Laurel · Prudentius · The Hymns of Prudentius

Hymn Before Meat

Prudentius (348–413) · 1905

trochaic tetrameter · ABAAB · 205 lines · from The Hymns of Prudentius

Blest Cross-bearer, Source of good,Light-creating, Word-begot,Gracious child of maidenhood,Bosomed in the Fatherhood,When earth, sea and stars were not.

With Thy cloudless, healing gazeShine upon me from above:Let Thine all-enlightening raysBless this meal and quicken praise,Praise unto Thy name of Love.

Lord, without Thee nought is sweet,Nought my life can satisfy,If Thy favour make not meetWhat I drink and what I eat;Let faith all things sanctify!

O'er this bread God's grace be poured,Christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl!Rule my converse, Triune Lord,Sober thought and sportive word,All my acts and all my soul.

Spoils of rose-trees are not spent,Nor rich unguents on my board:But ambrosial sweets are sent,Of faith's nectar redolent,From the bosom of my Lord.

Scorn, my Muse, light ivy-leavesWherewith custom wreathed thy brow:Love a mystic crown conceivesAnd a rhythmic garland weaves:Bind on thee God's praises now.

What more worthy gift can I,Child of light and aether, bringThan for boons the Maker highFrom His bounty doth supplyLovingly my thanks to sing?

He hath set 'neath our commandAll that ever rose to be,All that sky and sea and landBreed in air, in glebe and sand,Made my slaves, His own made me.

Fowler's craft with gin and netFeathered tribes of heaven ensnares:Osier twigs with lime o'ersetThat their airy flight may letHis relentless guile prepares.

Lo! with woven mesh the seineSwimming shoals draws from the wave:Nor do fish the bait disdainTill they feel the barb's swift pain,Captives of the food they crave.

Native wealth that knows no fail,Golden wheat springs from the field:Tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail,Nursed of Peace the olives paleBerries green unbidden yield.

Christ's grace fills His people's needWith these mercies ever fresh:Far from us be that foul greed,Gluttony that loves to feedOn slain oxen's bloodstained flesh.

Leave to the barbarian broodBanquet of the slaughtered beast:Ours the homely, garden food,Greenstuff manifold and goodAnd the lentils' harmless feast.

Foaming milkpails bubble o'erWith the udders' snowy stream,Which in thickening churns we pourOr in wicker baskets store,As the cheese is pressed from cream.

Honey's nectar for our useFrom the new-made comb is shed:Which the skilful bee imbuesWith thyme's scent and airy dews,Plying lonely toils unwed.

Orchard-groves now mellowed o'erBounteously their fruitage shed:See! like rain on forest floorShaken trees their riches pour,High-heaped apples, ripe and red.

What great trumpet voice or lyreFamed of yore could fitly praiseGifts of the Almighty Sire,Blessings that His own require,Richly lavished through their days?

When morn breaks upon our sight,Hymns, O Lord, to Thee shall ring:Thee, when streams the midday light,Thee, when shadows of the nightBid us sup, our voices sing.

For my body's vital heat,For my heart-blood's pulsing vein,For my tongue and speech completeUnto Thee, Most High, 'tis meetThat I raise my grateful strain.

'Twas, O Holy One, Thy careWrought us from the plastic clay,Made us Thine own image bear,And for our perfection fairDid Thy Breath to man convey.

On the twain Thou didst bestowLeafy bowers in pleasaunce fair:Where spring's scents for aye did blow,And four stately streams did flowO'er meads pied with blossoms rare.

"All this realm ye now shall sway:"(Saidst Thou) "use it at your will,Yet 'tis death your hands to layOn the Tree, whose verdant swayDoth the midmost garden fill."

Then the Serpent's guileful hateWould not innocency spare:Bade the maiden urge her mateWith the fruit his lips to sate,Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.

Each their nakedness perceivesWhen the feast they once partook:Smit with shame their conscience grieves:Wove they coverings of leavesShielding from lascivious look.

Far they both in terror fledThrust from dwelling of the pure:She who erst had dwelt unwedSubject to her spouse was led,Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.

On the Serpent, too, His sealGod hath set, Who guile abhorred,Doomed in triple neck to feelImpress of the woman's heel,Fearing her, who feared her lord.

Thus sin in our parents sownBrought forth ruin for the race;Good and evil having grownFrom that primal root alone,Nought but death could guilt efface.

But the Second Man beholdCome to re-create our kin:Not formed after common mouldBut our God (O Love untold!)Made in flesh that knows not sin.

Word of God incarnated,By His awful power conceived,Whom a maiden yet unwed,Innocent of marriage-bed,In her virgin womb received.

Now we see the Serpent lewd'Neath the woman's heel downtrod:Whence there sprang the deadly feud,Strife for ages unsubdued,'Twixt mankind and foe of God.

Yet God's mother, Maid adored,Robbed sin's poison of its bane,And the Snake, his green coils lowered,Writhing on the sod, outpouredHarmless now his venom's stain.

What fierce brute that doth not fleeLambs of Christ, white-robed and clean?'Midst the flock from fear set free,Slinks the drear wolf sullenly,Checked his maw and tamed his mien.

Wondrous change! restrained by loveLions the mild lamb obey:Eagles wild, before the doveFluttering from the stars above,Speed o'er cloudy winds away.

Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reignWhere the vulture gnaws no more:Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchainTigers fierce, and wolves restrainGaping at the sheepfold's door.

God of Love, Thy servants wePray Thee now to grant our prayerThat our feast may frugal be,Nor that we dishonour TheeBy coarse surfeit of rich fare.

May we taste no bitter gallIn our cup, nor handle weAught of death or harm at all,Nor intemperately fallInto gross debauchery.

Be the powers of Hell contentWith their primal fraud, wherebyDeath into this world was sent,And that, for sin's chastisement,God's own creatures once should die.

But in us God's Breath of fireCannot lose its vital force:Never can its might expire,Flowing from the Eternal Sire,Who of Reason's strength is source.

Nay, from out death's chilling tombMortal atoms shall arise:Man from earth's vast, hidden wombOther, yet the same, shall bloom,Dust re-made in glorious guise.

'Tis my faith--and faith not vain--Bodies live e'en as the soul:Since I hold in memory plainGod as man uprose again,Loosed from Hell, to His true goal.

Whence from Him the hope I reapThat these limbs the same shall rise,Which enwrapped in balmy sleepChrist the Risen safe shall keepTill He call me to the skies.

Words in this poem 56

bosomed a.: Having, or resembling, bosom; kept in the bosom; hidden.
fatherhood n.: The state of being a father; the character or authority of a father; paternity.
cloudless a.: Without a cloud; clear; bright.
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
sanctify v. t.: To make sacred or holy; to set apart to a holy or religious use; to consecrate by appropriate rites; to hallow. [F. sanctifier, L. sanctificare; sanctus holy + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See Saint, and -fy.]
triune a.: Being three in one; -- an epithet used to express the unity of a trinity of persons in the Godhead. [Pref. tri- + L. unus one. See One.]
ambrosial a.: Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious.
redolent a.: Diffusing odor or fragrance; spreading sweet scent; scented; odorous; smelling; -- usually followed by of. [L. redolens, -entis, p. pr. of redolere to emit a scent, diffuse an odor; pref. red-, re-, re- + olere to emit a smell. See Odor.]
wherewith adv.: With which; -- used relatively.
rhythmic a.: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, rhythm DAy and night I worked my rhythmic thought. Mrs. Browning. [Gr. rhythmicus, F. rhythmique.]
bounty n.: Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F. bonté, fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr. duvas honor, respect.]
lovingly adv.: With love; affectionately.
craft n.: Strength; might; secret power. [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, fr]
relentless a.: Unmoved by appeals for sympathy or forgiveness; insensible to the distresses of others; destitute of tenderness; unrelenting; unyielding; unpitying; as, a prey to relentless despotism.
mesh n.: The opening or space inclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads inclosing such a space; network; a net. [AS. masc, max, m; akin to D. maas, masche, OHG. masca, Icel. möskvi; cf. Lith. mazgas a knot, megsti to weave nets, to knot.]
crave v. t.: To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
wealth n.: Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
lush a.: Full of juice or succulence. [Prob. an abbrev. of lushious, fr. luscious.]
unbidden a.: Not bidden; not commanded.
greed n.: An eager desire or longing; greediness; as, a greed of gain. [Akin to Goth. grdus hunger, Icel. graedhr. sq. root34. See Greedy.]
gluttony n.: Excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity. [OE. glotonie, OF. glotonie, gloutonnie.]
homely a.: Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, home; domestic; familiar; intimate. [From Home, n.]
snowy a.: White like snow.
fruitage n.: Fruit, collectively; fruit, in general; fruitery. [F. fruitage.]
yore adv.: In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
morn n.: The first part of the day; the morning; -- used chiefly in poetry. [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen, OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan. morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
twain a.: Two;- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. [OE. twein, tweien, tweyne, AS. twegen, masc. See Two.]
didst: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
midmost a.: Middle; middlemost. [OE. middemiste. Cf. Foremost.]
guileful a.: Full of guile; characterized by cunning, deceit, or treachery; guilty.
bade: A form of the pat tense of Bid.
sate v. t.: To satisfy the desire or appetite of; to satiate; to glut; to surfeit. [Probably shortened fr. satiate: cf. L. satus full. See Satiate.]
nakedness n.: The condition of being naked.
smit: 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Smite.
conscience n.: Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
wove: p. pr. & rare vb. n. of Weave.
spouse v. t.: To wed; to espouse. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]
primal a.: First; primary; original; chief. [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a.]
mould n.: Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
untold a.: Not told; not related; not revealed; as, untold secrets.
womb n.: The belly; the abdomen. [OE. wombe, wambe, AS. wamb, womb; akin to D. wam belly, OS. & OHG. wamba, G. wamme, wampe, Icel. vömb, Sw. v&mb, Dan. vom, Goth. wamba.]
lewd a.: Not clerical; laic; laical; hence, unlearned; simple. [OE.lewed, lewd, lay, ignorant, vile, AS. l laical, belonging to the laity.]
downtrod a.: Trodden down; trampled down; abused by superior power.
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
bane v. t.: To be the bane of; to ruin. Fuller.
drear n.: Sadness; dismalness.
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
enchain v. t.: To bind with a chain; to hold in chains. [F. enchaîner; pref. en- (L. in) chaîne chain. See Chain, and cf. Incatenation.]
dishonour n.: Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.]
aught n.: Property; possession. [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
intemperately adv.: In an intemperate manner; immoderately; excessively; without restraint.
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
reap n.: A bundle of grain; a handful of grain laid down by the reaper as it is cut. Wright. [Cf. AS. rip harvest. See Reap, v.]
balmy a.: Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Hymn Before Meat is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Hymns of Prudentius, Project Gutenberg ebook #14959; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Prudentius, Hymn Before Meat, in The Hymns of Prudentius (1905), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #14959, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/prudentius-hymns/hymn-before-meat.html, id L23671.

Form and metre

Hymn Before Meat is 205 lines in 41 stanzas of 5 lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABAAB, complete in 29 of its 41 stanzas. The metre is trochaic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%).

See other poems in trochaic tetrameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 A-AA- good^A · begot · maidenhood^A · fatherhood^A · not
2 ABAAB gaze^A · above^B · rays^A · praise^A · love^B
3 A-AA- sweet^A · satisfy · meet^A · eat^A · sanctify
4 ABA-B poured^A · bowl^B · lord^A · word · soul^B
5 ABAAB spent^A · board^B · sent^A · redolent^A · lord^B
6 ABAAB leaves^A · brow^B · conceives^A · weaves^A · now^B
7 ABAAB i^A · bring^B · high^A · supply^A · sing^B
8 ABAAB command^A · be^B · land^A · sand^A · me^B
9 AB-AB net^A · ensnares^B · o'erset · let^A · prepares^B
10 -ABBA seine · wave^A · disdain^B · pain^B · crave^A
11 ABAAB fail^A · field^B · trail^A · pale^A · yield^B
12 ABAAB need^A · fresh^B · greed^A · feed^A · flesh^B
13 ABA-B brood^A · beast^B · food^A · good · feast^B
14 -ABBA o'er · stream^A · pour^B · store^B · cream^A
15 ABAAB use^A · shed^B · imbues^A · dews^A · unwed^B
16 -ABBA o'er · shed^A · floor^B · pour^B · red^A
17 AB-AB lyre^A · praise^B · sire · require^A · days^B
18 ABAAB sight^A · ring^B · light^A · night^A · sing^B
19 ABAAB heat^A · vein^B · complete^A · meet^A · strain^B
20 ABAAB care^A · clay^B · bear^A · fair^A · convey^B
21 ABAAB bestow^A · fair^B · blow^A · flow^A · rare^B
22 ABAAB sway^A · will^B · lay^A · sway^A · fill^B
23 ABAAB hate^A · spare^B · mate^A · sate^A · snare^B
24 ABAAB perceives^A · partook^B · grieves^A · leaves^A · look^B
25 ABAAB fled^A · pure^B · unwed^A · led^A · endure^B
26 ABAAB seal^A · abhorred^B · feel^A · heel^A · lord^B
27 ABAAB sown^A · race^B · grown^A · alone^A · efface^B
28 ABAAB behold^A · kin^B · mould^A · untold^A · sin^B
29 ABAAB incarnated^A · conceived^B · unwed^A · bed^A · received^B
30 ABAAB lewd^A · downtrod^B · feud^A · unsubdued^A · god^B
31 AB-AB adored^A · bane^B · lowered · outpoured^A · stain^B
32 ABA-B flee^A · clean^B · free^A · sullenly · mien^B
33 ABAAB love^A · obey^B · dove^A · above^A · away^B
34 ABAAB reign^A · more^B · enchain^A · restrain^A · door^B
35 ABAAB we^A · prayer^B · be^A · thee^A · fare^B
36 A-AA- gall^A · we · all^A · fall^A · debauchery
37 ABAAB content^A · whereby^B · sent^A · chastisement^A · die^B
38 ABAAB fire^A · force^B · expire^A · sire^A · source^B
39 ABAAB tomb^A · arise^B · womb^A · bloom^A · guise^B
40 ABAAB vain^A · soul^B · plain^A · again^A · goal^B
41 ABAAB reap^A · rise^B · sleep^A · keep^A · skies^B

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic tetrameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
Blest Cross-bearer, Source of good,	7	··/˘···
Light-creating, Word-begot,	7	·˘/˘·˘/
Gracious child of maidenhood,	7	/˘··/˘˘
Bosomed in the Fatherhood,	8	/˘˘··/˘·
When earth, sea and stars were not.	7	·······
With Thy cloudless, healing gaze	7	··/˘/˘·
Shine upon me from above:	7	·······
Let Thine all-enlightening rays	8	···˘/˘˘·
Bless this meal and quicken praise,	7	····/˘·
Praise unto Thy name of Love.	7	·······
Lord, without Thee nought is sweet,	7	·······
Nought my life can satisfy,	7	····/˘·
If Thy favour make not meet	7	··/˘···
What I drink and what I eat;	7	·······
Let faith all things sanctify!	7	····/˘˘
O'er this bread God's grace be poured,	8	·······˘
Christ's sweet fragrance fill the bowl!	7	··/˘···
Rule my converse, Triune Lord,	7	··/˘/˘·
Sober thought and sportive word,	7	/˘··/˘·
All my acts and all my soul.	7	·······
Spoils of rose-trees are not spent,	7	·······
Nor rich unguents on my board:	7	·······
But ambrosial sweets are sent,	7	·˘/˘···
Of faith's nectar redolent,	7	··/˘/˘˘
From the bosom of my Lord.	7	··/˘···
Scorn, my Muse, light ivy-leaves	7	····/˘·
Wherewith custom wreathed thy brow:	8	˘//˘·˘··
Love a mystic crown conceives	7	··/˘·˘/
And a rhythmic garland weaves:	7	··/˘/˘·
Bind on thee God's praises now.	7	····/˘·
What more worthy gift can I,	7	··/˘···
Child of light and aether, bring	7	·······
Than for boons the Maker high	7	····/˘·
From His bounty doth supply	7	··/˘·˘/
Lovingly my thanks to sing?	7	/˘˘····
He hath set 'neath our command	8	····/˘˘/
All that ever rose to be,	7	··/˘···
All that sky and sea and land	7	·······
Breed in air, in glebe and sand,	7	·······
Made my slaves, His own made me.	7	·······
Fowler's craft with gin and net	7	/˘·····
Feathered tribes of heaven ensnares:	8	/˘··/˘˘/
Osier twigs with lime o'erset	7	/˘·····
That their airy flight may let	7	··/˘···
His relentless guile prepares.	7	·˘/˘·˘/
Lo! with woven mesh the seine	8	··/˘··/˘
Swimming shoals draws from the wave:	7	/˘·····
Nor do fish the bait disdain	7	·····˘/
Till they feel the barb's swift pain,	7	·······
Captives of the food they crave.	7	/˘·····
Native wealth that knows no fail,	7	/˘·····
Golden wheat springs from the field:	7	/˘·····
Tendrils lush o'er vineyards trail,	7	····/˘·
Nursed of Peace the olives pale	8	·˘···/˘·
Berries green unbidden yield.	7	/˘·····
Christ's grace fills His people's need	7	····/˘·
With these mercies ever fresh:	7	··/˘/˘·
Far from us be that foul greed,	7	·······
Gluttony that loves to feed	7	/˘˘····
On slain oxen's bloodstained flesh.	8	··/˘/·˘·
Leave to the barbarian brood	8	···˘/˘˘·
Banquet of the slaughtered beast:	8	/˘··/˘˘·
Ours the homely, garden food,	8	/˘·/˘/˘·
Greenstuff manifold and good	7	··/˘···
And the lentils' harmless feast.	7	··/˘/˘·
Foaming milkpails bubble o'er	7	/˘··/˘·
With the udders' snowy stream,	7	····/˘·
Which in thickening churns we pour	8	··/˘˘···
Or in wicker baskets store,	7	··/˘/˘·
As the cheese is pressed from cream.	8	·····˘··
Honey's nectar for our use	8	/˘/˘·/˘·
From the new-made comb is shed:	7	·······
Which the skilful bee imbues	7	··/˘·˘/
With thyme's scent and airy dews,	7	····/˘·
Plying lonely toils unwed.	8	/˘/˘·˘/˘
Orchard-groves now mellowed o'er	8	/˘··/˘˘·
Bounteously their fruitage shed:	7	····/˘·
See! like rain on forest floor	7	····/˘·
Shaken trees their riches pour,	7	/˘··/˘·
High-heaped apples, ripe and red.	8	··˘/˘···
What great trumpet voice or lyre	7	··/˘···
Famed of yore could fitly praise	8	·˘···/˘·
Gifts of the Almighty Sire,	8	···˘/˘/˘
Blessings that His own require,	8	/˘····/˘
Richly lavished through their days?	8	/˘/˘˘···
When morn breaks upon our sight,	8	·····/˘·
Hymns, O Lord, to Thee shall ring:	7	·······
Thee, when streams the midday light,	7	····/··
Thee, when shadows of the night	7	··/····
Bid us sup, our voices sing.	8	···/˘/˘·
For my body's vital heat,	7	··/˘/˘·
For my heart-blood's pulsing vein,	7	····/˘·
For my tongue and speech complete	7	·····˘/
Unto Thee, Most High, 'tis meet	7	·······
That I raise my grateful strain.	7	····/˘·
'Twas, O Holy One, Thy care	7	··/˘···
Wrought us from the plastic clay,	7	····/˘·
Made us Thine own image bear,	7	····/˘·
And for our perfection fair	8	··/˘˘/˘·
Did Thy Breath to man convey.	7	·····˘/
On the twain Thou didst bestow	7	·····˘/
Leafy bowers in pleasaunce fair:	8	/˘/˘····
Where spring's scents for aye did blow,	7	·······
And four stately streams did flow	7	··/˘···
O'er meads pied with blossoms rare.	7	····/˘·
"All this realm ye now shall sway:"	7	·······
(Saidst Thou) "use it at your will,	7	·······
Yet 'tis death your hands to lay	7	·······
On the Tree, whose verdant sway	7	····/˘·
Doth the midmost garden fill."	7	··/˘/˘·
Then the Serpent's guileful hate	7	··/˘/˘·
Would not innocency spare:	7	··/˘˘˘·
Bade the maiden urge her mate	7	··/˘···
With the fruit his lips to sate,	7	·······
Nor 'scaped she the self-same snare.	8	··˘·····
Each their nakedness perceives	7	··/˘˘˘/
When the feast they once partook:	7	·····˘/
Smit with shame their conscience grieves:	7	····/˘·
Wove they coverings of leaves	7	··/˘˘··
Shielding from lascivious look.	8	/˘·˘/˘˘·
Far they both in terror fled	7	····/˘·
Thrust from dwelling of the pure:	7	··/˘···
She who erst had dwelt unwed	8	·····˘/˘
Subject to her spouse was led,	7	˘/·····
Bidden Hymen's bonds endure.	7	/˘/˘·˘/
On the Serpent, too, His seal	7	··/˘···
God hath set, Who guile abhorred,	8	·····˘/˘
Doomed in triple neck to feel	8	·˘·/˘···
Impress of the woman's heel,	7	/···/˘·
Fearing her, who feared her lord.	8	/˘···˘··
Thus sin in our parents sown	8	···/˘/˘·
Brought forth ruin for the race;	7	··/˘···
Good and evil having grown	7	··/˘/˘·
From that primal root alone,	7	··/˘·˘/
Nought but death could guilt efface.	7	·····˘/
But the Second Man behold	7	··/˘·˘/
Come to re-create our kin:	8	···˘//˘·
Not formed after common mould	8	··˘··/˘·
But our God (O Love untold!)	8	·/˘···˘/
Made in flesh that knows not sin.	7	·······
Word of God incarnated,	7	···˘/˘˘
By His awful power conceived,	8	··/˘/˘˘/
Whom a maiden yet unwed,	8	··/˘·˘/˘
Innocent of marriage-bed,	7	/˘˘·/˘·
In her virgin womb received.	8	··/˘·˘/˘
Now we see the Serpent lewd	7	····/˘·
'Neath the woman's heel downtrod:	7	··/˘···
Whence there sprang the deadly feud,	7	····/˘·
Strife for ages unsubdued,	7	··/˘··˘
'Twixt mankind and foe of God.	7	·//····
Yet God's mother, Maid adored,	8	··/˘·˘/˘
Robbed sin's poison of its bane,	8	·˘·/˘···
And the Snake, his green coils lowered,	8	······/˘
Writhing on the sod, outpoured	8	/˘····/˘
Harmless now his venom's stain.	7	/˘··/˘·
What fierce brute that doth not flee	7	·······
Lambs of Christ, white-robed and clean?	8	·····˘··
'Midst the flock from fear set free,	7	·······
Slinks the drear wolf sullenly,	7	·······
Checked his maw and tamed his mien.	8	·˘······
Wondrous change! restrained by love	8	/˘·˘/˘··
Lions the mild lamb obey:	7	/˘···˘/
Eagles wild, before the dove	7	/˘·····
Fluttering from the stars above,	8	/˘˘·····
Speed o'er cloudy winds away.	7	··/˘·˘/
Thou, O Christ, my Dove dost reign	7	·······
Where the vulture gnaws no more:	7	··/˘···
Thou dost, snow-white Lamb, enchain	7	·····˘/
Tigers fierce, and wolves restrain	7	/˘···˘/
Gaping at the sheepfold's door.	7	/˘·····
God of Love, Thy servants we	7	····/˘·
Pray Thee now to grant our prayer	8	·····/˘·
That our feast may frugal be,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Nor that we dishonour Thee	7	···˘/˘·
By coarse surfeit of rich fare.	7	··/˘···
May we taste no bitter gall	7	····/˘·
In our cup, nor handle we	8	·/˘··/˘·
Aught of death or harm at all,	7	·······
Nor intemperately fall	4	····
Into gross debauchery.	7	···˘/˘˘
Be the powers of Hell content	8	··/˘··/˘
With their primal fraud, whereby	7	··/˘···
Death into this world was sent,	7	·······
And that, for sin's chastisement,	7	····/˘˘
God's own creatures once should die.	7	··/˘···
But in us God's Breath of fire	8	······/˘
Cannot lose its vital force:	7	/˘··/˘·
Never can its might expire,	7	/˘···˘/
Flowing from the Eternal Sire,	9	/˘··˘/˘/˘
Who of Reason's strength is source.	7	··/˘···
Nay, from out death's chilling tomb	7	····/˘·
Mortal atoms shall arise:	7	/˘/˘·˘/
Man from earth's vast, hidden womb	7	····/˘·
Other, yet the same, shall bloom,	7	/˘·····
Dust re-made in glorious guise.	8	····/˘˘·
'Tis my faith--and faith not vain--	7	·······
Bodies live e'en as the soul:	7	/˘·····
Since I hold in memory plain	8	····/˘˘·
God as man uprose again,	7	·····˘/
Loosed from Hell, to His true goal.	8	·˘······
Whence from Him the hope I reap	7	·······
That these limbs the same shall rise,	7	·······
Which enwrapped in balmy sleep	8	···˘·/˘·
Christ the Risen safe shall keep	7	··/˘···
Till He call me to the skies.	7	·······

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Prudentius

The Hymns of Prudentius