1. Lauda, Sion, Salvatorem,
Lauda ducem et pastorem
In hymnis et canticis:
Quantum potes, tantum aude,
Quia maior omni laude,
Nec laudare sufficis.
1. Praise, O Sion, praise thy Saviour,
Shepherd, Prince, with glad behavior,
Praise in hymn and canticle:
Sing His glory without measure,
For the merit of your treasure
Never shall your praises fill.
2. Laudis thema specialis,
Panis vivus et vitalis
Hodie proponitur;
Quem in sacrae mensa cenae
Turbae fratrum duodenae
Datum non ambigitur.
2. Wondrous theme of mortal singing,
Living bread and bread life-bringing,
Sing we on this joyful day:
At the Lord’s own table given
To the twelve as bread from heaven,
Doubting not we firmly say.
3. Sit laus plena, sit sonora
Sit iucunda, sit decora
Mentis iubilatio:
Namque dies est sollemnis
Qua recolitur perennis
Mensae institutio.
3. Sing His praise with voice sonorous;
Every heart shall hear the chorus
Swell in melody sublime:
For this day the Shepherd gave us
Flesh and blood to feed and save us,
Lasting to the end of time.
4. In hac mensa novi Regis
Novum pascha novae legis
Phase vetus terminat:
Iam vetustas novitati,
Umbra cedit veritati,
Noctem lux eliminat.
4. At the new King’s sacred table,
The new law’s new pasch is able
To succeed the ancient rite:
Old to new its place hath given,
Truth has far the shadows driven,
Darkness flees before the Light.
5. Quod in cena Christus gessit,
Faciendum hoc expressit
In sui memoriam:
Docti sacris institutis,
Panem, vinum in salutis
Consecramus hostiam.
5. And as He hath done and planned it—
“Do this”—hear His love command it,
“For a memory of me.”
Learnèd, Lord, in thy own science,
Bread and wine, in sweet compliance,
As a Host we offer Thee.
6. Dogma datur Christianis,
Quod in carnem transit panis,
Et vinum in sanguinem:
Quod non capis, quod non vides,
Animosa firmat fides,
Praeter rerum ordinem.
6. Thus in faith the Christian heareth:
That Christ’s flesh as bread appeareth,
And as wine His precious blood:
Though we feel it not nor see it,
Living faith that doth decree it
All defects of sense makes good.
7. Sub diversis speciebus,
Signis tamen et non rebus,
Latent res eximiae:
Caro cibus, sanguis potus,
Manet tamen Christus totus
Sub utraque specie.
7. Lo! beneath the species dual
(Signs not things), is hid a jewel
Far beyond creation’s reach!
Though His flesh as food abideth,
And His blood as drink—He hideth
Undivided under each.
8. A sumente non concisus,
Non confractus, non divisus,
Integer accipitur:
Sumit unus, sumunt mille,
Quantum isti, tantum ille,
Nec sumptus consumitur.
8. Whoso eateth it can never
Break the Body, rend or sever;
Christ entire our hearts doth fill:
Thousands eat the bread of heaven,
Yet as much to one is given:
Christ, though eaten, bideth still.
9. Sumunt boni, sumunt mali,
Sorte tamen inaequali
Vitae, vel interitus:
Mors est malis, vita bonis:
Vide, paris sumptionis
Quam sit dispar exitus!
9. Good and bad, they come to greet Him:
Unto life the former eat Him,
And the latter unto death;
These find death and those find heaven;
See, from the same life-seed given,
How the harvest differeth!
10. Fracto demum sacramento
Ne vacilles, sed memento
Tantum esse sub fragmento,
Quantum toto tegitur;
Nulla rei fit scissura,
Signi tantum fit fractura,
Qua nec status, nec statura
Signati minuitur.
10. When at last the bread is broken,
Doubt not what the Lord hath spoken:
In each part the same love-token,
The same Christ, our hearts adore:
For no power the thing divideth—
’Tis the symbols He provideth,
While the Saviour still abideth
Undiminished as before.
11. Ecce, panis angelorum
Factus cibus viatorum,
Vere panis filiorum,
Non mittendus canibus;
In figuris praesignatur,
Cum Isaac immolatur,
Agnus paschae deputatur,
Datur manna patribus.
11. Hail, angelic bread of heaven,
Now the pilgrim’s hoping-leaven,
Yea, the bread to children given
That to dogs must not be thrown:
In the figures contemplated,
’Twas with Isaac immolated,
By the Lamb ’twas antedated,
In the manna it was known.
12. Bone pastor, panis vere,
Iesu, nostri miserere,
Tu nos pasce, nos tuere,
Tu nos bona fac videre
In terra viventium.
Tu qui cuncta scis et vales,
Qui nos pascis hic mortales,
Tuos ibi commensales,
Cohaeredes et sodales
Fac sanctorum civium.
12, O Good Shepherd, still confessing
Love, in spite of our transgressing,—
Here Thy blessed food possessing,
Make us share Thine every blessing
In the land of life and love:
Thou, whose power hath all completed
And Thy flesh as food hath meted,
Make us, at Thy table seated,
By Thy saints, as friends be greeted,
In Thy paradise above.
Tr. H. T. Henry (_Eucharistica_, Dolphin Press, Phila., 1912, p.
39-43. Quoted by permission of publishers.)