Hymn For Those Who Fast (HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.     HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM             O Nazarene, lux Bethlem, verbum Patris,         quem partus alvi virginalis protulit,         adesto castis Christe parsimoniis,         festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice,         ieiuniorum dum litamus victimam.             Nil hoc profecto purius mysterio,         quo fibra cordis expiatur uvidi,         intemperata quo domantur viscera,         arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam         obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat.             Hinc subiugatur luxus et turpis gula,         vini atque somni degener socordia,         libido sordens, inverecundus lepos,         variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum         parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt.             Nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo         ieiuna rite membra non coerceas,         sequitur frequenti marcida oblectamine         scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis,         animusque pigris stertat in praecordiis.             Frenentur ergo corporum cupidines,         detersa et intus emicet prudentia:         sic excitato perspicax acumine         liberque flatu laxiore spiritus         rerum parentem rectius precabitur.             Elia tali crevit observantia,         vetus sacerdos, ruris hospes aridi:         fragore ab omni quem remotum et segregem         sprevisse tradunt criminum frequentiam,         casto fruentem syrtium silentio.             Sed mox in auras igneis iugalibus         curruque raptus evolavit praepete,         ne de propinquo sordium contagio         dirus quietum mundus adflaret virum,         olim probatis inclitum ieiuniis.             Non ante caeli principem septemplicis         Moyses tremendi fidus interpres throni         potuit videre, quam decem recursibus         quater volutis sol peragrans sidera         omni carentem cerneret substantia.             Victus precanti solus in lacrimis fuit:         nam flendo pernox inrigatum pulverem         humi madentis ore pressit cernuo,         donec loquentis voce praestrictus Dei         expavit ignem non ferendum visibus.             Ioannis huius artis hand minus potens,         Dei perennis praecucurrit filium,         curvos viarum qui retorsit tramites         et flexuosa conrigens dispendia         dedit sequendam calle recto lineam.             Hanc obsequelam praeparabat nuntius         mox adfuturo construens iter Deo,         clivosa planis, confragosa ut lenibus         converterentur, neve quidquam devium         inlapsa terris inveniret veritas.             Non usitatis ortus his natalibus         oblita lactis iam vieto in pectore         matris tetendit serus infans ubera:         nec ante partu de senili effusus est,         quam praedicaret virginem plenam Deo.             Post in patentes ille solitudines         amictus hirtis bestiarum pellibus         setisve tectus hispida et lanugine         secessit, horrens inquinari et pollui         contaminatis oppidorum moribus.             Illic dicata parcus abstinentia         potum cibumque vir severae industriae         in usque serum respuebat vesperum,         parvum locustis et favorum agrestium         liquore pastum corpori suetus dare.             Hortator ille primus et doctor novae         fuit salutis, nam sacrato in flumine         veterum piatas lavit errorum notas:         sed tincta postquam membra defaecaverat,         caelo refulgens influebat spiritus.             Hoc ex lavacro labe dempta criminum         ibant renati non secus, quam si rudis         auri recocta vena pulchrum splendeat,         micet metalli sive lux argentei,         sudum polito praenitens purgamine.             Referre prisci stemma mine ieiunii         libet fideli proditum volumine,         ut diruendae civitatis incolis         fulmen benigni mansuefactum Patris         pie repressis ignibus pepercerit.             Gens insolenti praepotens iactantia         pollebat olim, quam fluentem nequiter         conrupta vulgo solverat lascivia,         et inde bruto contumax fastidio         cultum superni negligebat numinis.             Offensa tandem iugis indulgentiae         censura iustis excitatur motibus,         dextram perarmat rhompheali incendio         nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines         vibrans tonantum nube flammarum quatit.             Sed paenitendi dum datur diecula,         si forte vellent inprobam libidinem         veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere,         suspendit ictum terror exorabilis         paullumque dicta substitit sententia.             Ionam prophetam mitis ultor excitat,         paenae inminentis iret ut praenuntius,         sed nosset ille qui minacem iudicem         servare malle, quam ferire ac plectere,         tectam latenter vertit in Tharsos fugam.             Celsam paratis pontibus scandit ratem,         udo revincta fune puppis solvitur,         itur per altum, fit procellosum mare:         tum causa tanti quaeritur periculi,         sors in fugacem missa vatem decidit.             Iussus perire solus e cunctis reus,         cuius voluta crimen urna expresserat,         praeceps rotatur et profundo inmergitur:         exceptus inde beluinis faucibus         alvi capacis vivus hauritur specu.                  *             *             *             *             *             Intactus exin tertiae noctis vice         monstri vomentis pellitur singultibus,         qua murmuranti fine fluctus frangitur,         salsosque candens spuma tundit pumices,         ructatus exit seque servatum stupet.             In Ninivitas se coactus percito         gressu reflectit, quos ut increpaverat         pudenda censor inputans opprobria;         Inpendet, inquit, ira summi vindicis,         urbemque flamma mox cremabit, credite.             Apicem deinceps ardui montis petit         visurus inde conglobatum turbidae         fumum ruinae cladis et dirae struem,         tectus flagellis multinodis germinis,         nato et repente perfruens umbraculo.             Sed maesta postquam civitas vulnus novi         hausit doloris, heu supremum palpitat:         cursant per ampla congregatim moenia         plebs et senatus, omnis aetas civium,         pallens iuventus, eiulantes feminae.             Placet frementem publicis ieiuniis         placare Christum, mos edendi spernitur,         glaucos amictus induit monilibus         matrona demptis, proque gemma et serico         crinem fluentem sordidus spargit cinis.             Squalent recincta veste bullati patres,         setasque plangens turba sumit textiles,         inpexa villis virgo bestialibus         nigrante vultum contegit velamine,         iacens arenis et puer provolvitur.             Rex ipse Coos aestuantem murices         laenam revulsa dissipabat fibula,         gemmas virentes et lapillos sutiles,         insigne frontis exuebat vinculum         turpi capillos inpeditus pulvere.             Nullus bibendi, nemo vescendi memor,         ieiuna mensas pubis omnis liquerat,         quin et negato lacte vagientium         fletu madescunt parvulorum cunulae,         sucum papillae parca nutrix derogat.             Greges et ipsos claudit armentalium         sollers virorum cura, ne vagum pecus         contingat ore rorulenta gramina,         potum strepentis neve fontis hauriant,         vacuis querelae personant praesepibus.             Mollitus his et talibus brevem Deus         iram refrenat temperans oraculum         prosper sinistrum, prona nam clementia         haud difficulter supplicem mortalium         solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium.             Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor?         pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus         Iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit,         praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico         Emanuel est, sive NOBISCUM DEUS.             Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter         captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo         virtutis arta lege fecit liberum:         emancipator servientis plasmatis         regnantis ante victor et cupidinis.             Inhospitali namque secretus loco         quinis diebus octies labentibus         nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam,         firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio         vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis.             Miratus hostis posse limum tabidum         tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti,         explorat arte sciscitator callida,         Deusne membris sit receptus terreis,         sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit.             Hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus,         quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis         tuis dedisti Christe sectatoribus,         ut, cum vorandi vicerit libidinem,         late triumphet inperator spiritus.             Hoc est, quod atri livor hostis invidet,         mundi polique quod gubernator probat,         altaris aram quod facit placabilem,         quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem,         quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem.             Perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur,         nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives,         ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges         vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio,         si blanda semper misceatur largitas.             Est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus         operire nudos, indigentes pascere,         opem benignam ferre supplicantibus,         unam paremque sortis humanae vicem         inter potentes atque egenos ducere.             Satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit,         laudis rapacem, prodigam pecuniae,         cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat:         illum perennes protinus conplent opes,         ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex.     Hymn For Those Who Fast         O Jesus, Light of Bethlehem,             True Son of God, Incarnate Word;         Thou offspring of a Virgin's womb,             Be present at our frugal board;         Accept our fast, our sacrifice,             And smile upon us, gracious Lord.         For by this holiest mystery             The inward parts are cleansed from stain,         And, taming all the unbridled lusts,             Our sinful flesh we thus restrain,         Lest gluttony and drunkenness             Should choke the soul and cloud the brain.         Hence appetite and luxury             Are forced their empire to resign;         The wanton sport, the jest obscene,             The ignoble sway of sleep and wine,         And all the plagues of languid sense             Feel the strict bonds of discipline.         For if, full fed with meat and drink,             The flesh thou ne'er dost mortify,         The mind, that spark of sacred flame,             By pleasure dulled, must fail and die,         And pent in its gross prison-house             The soul in shameful torpor lie.         So be thy carnal lusts controlled,             So be thy judgment clear and bright;         Then shall thy spirit, swift and free,             Be gifted with a keener sight,         And breathing in an ampler air             To the All-Father pray aright.         Elias by such abstinence,             Seer of the desert, grew in grace,         Who left the madding haunts of men             And found a peaceful resting-place,         Where, far from sinful crowds, he trod             The pure and silent wilderness.         Till by those fiery coursers drawn             The swift car bore him through the air,         Lest earth's defiling touch should mar             The holiness it might not share,         Or some polluting breath disturb             The peace attained by fast and prayer.         Moses, through whom from His dread throne             The will of God to man was told,         No food might touch till through the sky             The sun full forty times had rolled,         Ere God before him stood revealed,             Lord of the heavens sevenfold.         Tears were his meat, while bent in prayer             Through the long night he bowed his head         E'en to the thirsty dust, that drank             The drops in bitter weeping shed;         Till, at God's call, he saw the flame             No eye may bear, and was afraid.         The Baptist, too, was strong in fast--             Forerunner in a later day         Of God's Eternal Son--who made             The byepaths plain, the crooked way         A road direct, wherein His feet             Might travel on without delay.         This was the messenger's great task             Who for God's advent zealously         Prepared the way, the rough made smooth,             The mountain levelled to the sea;         That, when Truth came from heaven to earth,             All fair and straight His path should be.         He was not born in common wise,             For dry and wrinkled was the breast         Of her that bare him late in years,             Nor found she from her labour rest,         Till she had hailed with lips inspired             The Maid with unborn Godhead blest.         For him the hairy skins of beasts             Furnished a raiment rude and wild,         As forth into the lonely waste             He fared, an unbefriended child,         Who dwelt apart, lest he should be             By evil city-life defiled.         There, vowed to abstinence, he grew             To manhood, and with stern disdain         He turned from meat and drink, until             He saw night's shadow fall again;         And locusts and the wild bees' store             Sufficed his vigour to sustain.         The first was he to testify             Of that new life which man might win;         In Jordan's consecrating stream             He purged the stains of ancient sin,         And, as he made the body clean,             The radiant Spirit entered in.         Forth from the holy tide they came             Reborn, from guilt's pollution free,         As bright from out the cleansing fire             Flows the rough gold, or as we see         The glittering silver, purged of dross,             Flash into polished purity.         Now let us tell, from Holy Writ,             Of olden fasts the fairest crown;         How God in pity stayed His hand,             And spared a doomed and guilty town,         In clemency the flames withheld             And laid His vengeful lightnings down.         A mighty race of ancient time             Waxed arrogant in boastful pride;         Debauched were they, and borne along             On foul corruption's loathsome tide,         Till in their stiff-necked self-conceit             They e'en the God of Heaven denied.         At last Eternal Mercy turns             To righteous judgment, swift and dire;         He shakes the clouds; the mighty sword             Flames in His hand, and in His ire         He wields the roaring hurricane             'Mid murky gloom and flashing fire.         Yet in His clemency He grants             To penitence a brief delay,         That they might burst the bonds of lust             And put their vanities away;         His sentence given, He waits awhile             And stays the hand upraised to slay.         To warn them of the wrath to come             The Avenger in His mercy sent         Jonah the seer; but,--though he knew             The threatening Judge would fain relent         Nor wished to strike,--towards Tarshish town             The prophet's furtive course was bent.         As up the galley's side he climbed,             They loosed the dripping rope, and passed         The harbour bar: then on them burst             The sudden fury of the blast;         And when their peril's cause they sought,             The lot was on the recreant cast.         The man whose guilt the urn declares             Alone must die, the rest to save;         Hurled headlong from the deck, he falls             And sinks beneath the engulfing wave,         Then, seized by monstrous jaws, is plunged             Into a vast and living grave.                  *             *             *             *             *         At last the monster hurls him forth,             As the third night had rolled away;         Before its roar the billows break             And lash the cliffs with briny spray;         Unhurt the wondering prophet stands             And hails the unexpected day.         Thus turned again to duty's path             To Nineveh he swiftly came,         Their lusts rebuked and boldly preached             God's judgment on their sin and shame;         "Believe!" he cried, "the Judge draws nigh             Whose wrath shall wrap your streets in flame."         Thence to the lofty mount withdrew,             Where he might watch the smoke-cloud lower         O'er blasted homes and ruined halls,             And rest beneath the shady bower         Upspringing in swift luxury             Of twining tendril, leaf and flower.         But when the guilty burghers heard             The impending doom, a dull despair         Possessed their souls; proud senators,             Poor craftsmen, throng the highways fair;         Pale youth with tottering age unites,             And women's wailing rends the air.         A public fast they now decree,             If they may thus Christ's anger stay:         No food they touch: each haughty dame             Puts silken robes and gems away,         In sable garbed, and ashes casts             Upon her tresses' disarray.         In dark and squalid vesture clad             The Fathers go: the mourning crowd         Dons rough attire: in shaggy skins             Enwrapped, fair maids their faces shroud         With dusky veils, and boyish heads             E'en to the very dust are bowed.         The King tears off his jewelled brooch             And rends the robe of Coan hue;         Bright emeralds and lustrous pearls             Are flung aside, and ashes strew         The royal head, discrowned and bent,             As low he kneels God's grace to sue.         None thought to drink, none thought to eat;             All from the table turned aside,         And in their cradles wet with tears             Starved babes in bitter anguish cried,         For e'en the foster-mother stern             To little lips the breast denied.         The very flocks are closely penned             By careful hands, lest they should gain         Sweet water from the babbling stream             Or wandering crop the dewy plain;         And bleating sheep and lowing kine             Within their barren stalls complain.         Moved by such penitence, full soon             God's grace repealed the stern decree         And curbed His righteous wrath; for aye,             When man repents, His clemency         Is swift to pardon and to hear             His children weeping bitterly.         Yet wherefore of that bygone race             Should we anew the story tell?         For Christ's pure soul by fasting long             The clogging bonds of flesh did quell;         He Whom the prophet's voice foretold             As GOD WITH US, Emmanuel.         Man's body--frail by nature's law             And bound by pleasure's easy chain--         He freed by virtue's strong restraint,             And gave it liberty again:         He broke the bonds of flesh, and Lust             Was driven from his old domain.         Deep in the inhospitable wild             For forty days He dwelt alone         Nor tasted food, till, thus prepared,             All human weakness overthrown         By fasting's power, His mortal frame             Rejoiced the spirit's sway to own.         The Adversary, marvelling             To see this creature of a day         Endure such toil, spent all his guile             To learn if God in human clay         Had come indeed; but soon rebuked             Behind His back fled shamed away.         Therefore let each with all his might             Follow the way the Master taught,         The law of consecrated life             Which Christ unto His servants brought;         Till, with the lusts of flesh subdued,             The spirit reigns o'er act and thought.         'Tis this our jealous foe abhors,             'Tis this the Lord of earth and sky         Approves; by this the soul is made             Thy holy altar, God Most High:         Faith stirs within the slumbering heart             And sin's corroding power must fly.         Swifter than water quenches fire,             Swifter than sunshine melts the snow,         Crushed out by soul-restoring fast             Vanish the sins that rankly grow,         If hand in hand with Abstinence             Sweet Charity doth ever go.         This too is Virtue's noble task,             To clothe the naked, and to feed         The destitute, with kindly care             To visit sufferers in their need;         For king and beggar each must bear             The lot by changeless Fate decreed.         Happy the man whose good right hand             Seeks but God's praise, and flings his gold         Broadcast, nor lets his left hand know             The gracious deed; for wealth untold         Shall crown him through eternal years             With usury an hundredfold.