Hymn After Fasting (Hymnus Post Ieiunium)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.     Hymnus Post Ieiunium      Christe servorum regimen tuorum,      mollibus qui nos moderans habenis      leniter frenas facilique septos                 lege coerces:      ipse cum portans onus inpeditum      corporis duros tuleris labores,      maior exemplis famulos remisso                 dogmate palpas.      Nona submissum rotat hora solem      partibus vixdum tribus evolutis,      quarta devexo superest in axe                 portio lucis.      Nos brevis voti dape vindicata      solvimus festum fruimurque mensis      adfatim plenis, quibus inbuatur                 prona voluptas.      Tantus aeterni favor est magistri,      doctor indulgens ita nos amico      lactat hortatu, levis obsequela ut                 mulceat artus.      Addit et, ne quis velit invenusto      sordidus cultu lacerare frontem,      sed decus vultus capitisque pexum                 comat honorem.      Terge ieiunans, ait, omne corpus,      neve subducto faciem rubore      luteus tinguat color aut notetur                 pallor in ore.      Rectius laeto tegimus pudore,      quidquid ad cultum Patris exhibemus:      cernit occultum Deus et latentem                 munere donat.      Ille ovem morbo residem gregique      perditam sano male dissipantem      vellus adfixis vepribus per hirtae                 devia silvae.      Inpiger pastor revocat lupisque      gestat exclusis humeros gravatus,      inde purgatam revehens aprico                 reddit ovili:      Reddit et pratis viridique campo,      vibrat inpexis ubi nulla lappis      spina, nec germen sudibus perarmat                 carduus horrens:      Sed frequens palmis nemus et reflexa      vernat herbarum coma, tum perennis      gurgitem vivis vitreum fluentis                 laurus obumbrat.      Hisce pro donis tibi, fide pastor,      servitus quaenam poterit rependi?      nulla conpensant pretium salutis                 vota precantum.      Quamlibet spreto sine more pastu      sponte confectos tenuemus artus,      teque contemptis epulis rogemus                 nocte dieque;      Vincitur semper minor obsequentum      cura, nec munus genitoris aequat,      frangit et cratem luteam laboris                 grandior usus.      Ergo ne limum fragilem solutae      deserant vires et aquosus albis      humor in venis dominetur aegrum                 corpus inervans,      Laxus ac liber modus abstinendi      ponitur cunctis, neque nos severus      terror inpellit, sua quemque cogit                 velle potestas.      Sufficit, quidquid facias, vocato      numinis nutu prius, inchoare,      sive tu mensam renuas cibumve                 sumere temptes.      Adnuit dexter Deus et secundo      prosperat vultu, velut hoc salubre      fidimus nobis fore, quod dicatas                 carpimus escas.      Sit bonum, supplex precor et medelam      conferat membris, animumque pascat      sparsus in venas cibus obsecrantum                 christicolarum.     Hymn After Fasting      O Christ, of all Thy servants Guide,         Mild is the yoke Thou mak'st us bear,      Leading us gently by Thy side             With gracious care.      Thy love took up our life's hard load         And spent in grievous toils its might:      Thy bond-slaves tread the easier road             Led by Thy light.      Nine hours have run their course away,         The sun sped three parts of its race:      And what remains of the short day             Fadeth apace.      The holy fast hath reached its end;         Our table now Thou loadest, Lord:      With all Thy gifts true gladness send             To grace our board.      Such is our Master's gentle sway,         So kind the teaching in His school,      That all find rest who will obey             His easy rule.      Thou would'st not have us scorn the grace         Of cleanliness and vesture fair:      Thou lovest not a soild face             And unkempt hair.      Let him that fasts, Thou saidst, be clean,         Nor lose health's fair and ruddy glow:      Let no wan sallowness be seen             Upon his brow.      'Tis better in glad modesty         Of our good works to shun display:      God sees what 'scapes our neighbour's eye             And will repay.      That Shepherd keen seeks one lost sheep         Sickly and weak, strayed from the fold,      Fleece torn with briers of thickets deep,             Foolishly bold.      He drives the wolves far from the track:         And found He brings on shoulders borne      To sunlit pen the wanderer back,             No more forlorn:      Yea, to the meads and grassy fields         The lamb restores, where no thorn balks,      No rough burrs tear, no thistle yields             Its bristling stalks:      But leaves of green herbs brightly glance         And in the grove the palm-trees dream,      And laurels shade the eddying dance             Of crystal stream.      For all these gifts, O Shepherd dear,         What service can I render Thee?      No grateful vows my debt shall clear             For love so free.      Though by self-chosen fasts severe         Our strength of limb we waste away:      Though, spurning food, we Thee revere         By night and day:      Yet our works never can o'ertake         Thy love or with Thy gifts compare:      Our toils this earthen vessel break,             The more we dare.      Therefore lest failing powers consume         Our fragile life and shrivelled veins      Pale 'neath the tyranny of rheum             And weakening pains:      Thou dost not rule perpetual Lent         For man, nor modest fare deny:      Fearless may each unto his bent             His wants supply.      Enough that all our acts by prayer         Be sanctified unto Thy will,      Whether we fast, or with due care             Our needs fulfil.      Then shall God bless us for our good         And lead us to our soul's true wealth;      For, if but consecrated, food             Shall bring us health.      O Lord, grant that our feast may spread         Marrow and strength throughout our flesh:      And may all Christly souls be fed             With vigour fresh.