Then high over the roofs the holy Ruler
590 Shines on the souls of the saved and the loyal.
Radiant fowls follow around him
Brightest of birds, in bliss exulting,
The chosen and joyous ones join him at home,
Forever and ever, where no evil is wrought
595 By the foulest fiend in his fickle deceit;
But they shall live in lasting light and beauty,
As the Phoenix fowl, in the faith of God.
Every one of men's works in that wondrous home,
In that blissful abode, brightly shines forth
600 In the peaceful presence of the Prince eternal,
Who resembles the sun. A sacred crown
Most richly wrought with radiant gems,
High over the head of each holy soul
Glitters refulgent; their foreheads gleam,
605 Covered with glory; the crown of God
Embellishes beautifully the blessed host
With light in that life, where lasting joy
Is fresh and young and fades not away,
But they dwell in bliss, adorned in beauty,
610 With fairest ornaments, with the Father's angels.
They see no sorrow in those sacred courts,
No sin nor suffering nor sad work-days,
No burning hunger, nor bitter thirst,
No evil nor age: but ever their King
615 Granteth his grace to the glorious band
That loves its Lord and everlasting King,
That glorifies and praises the power of God.
That host round the holy high-set throne
Makes then melody in mighty strains;
620 The blessed saints blithely sing
In unison with angels, orisons to the Lord:
"Peace to thee, O God, thou proud Monarch,
Thou Ruler reigning with righteousness and skill;
Thanks for thy goodly gifts to us all;
625 Mighty and measureless is thy majesty and strength,
High and holy! The heavens, O Lord,
Are fairly filled, O Father Almighty,
Glory of glories, in greatness ruling
Among angels above and on earth beneath!
630 Guard us, O God of creation; thou governest all things!
Lord of the highest heavens above!"
So shall the saints sing his praises,
Those free from sin, in that fairest of cities,
Proclaim his power, the righteous people,
635 The host in heaven hail the Redeemer:
Honor without end is only for him,
Not ever at all had he any birth,
Any beginning of bliss, though he was born in the world,
On this earth in the image of an innocent child;
640 With unfailing justice and fairest judgments,
High above the heavens in holiness he dwelt!
Though he must endure the death of the cross,
Bear the bitter burden of men,
When three days have passed after the death of his body,
645 He regains new life through the love of God,
Through the aid of the Father. So the Phoenix betokens
In his youthful state, the strength of Christ,
Who in a wondrous wise awakes from the ashes
Unto the life of life, with limbs begirded;
650 So the Savior sought to aid us
Through the loss of his body, life without end.
Likewise that fowl filleth his wings,
Loads them with sweet and scented roots,
With winsome flowers and flies away;
655 These are the words, wise men tell us,
The songs of the holy ones whose souls go to heaven,
With the loving Lord to live for aye,
In bliss of bliss, where they bring to God
Their words and their works, wondrous in savor,
660 As a precious gift, in that glorious place,
In that life of light.
Lasting be the praise
Through the world of worlds and wondrous honor,
And royal power in the princely realm,
The kingdom of heaven. He is King indeed
665 Of the lands below and of lordly majesty,
Encircled with honor in that city of beauty.
He has given us leave _lucis auctor_,
That here we may _merueri_
As reward for good _gaudia in celo_,
670 That all of us may _maxima regna_
Seek and sit on _sedibus altis_,
Shall live a life _lucis et pacis_,
Shall own a home _almae letitiae_,
Know blessings and bliss; _blandem and mitem_
675 Lord they shall see _sine fine_,
And lift up a song _lauda perenne_
Forever with the angels. _Alleluia!_
680. This and the following lines are imitated from the original in which
the first half line, in Old English, alliterates with the second half
line, in Latin. The Latin is here retained. The meaning of the lines
is this: "The Author of light has given us leave that we may here
merit as a reward for good, joy in heaven, that all of us may seek the
mighty kingdom and sit on the high seats, may live a life of light and
peace, may own a home of tender joy; may see the merciful and mild
Lord for time without end, and may lift up a song in eternal praise,
forever with the angels. Alleluia!"