Hymnus Ante Cibum

Prudentius (348–413) · 1905

trochaic pentameter · 205 lines · from The Hymns of Prudentius

O crucifer bone, lucisator,omniparens, pie, verbigena,edite corpore virgineo,sed prius in genitore potens,astra, solum, mare quam fierent:

Huc nitido precor intuituflecte salutiferam faciem,fronte serenus et inradia,nominis ut sub honore tuihas epulas liceat capere.

Te sine dulce nihil, Domine,nec iuvat ore quid adpetere,pocula ni prius atque cibos,Christe, tuus favor inbueritomnia sanctificante fide.

Fercula nostra Deum sapiant,Christus et influat in pateras:seria, ludicra, verba, iocos,denique quod sumus aut agimus,trina superne regat pietas.

Hic mihi nulla rosae spolia,nullus aromate fragrat odor,sed liquor influit ambrosiusnectareamque fidem redoletfusus ab usque Patris gremio.

Sperne camena leves hederas,cingere tempora quis solita es,sertaque mystica dactylicotexere docta liga strophio,laude Dei redimita comas.

Quod generosa potest anima,lucis et aetheris indigena,solvere dignius obsequium,quam data munera si recinatartificem modulata suum?

Ipse homini quia cuncta dedit,quae capimus dominante manu,quae polus aut humus aut pelagusaere, gurgite, rure creant,haec mihi subdidit et sibi me.

Callidus inlaqueat volucresaut pedicis dolus aut maculis,inlita glutine corticeovimina plumigeram serieminpediunt et abire vetant.

Ecce per aequora fluctivagostexta greges sinuosa trahunt:piscis item sequitur calamumraptus acumine vulnificocredula saucius ora cibo.

Fundit opes ager ingenuasdives aristiferae segetis:his ubi vitea pampineobrachia palmite luxuriant,pacis alumna ubi baca viret.

Haec opulentia Christicolisservit et omnia suppeditat:absit enim procul ilia fames,caedibus ut pecudum libeatsanguineas lacerare dapes.

Sint fera gentibus indomitisprandia de nece quadrupedum:nos oleris coma, nos siliquafeta legumine multimodopaverit innocuis epulis.

Spumea mulctra gerunt niveosubere de gemino latices,perque coagula densa liquorin solidum coit et fragililac tenerum premitur calatho.

Mella recens mihi Cecropianectare sudat olente favus:haec opifex apis aeriorore liquat tenuique thymo,nexilis inscia connubii.

Hinc quoque pomiferi nemorismunera mitia proveniunt,arbor onus tremefacta suumdeciduo gravis imbre pluitpuniceosque iacit cumulos.

Quae veterum tuba, quaeve lyraflatibus inclita vel fidibusdivitis omnipotentis opus,quaeque fruenda patent hominilaudibus aequiparare queat?

Te Pater optime mane novo,solis et orbita cum media est,te quoque luce sub occiduasumere cum monet hora cibum,nostra Deus canet harmonia.

Quod calet halitus interior,corde quod abdita vena tremit,pulsat et incita quod resonamlingua sub ore latens caveam,laus superi Patris esto mihi.

Nos igitur tua sancte manuscaespite conposuit madidoeffigiem meditata suam,utque foret rata materiesflavit et indidit ore animam.

Tunc per amoena vireta iubetfrondicomis habitare locis,ver ubi perpetuum redoletprataque multicolora latexquadrifluo celer amne rigat.

Haec tibi nunc famulentur, ait,usibus omnia dedo tuis:sed tamen aspera mortiferostipite carpere poma veto,qui medio viret in nemore.

Hic draco perfidus indocilevirginis inlicit ingenium,ut socium malesuada virummandere cogeret ex vetitisipsa pari peritura modo.

Corpora mutua--nosse nefas--post epulas inoperta vident,lubricus error et erubuit:tegmina suta parant foliis,dedecus ut pudor occuleret.

Conscia culpa Deum pavitanssede pia procul exigitur.innuba fernina quae fuerat,coniugis excipit inperium,foedera tristia iussa pati.

Auctor et ipse doli coluberplectitur inprobus, ut muliercolla trilinguia calce terat:sic coluber muliebre solumsuspicit atque virum mulier.

His ducibus vitiosa dehincposteritas ruit in facinus,dumque rudes imitatur avos,fasque nefasque simul glomeransinpia crimina morte luit.

Ecce venit nova progenies,aethere proditus alter homo,non luteus, velut ille prior:sed Deus ipse gerens hominem,corporeisque carens vitiis.

Fit caro vivida sermo Patris,numine quam rutilante gravisnon thalamo, neque iure tori,nec genialibus inlecebrisintemerata puella parit.

Hoc odium vetus illud erat,hoc erat aspidis atque hominisdigladiabile discidium,quod modo cernua femineisvipera proteritur pedibus.

Edere namque Deum meritaomnia virgo venena domat:tractibus anguis inexplicitisvirus inerme piger revomit,gramine concolor in viridi.

Quae feritas modo non trepidat,territa de grege candidulo?inpavidas lupus inter ovestristis obambulat et rabidumsanguinis inmemor os cohibet.

Agnus enim vice mirificaecce leonibus inperitat:exagitansque truces aquilasper vaga nubila, perque notossidere lapsa columba fugat.

Tu mihi Christe columba potens,sanguine pasta cui cedit avis,tu niveus per ovile tuumagnus hiare lupum prohibes,sub iuga tigridis ora premens.

Da locuples Deus hoc famulisrite precantibus, ut tenuimembra cibo recreata levent,neu piger inmodicis dapibusviscera tenta gravet stomachus.

Haustus amarus abesto procul,ne libeat tetigisse manuexitiale quid aut vetitum:gustus et ipse modum teneat,sospitet ut iecur incolume.

Sit satis anguibus horrificis,liba quod inpia corporibusah miseram peperere necem,sufficiat semel ob facinusplasma Dei potuisse mori.

Oris opus, vigor igneolusnon moritur, quia flante Deoconpositus superoque fluensde solio Patris artificisvim liquidae rationis habet.

Viscera mortua quin etiampost obitum reparare datur,eque suis iterum tumulisprisca renascitur effigiespulvereo coeunte situ.

Credo equidem, neque vana fides,corpora vivere more animae:nam modo corporeum meminide Phlegethonte gradu faciliad superos remeasse Deum.

Spes eadem mea membra manet,quae redolentia funereoiussa quiescere sarcophagodux parili redivivus humoignea Christus ad astra vocat.

Words in this poem 40
crucifer n.
Any plant of the order Cruciferæ. [See Cruciferous.]
dulce v. t.
To make sweet; to soothe.
nihil n.
Nothing. Nihil album Etym: [L., white nothing] (Chem.), oxide of zinc. See under Zinc. [L.]
domine n.
A name given to a pastor of the Reformed Church. The word is also applied locally in the United States, in colloquial speech, to any clergyman. [See Dominie.]
quid n.
A portion suitable to be chewed; a cud; as, a quid of tobacco. [See Cud.]
quod v.
Quoth; said. See Quoth.
manu n.
One of a series of progenitors of human beings, and authors of human wisdom. [Skr.]
humus n.
That portion of the soil formed by the decomposition of animal or vegetable matter. It is a valuable constituent of soils. Graham. [L., the earth, ground, soil.]
creant a.
Creative; formative. Mrs. Browning. [L. creans, p. pr. of creare to create.]
dolus n.
Evil intent, embracing both malice and fraud. See Culpa.
dives n.
The name popularly given to the rich man in our Lord's parable of the [L., rich.]
palmite n.
A South African plant (Prionium Palmita) of the Rush family, having long serrated leaves. The stems have been used for making brushes. [From Palm.]
alumna n.
A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college. [L. See Alumnus.]
epulis n.
A hard tumor developed from the gums.
coit n.
A quoit. Carew. [See Quoit.]
favus n.
A disease of the scalp, produced by a vegetable parasite. [L., honeycomb.]
apis n.
A genus of insects of the order Hymenoptera, including the common honeybee (Apis mellifica) and other related species. See Honeybee. [L., bee.]
arbor n.
A kind of latticework formed of, or covered with, vines, branches of trees, or other plants, for shade; a bower. Sir P. [OE. herber, herbere, properly a garden of herbs, F. herbier, fr. L. herbarium. See Herb, and cf. Herbarium.]
onus n.
A burden; an obligation. Onus probandi ( Etym: [L.], obligation to furnish evidence to prove a thing; the burden of proof. [L.]
lyra n.
A northern constellation, the Harp, containing a white star of the first magnitude, called Alpha Lyræ, or Vega. [L. lyra, Gr. Lyre.]
opus n.
A work; specif. (Mus.), a musical composition. [L. See Opera.]
optime n.
One of those who stand in the second rank of honors, immediately after the wranglers, in the University of Cambridge, England. They are divided into senior and junior optimes. [L., adv. fr. optimus the best.]
luce n.
A pike when full grown. Halliwell. [OF. lus, L. lucius a kind of fish.]
manus n.
The distal segment of the fore limb, including the carpus and fore foot or hand. [L., the hand.]
rata n.
A New Zealand forest tree (Metrosideros robusta), also, its hard dark red wood, used by the Maoris for paddles and war clubs. [Maori.]
veto n.
An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction. [L. veto I forbid.]
draco n.
The Dragon, a northern constellation within which is the north pole of the ecliptic. [L. See Dragon.]
indocile a.
Not teachable; indisposed to be taught, trained, or disciplined; not easily instructed or governed; dull; intractable. [L. indocilis: cf. F. indocile. See In- not, and Docile.]
culpa n.
Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart. Wharton. [L.]
coluber n.
A genus of harmless serpents. [L., a serpent.]
odium n.
Hatred; dislike; as, his conduct brought him into odium, or, brought odium upon him. [L., fr. odi I hate. Gr. Annoy, Noisome.]
concolor a.
Of the same color; of uniform color. [L. concolor; con- + color color.]
grege v. t.
To make heavy; to increase. Wyclif. [OE. gregier to burden.]
lupus n.
A cutaneous disease occurring under two distinct forms. [L., a wolf. See Wolf.]
avis n.
Advice; opinion; deliberation. [F. avis. See Advice.]
tuum n.
Lit., thine; that which is thine; -- used in meum and tuum. See 2d Meum.
quin n.
A European scallop (Pecten opercularis), used as food. [Prov.
credo n.
The creed, as sung or read in the Roman Catholic church. [L. See Creed.]
fides n.
Faith personified as a goddess; the goddess of faith. [L., faith.]
redivivus a.
Living again; revived; restored.

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

About this text

Hymnus Ante Cibum 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, Hymnus Ante Cibum, in The Hymns of Prudentius (1905), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #14959, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/prudentius-hymns/hymnus-ante-cibum.html, id L23670.

Form and metre

Hymnus Ante Cibum is 205 lines in 41 stanzas of 5 lines each. The metre is trochaic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 83%).

See other poems in trochaic pentameter.

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. 13 A---A indomitisA · quadrupedum · siliqua · multimodo · epulisA
  2. 21 A-A-- iubetA · locis · redoletA · latex · rigat
  3. 26 -A--A coluber · mulierA · terat · solum · mulierA
  4. 29 AA-A- patrisA · gravisA · tori · inlecebrisA · parit
  5. 33 -A--A mirifica · inperitatA · aquilas · notos · fugatA
  6. 34 A---A potensA · avis · tuum · prohibes · premensA
  7. 35 ---AA famulis · tenui · levent · dapibusA · stomachusA
  8. 36 --A-A procul · manu · vetitumA · teneat · incolumeA
  9. 37 -A-A- horrificis · corporibusA · necem · facinusA · mori
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 pentameter. How this is done.

LineSyl.Stress
O crucifer bone, lucisator,9·/˘˘·····
omniparens, pie, verbigena,9·········
edite corpore virgineo,7·······
sed prius in genitore potens,8······/˘
astra, solum, mare quam fierent:8/˘/˘····
Huc nitido precor intuitu9·········
flecte salutiferam faciem,8········
fronte serenus et inradia,8········
nominis ut sub honore tui8·····/˘·
has epulas liceat capere.8········
Te sine dulce nihil, Domine,8···/˘˘/˘
nec iuvat ore quid adpetere,8········
pocula ni prius atque cibos,8········
Christe, tuus favor inbuerit7··/˘···
omnia sanctificante fide.7·······
Fercula nostra Deum sapiant,8···/˘···
Christus et influat in pateras:9······˘/˘
seria, ludicra, verba, iocos,9/˘···/˘··
denique quod sumus aut agimus,9·········
trina superne regat pietas.8········
Hic mihi nulla rosae spolia,8········
nullus aromate fragrat odor,9·······/˘
sed liquor influit ambrosius9·/˘··/˘˘˘
nectareamque fidem redolet8········
fusus ab usque Patris gremio.8········
Sperne camena leves hederas,8········
cingere tempora quis solita es,10······˘/˘·
sertaque mystica dactylico9·········
texere docta liga strophio,8········
laude Dei redimita comas.8······/˘
Quod generosa potest anima,10··········
lucis et aetheris indigena,10··········
solvere dignius obsequium,7·······
quam data munera si recinat10·/˘·······
artificem modulata suum?9·········
Ipse homini quia cuncta dedit,9·········
quae capimus dominante manu,9·······/·
quae polus aut humus aut pelagus10·/˘·/˘····
aere, gurgite, rure creant,6····/˘
haec mihi subdidit et sibi me.10··········
Callidus inlaqueat volucres8········
aut pedicis dolus aut maculis,10····/˘····
inlita glutine corticeo8········
vimina plumigeram seriem9·········
inpediunt et abire vetant.8········
Ecce per aequora fluctivagos9·········
texta greges sinuosa trahunt:8········
piscis item sequitur calamum9··/˘/˘···
raptus acumine vulnifico9·········
credula saucius ora cibo.9·····/˘··
Fundit opes ager ingenuas8···/˘···
dives aristiferae segetis:8········
his ubi vitea pampineo8········
brachia palmite luxuriant,9/˘˘/˘˘/˘˘
pacis alumna ubi baca viret.11/˘˘/˘··/˘··
Haec opulentia Christicolis9·········
servit et omnia suppeditat:9·········
absit enim procul ilia fames,9·········
caedibus ut pecudum libeat9·········
sanguineas lacerare dapes.7·······
Sint fera gentibus indomitis10·/˘·······
prandia de nece quadrupedum:8········
nos oleris coma, nos siliqua10····/˘·/˘˘
feta legumine multimodo9·········
paverit innocuis epulis.9······˘/˘
Spumea mulctra gerunt niveos8········
ubere de gemino latices,9·········
perque coagula densa liquor8······/˘
in solidum coit et fragili9·········
lac tenerum premitur calatho.10··········
Mella recens mihi Cecropia9/˘·······
nectare sudat olente favus:8······/˘
haec opifex apis aerio8····/˘··
rore liquat tenuique thymo,7·······
nexilis inscia connubii.8········
Hinc quoque pomiferi nemoris9·········
munera mitia proveniunt,8········
arbor onus tremefacta suum9/˘/˘·····
deciduo gravis imbre pluit8·····/˘·
puniceosque iacit cumulos.8········
Quae veterum tuba, quaeve lyra9····/˘·/˘
flatibus inclita vel fidibus10··········
divitis omnipotentis opus,10········/˘
quaeque fruenda patent homini8···/˘···
laudibus aequiparare queat?8········
Te Pater optime mane novo,9·/˘/˘˘·/˘
solis et orbita cum media est,11/˘·····/˘˘/
te quoque luce sub occidua7·······
sumere cum monet hora cibum,9···˘//˘··
nostra Deus canet harmonia.9/˘···˘/˘˘
Quod calet halitus interior,9······˘/˘
corde quod abdita vena tremit,9·····/˘··
pulsat et incita quod resonam10··········
lingua sub ore latens caveam,8/˘······
laus superi Patris esto mihi.10··········
Nos igitur tua sancte manus8······/˘
caespite conposuit madido8········
effigiem meditata suam,8········
utque foret rata materies6··/˘··
flavit et indidit ore animam.10··········
Tunc per amoena vireta iubet10··········
frondicomis habitare locis,9·······/˘
ver ubi perpetuum redolet9·········
prataque multicolora latex9·······/·
quadrifluo celer amne rigat.8········
Haec tibi nunc famulentur, ait,9·/·······
usibus omnia dedo tuis:8·····/˘·
sed tamen aspera mortifero10··········
stipite carpere poma veto,8····/˘/˘
qui medio viret in nemore.8·/˘·····
Hic draco perfidus indocile9·/˘···˘/˘
virginis inlicit ingenium,9·········
ut socium malesuada virum9·········
mandere cogeret ex vetitis9·········
ipsa pari peritura modo.10··/˘······
Corpora mutua--nosse nefas--8/˘˘·····
post epulas inoperta vident,10··········
lubricus error et erubuit:9···/˘····
tegmina suta parant foliis,9·········
dedecus ut pudor occuleret.10··········
Conscia culpa Deum pavitans8··/˘····
sede pia procul exigitur.9·/˘······
innuba fernina quae fuerat,9·········
coniugis excipit inperium,9·········
foedera tristia iussa pati.9·········
Auctor et ipse doli coluber9······/˘˘
plectitur inprobus, ut mulier10·······/˘˘
colla trilinguia calce terat:8/˘······
sic coluber muliebre solum8·/˘˘··/˘
suspicit atque virum mulier.9······/˘˘
His ducibus vitiosa dehinc9·········
posteritas ruit in facinus,9·········
dumque rudes imitatur avos,8········
fasque nefasque simul glomerans8········
inpia crimina morte luit.7·······
Ecce venit nova progenies,8···/˘/˘˘
aethere proditus alter homo,9·····/˘/˘
non luteus, velut ille prior:8······/˘
sed Deus ipse gerens hominem,8···/˘/˘˘
corporeisque carens vitiis.7·······
Fit caro vivida sermo Patris,10·/˘·······
numine quam rutilante gravis8········
non thalamo, neque iure tori,8······/˘
nec genialibus inlecebris9·········
intemerata puella parit.9·········
Hoc odium vetus illud erat,10·/˘˘······
hoc erat aspidis atque hominis10··········
digladiabile discidium,8········
quod modo cernua femineis8········
vipera proteritur pedibus.10··········
Edere namque Deum merita7·······
omnia virgo venena domat:9··/˘·····
tractibus anguis inexplicitis10··········
virus inerme piger revomit,9/˘·······
gramine concolor in viridi.8··/˘····
Quae feritas modo non trepidat,10··········
territa de grege candidulo?9·········
inpavidas lupus inter oves9····/˘˘/·
tristis obambulat et rabidum10··········
sanguinis inmemor os cohibet.10··········
Agnus enim vice mirifica9/˘·······
ecce leonibus inperitat:8········
exagitansque truces aquilas9····/˘/˘˘
per vaga nubila, perque notos9·······/˘
sidere lapsa columba fugat.9·····/˘··
Tu mihi Christe columba potens,9·····/˘/˘
sanguine pasta cui cedit avis,9/˘/˘···/˘
tu niveus per ovile tuum8····/˘/˘
agnus hiare lupum prohibes,7/˘·····
sub iuga tigridis ora premens.10······/˘··
Da locuples Deus hoc famulis8········
rite precantibus, ut tenui8········
membra cibo recreata levent,9·········
neu piger inmodicis dapibus10··········
viscera tenta gravet stomachus.10/˘˘·······
Haustus amarus abesto procul,10··········
ne libeat tetigisse manu8······/·
exitiale quid aut vetitum:9·········
gustus et ipse modum teneat,8/˘······
sospitet ut iecur incolume.9·········
Sit satis anguibus horrificis,10··········
liba quod inpia corporibus9·········
ah miseram peperere necem,9·········
sufficiat semel ob facinus9···/˘····
plasma Dei potuisse mori.7/˘···/˘
Oris opus, vigor igneolus9··/˘/˘···
non moritur, quia flante Deo8······/˘
conpositus superoque fluens8········
de solio Patris artificis9·········
vim liquidae rationis habet.8········
Viscera mortua quin etiam8/˘˘·····
post obitum reparare datur,9·········
eque suis iterum tumulis8········
prisca renascitur effigies9······/˘˘
pulvereo coeunte situ.6······
Credo equidem, neque vana fides,9/˘····/˘·
corpora vivere more animae:8/˘˘·····
nam modo corporeum memini9·········
de Phlegethonte gradu facili9·········
ad superos remeasse Deum.7·······
Spes eadem mea membra manet,8······˘/
quae redolentia funereo8········
iussa quiescere sarcophago8········
dux parili redivivus humo10··········
ignea Christus ad astra vocat.9·····/˘··

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