Hymn At Cock-Crow (Hymnus Ad Galli Cantum)

Hymn At Cock-Crow (Hymnus Ad Galli Cantum)


        Ales diei nuntius
    lucem propinquam praecinit;
    nos excitator mentium
    iam Christus ad vitam vocat.

        Auferte, clamat, lectulos
    aegros, soporos, desides:
    castique recti ac sobrii
    vigilate, iam sum proximus.

        Post solis ortum fulgidi
    serum est cubile spernere,
    ni parte noctis addita
    tempus labori adieceris.

        Vox ista, qua strepunt aves
    stantes sub ipso culmine
    paulo ante quam lux emicet,
    nostri figura est iudicis.

        Tectos tenebris horridis
    stratisque opertos segnibus
    suadet quietem linquere
    iam iamque venturo die.

        Ut, cum coruscis flatibus
    aurora caelum sparserit,
    omnes labore exercitos
    confirmet ad spem luminis.

        Hic somnus ad tempus datus
    est forma mortis perpetis,
    peccata ceu nox horrida
    cogunt iacere ac stertere.

        Sed vox ab alto culmine
    Christi docentis praemonet,
    adesse iam lucem prope,
    ne mens sopori serviat:

        Ne somnus usque ad terminos
    vitae socordis opprimat
    pectus sepultum crimine
    et lucis oblitum suae.

        Ferunt vagantes daemonas
    laetos tenebris noctium,
    gallo canente exterritos
    sparsim timere et cedere.

        Invisa nam vicinitas
    lucis, salutis, numinis
    rupto tenebrarum situ
    noctis fugat satellites.

        Hoc esse signum praescii
    norunt repromissae spei,
    qua nos soporis liberi
    speramus adventum Dei.

        Quae vis sit huius alitis,
    salvator ostendit Petro,
    ter antequam gallus canat
    sese negandum praedicans.

        Fit namque peccatum prius,
    quam praeco lucis proximae
    inlustret humanum genus
    finemque peccandi ferat.

        Flevit negator denique
    ex ore prolapsum nefas,
    cum mens maneret innocens,
    animusque servaret fidem.

        Nec tale quidquam postea
    linguae locutus lubrico est,
    cantuque galli cognito
    peccare iustus destitit.

        Inde est quod omnes credimus,
    illo quietis tempore
    quo gallus exsultans canit
    Christum redisse ex inferis.

        Tunc mortis oppressus vigor,
    tunc lex subacta est tartari,
    tunc vis diei fortior
    noctem coegit cedere.

        Iam iam quiescant inproba,
    iam culpa furva obdormiat,
    iam noxa letalis suum
    perpessa somnum marceat.

        Vigil vicissim spiritus
    quodcumque restat temporis,
    dum meta noctis clauditur,
    stans ac laborans excubet.

        Iesum ciamus vocibus
    flentes, precantes, sobrii:
    intenta supplicatio
    dormire cor mundum vetat.

        Sat convolutis artubus
    sensum profunda oblivio
    pressit, gravavit, obruit
    vanis vagantem somniis.

        Sunt nempe falsa et frivola,
    quae mundiali gloria
    ceu dormientes egimus:
    vigilemus, hic est veritas.

        Aurum, voluptas, gaudium,
    opes, honores, prospera,
    quaecumque nos inflant mala,
    fit mane, nil sunt omnia.

        Tu, Christe, somnum dissice,
    tu rumpe noctis vincula,
    tu solve peccatum vetus
    novumque lumen ingere.




Hymn At Cock-Crow

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope.

    Awake! the shining day is born!
    The herald cock proclaims the morn:
    And Christ, the soul's Awakener, cries,
    Bidding us back to life arise.

    Away the sluggard's bed! away
    The slumber of the soul's decay!
    Ye chaste and just and temperate,
    Watch! I am standing at the gate.

    After the sun hath risen red
    'Tis late for men to scorn their bed,
    Unless a portion of the night
    They seize for labours of the light.

    Mark ye, what time the dawn draws nigh,
    How 'neath the eaves the swallows cry?
    Know that by true similitude
    Their notes our Judge's voice prelude.

    When hid by shades of dark malign
    On beds of softness we recline,
    They call us forth with music clear
    Warning us that the day is near.

    When breezes bright of orient morn
    With rosy hues the heavens adorn,
    They cheer with hope of gladdening light
    The hearts that spend in toil their might.

    Though sleep be but a passing guest
    'Tis type of death's perpetual rest:
    Our sins are as a ghastly night,
    And seal with slumbers deep our sight.

    But from the wide roof of the sky
    Christ's voice peals forth with urgent cry,
    Calling our sleep-bound hearts to rise
    And greet the dawn with wakeful eyes.

    He bids us fear lest sensual ease
    Unto life's end the spirit seize
    And in the tomb of shame us bind,
    Till we are to the true light blind.

    'Tis said that baleful spirits roam
    Abroad beneath the dark's vast dome;
    But, when the cock crows, take their flight
    Sudden dispersed in sore affright.

    For the foul votaries of the night
    Abhor the coming of the light,
    And shamed before salvation's grace
    The hosts of darkness hide their face.

    They know the cock doth prophesy
    Of Hope's long-promised morning sky,
    When comes the Majesty Divine
    Upon awakened worlds to shine.

    The Lord to Peter once foretold
    What meaning that shrill strain should hold,
    How he before cock-crow would lie
    And thrice his Master dear deny.

    For 'tis a law that sin is done
    Before the herald of the sun
    To humankind the dawn proclaims
    And with his cry the sinner shames.

    Then wept he bitter tears aghast
    That from his lips the words had passed,
    Though guileless he his soul possessed
    And faith still reigned within his breast.

    Nor ever reckless word he said
    Thereafter, by his tongue betrayed,
    But at the cock's familiar cry
    Humbled he turned from vanity.

    Therefore it is we hold to-day
    That, as the world in stillness lay,
    What hour the cock doth greet the skies,
    Christ from deep Hades did arise.

    Lo! then the bands of death were burst,
    Shattered the sway of hell accurst:
    Then did the Day's superior might
    Swiftly dispel the hosts of Night.

    Now let base deeds to silence fall,
    Black thoughts be stilled beyond recall:
    Now let sin's opiate spell retire
    To that deep sleep it doth inspire.

    For all the hours that still remain
    Until the dark his goal attain,
    Alert for duty's stern command
    Let every soul a sentry stand.

    With sober prayer on Jesus call;
    Let tears with our strong crying fall;
    Sleep cannot on the pure soul steal
    That supplicates with fervent zeal.

    Too long did dull oblivion cloud
    Our motions and our senses shroud:
    Lulled by her numbing touch, we stray
    In dreamland's ineffectual way.

    Bound by the dazzling world's soft chain
    'Tis false and fleeting gauds we gain,
    Like those who in deep slumbers lie:--
    Let us awake! the truth is nigh.

    Gold, honours, pleasure, wealth and ease,
    And all the joys that mortals please,
    Joys with a fatal glamour fraught--
    When morning comes, lo! all are nought.

    But thou, O Christ, put sleep to flight
    And break the iron bands of night,
    Free us from burden of past sin
    And shed Thy morning rays within.