1. Vexilla regis prodeunt,
Fulget crucis mysterium,
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.
1. The banners of the king advance,
The cross with mystery doth flame,
And from the tree the Flesh of flesh,
Word Incarnate, hangs in shame.
2. Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone dirae lanceae,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda, sanguine.
2. The lance’s edge hath pierced His side,
O look on Him that for our good
Cleansed us of the stain of sin,
Washed out with water and with blood.
3. Inpleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus:
Regnavit a ligno Deus.
3. Now is fulfilled what was foretold
By David in prophetic song:
Suspended from the rood Our God
Will rule. To Him shall nations throng.
4. Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.
4. O glorious and radiant tree
In royal crimson richly decked,
His sacred limbs to touch and hold
Thee did our Lord, fair rood, elect.
5. Beata, cuius bracchiis
Pretium pependit saeculi.
Statera facta est corporis
Praedam tulitque tartari.
5. Thou blessed cross upon whose arms
The body of the Savior fell;
As with a balance thou didst weigh
The Christ that bore us out of Hell.
6. Fundis aroma cortice,
Vincis sapore nectare,
Iocunda fructu fertili
Plaudis triumpho nobili.
6. Thy wood is all a sweet perfume,
Thou art like nectar very sweet;
Rejoicing in thy fruit thou mak’st
A perfect triumph more complete.
7. Salve ara, salve victima
De passionis gloria,
Qua vita mortem pertulit
Et morte vitam reddidit.
7. Altar and sacred victim, hail!
In thy passion is our glory.
Life from death thou bringest back,
Life in death shall be our story.
8. O crux ave, spes unica,
Hoc passionis tempore,
Auge piis iustitiam,
Reisque dona veniam.
8. Hail thou cross, O hail thou only
Hope that agony may win;
To believers bring salvation,
Take the sinner from his sin!
The 8th stanza is a later addition. Stanza 2 omitted.
Tr. Howard M. Jones (Allen, P. S., _The Romanesque Lyric_. Chapel
Hill, Un. of N. C. Press, 1928, p. 146-7. Quoted by permission of
publishers.)