere gaudet et expectat iudices.
11. Et idcirco mundus omnis laudes vobis et honorem sanctis debitum supplex impendit.

Als der gütige Gott vollenden wollt (Mittit ad Virginem)

Here is my translation of the sequence “Als der gütige Gott vollenden wollt” (M. Weiße, 1531), a vernacular, Christian revision of Abelard’s “Mittit ad Virginem” and appointed for Advent by, i.a., Geistliche Psalmen… (Nürnberg), also appropiate (indeed, proper) for Annunciation.


WHEN GOD, with gracious love,
His promise true would prove,
He sent strong Gabriel
His angel swift and fell,
From heav’n to Galilee; :
To Nazareth came he,
Yea, to a virgin came,
And Mary was her name,
Whom Joseph, pledged by vow,
Had not yet come to know.

2. The messenger began
His errand to explain,
And with great joy and cheer,
Made all to Mary clear,
With words of tenderness :
Hail, Mary, full of grace;
The Lord and God most high
Is with thee now and nigh,
And blest, O blest, art thou
Among all women now.

3. When blessed Mary heard
This strange and wondrous word,
Then was she troubled quite
And wondered with affright,
What could this greeting mean? :
He said: Be not dismayed
On thee God’s grace is laid;
Thou shalt conceive and bear
His Son, true God fore’er,
And Jesus call His name.

4. The virgin answered then,
My heart has known no men,
And none to me yet cleave,
Nor can I now conceive
How else this thing shall be. :
He said: Behold, in thee
This wondrous mystery
The Holy Ghost shall do
And thou conceive the true
And very Son of God.

5. Then Mary faith expressed,
And with her mouth confessed:
I am the Lord’s true maid;
Let be as thou hast said;
My will in His is stayed.
The pow’r of God her graced
In maidenhead all chaste,
Conceived in chamber new,
The Christ, our Savior true,
And Gabriel then withdrew.

6. All glory, majesty
And thanks eternally
Be given unto Thee
Christ Jesus, Lord and God,
Who took’st our flesh and blood!
Now also by Thy grace
Take in our hearts a place;
Our souls with sainthood bless;
Make Thou our glorious dress
Thy perfect righteousness.

7. Supply us with Thee,
That we may sing Thy praises for eternity.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

GERMAN

1. Als der gütige Gott
vollenden wollt sein Wort,
sandt er ein Engel schnell
des Namen Gabriel
ins Galilesche Land :
in die Stadt Nazareth,
da er ein Jungfrau hätt,
die Maria genannt,
Joseph nie hätt erkannt,
dem sie vertreuet war.

2. Als der Bot vor sie kam,
fing er mit Freuden an,
machet ihr offenbar,
was ihm befohlen war,
sprechend freundlich zu ihr :
Sei gegrüßt holdselig;
Gott der Herr allmächtig
ist mit dir allezeit,
O du gebenedeit
unter allen Frauen.

3. Als die Jungfrau erhort
so wünderliche Wort,
ward sie bald Traurens voll
und bedacht sich gar wohl,
was sie drauf sagen sollt. :
Er sprach: Ei, sei getrost,
denn Gott hat zu dir Lust,
und du wirst empfangen
und gebären einn Sohn
und den nennen Jesum.

4. Maria antwort ihm:
Ist doch mein Herz und SInn
auf keinen Mann gewandt,
ist mir auch unbekannt,
wie sichs sonst sollt ergehn.
Der engel sprach zu ihr:
Der heilig Geist in dir
wird so groß Wünder thun,
und du wirst Gottes Sohn
unverruckt umfangen.

5. Maria glaubet ihm
und sprach: Wohlan, ich bin
willig des Herren Magd,
er thu, wie du gesagt,
mit mir, was ihm behagt.
Bald wirket Gottes Kraft
in ihrer Jungfrauschaft
und sie empfing zu Hand
Christum der Welt Heiland,
und der Engel verschwand.

6. Preis, Lob, und Herrlichkeit,
Danksagung und Klarheit
sei dir in Ewigkeit,
o Herre Jesu Christ,
der du Mensch worden bist.
O komm durch deine Güt
auch in unser Gemüth
und verleih Heiligkeit
in der Theilhaftigkeit
deiner Gerechtigkeit.

7. Verfüg uns mit dir,
aufdaß wir dich loben mögen für und für.

LATIN

1. Mittit ad Vírginem
Non quemvis Angelum,
Sed Fortitudinem,
Suum Archangelum
Amator hominis.
2. Fortem expediat
Pro nobis nuntium,
Naturæ faciat
Ut præjudicium
In partu virginis.
3. Naturam superet
Natus Rex gloriæ
Regnet et imperet,
Et zyma scoriæ
Tollat de medio.
4. Superbientium
Terat fastigia,
Colla sublimium
Calcans vi propria,
Potens in prælio.
5. Foras ejiciat
Mundanum principem,
Matremque faciat
Secum participem
Patris imperii.
6. Exiqui mitteris,
Hæc dona dissere;
Revela veteris
Velamen litteræ,
Virtute nuntii.
7. Accede, nuntia:
Dic, Ave, cominus;
Dic, plena gratia;
Dic, tecum DOminus;
Et dic, ne timeas.
8. Virgo suscipias
Dei depostium,
In quo perficias
Castum propositum,
Et votum teneas.
10. Consiliarium
Humani generis,
Et Deum fortium,
Et patrem posteris,
In pace stabilem.
11. Sic nobis oritur
Lumen de lumine:
Sic homo nascitur
Factus ex Virgine,
Indultor scelerum.
12. Qui nobis tribuat
Peccati veniam,
Reatum diluat,
Et donet patriam
In arce siderum. Amen.