Hymn At Cock-Crow (Hymnus Ad Galli Cantum)

Hymn At Cock-Crow (Hymnus Ad Galli Cantum)             Ales diei nuntius         lucem propinquam praecinit;         nos excitator mentium         iam Christus ad vitam vocat.             Auferte, clamat, lectulos         aegros, soporos, desides:         castique recti ac sobrii         vigilate, iam sum proximus.             Post solis ortum fulgidi         serum est cubile spernere,         ni parte noctis addita         tempus labori adieceris.             Vox ista, qua strepunt aves         stantes sub ipso culmine         paulo ante quam lux emicet,         nostri figura est iudicis.             Tectos tenebris horridis         stratisque opertos segnibus         suadet quietem linquere         iam iamque venturo die.             Ut, cum coruscis flatibus         aurora caelum sparserit,         omnes labore exercitos         confirmet ad spem luminis.             Hic somnus ad tempus datus         est forma mortis perpetis,         peccata ceu nox horrida         cogunt iacere ac stertere.             Sed vox ab alto culmine         Christi docentis praemonet,         adesse iam lucem prope,         ne mens sopori serviat:             Ne somnus usque ad terminos         vitae socordis opprimat         pectus sepultum crimine         et lucis oblitum suae.             Ferunt vagantes daemonas         laetos tenebris noctium,         gallo canente exterritos         sparsim timere et cedere.             Invisa nam vicinitas         lucis, salutis, numinis         rupto tenebrarum situ         noctis fugat satellites.             Hoc esse signum praescii         norunt repromissae spei,         qua nos soporis liberi         speramus adventum Dei.             Quae vis sit huius alitis,         salvator ostendit Petro,         ter antequam gallus canat         sese negandum praedicans.             Fit namque peccatum prius,         quam praeco lucis proximae         inlustret humanum genus         finemque peccandi ferat.             Flevit negator denique         ex ore prolapsum nefas,         cum mens maneret innocens,         animusque servaret fidem.             Nec tale quidquam postea         linguae locutus lubrico est,         cantuque galli cognito         peccare iustus destitit.             Inde est quod omnes credimus,         illo quietis tempore         quo gallus exsultans canit         Christum redisse ex inferis.             Tunc mortis oppressus vigor,         tunc lex subacta est tartari,         tunc vis diei fortior         noctem coegit cedere.             Iam iam quiescant inproba,         iam culpa furva obdormiat,         iam noxa letalis suum         perpessa somnum marceat.             Vigil vicissim spiritus         quodcumque restat temporis,         dum meta noctis clauditur,         stans ac laborans excubet.             Iesum ciamus vocibus         flentes, precantes, sobrii:         intenta supplicatio         dormire cor mundum vetat.             Sat convolutis artubus         sensum profunda oblivio         pressit, gravavit, obruit         vanis vagantem somniis.             Sunt nempe falsa et frivola,         quae mundiali gloria         ceu dormientes egimus:         vigilemus, hic est veritas.             Aurum, voluptas, gaudium,         opes, honores, prospera,         quaecumque nos inflant mala,         fit mane, nil sunt omnia.             Tu, Christe, somnum dissice,         tu rumpe noctis vincula,         tu solve peccatum vetus         novumque lumen ingere.     Hymn At Cock-Crow          Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope.         Awake! the shining day is born!         The herald cock proclaims the morn:         And Christ, the soul's Awakener, cries,         Bidding us back to life arise.         Away the sluggard's bed! away         The slumber of the soul's decay!         Ye chaste and just and temperate,         Watch! I am standing at the gate.         After the sun hath risen red         'Tis late for men to scorn their bed,         Unless a portion of the night         They seize for labours of the light.         Mark ye, what time the dawn draws nigh,         How 'neath the eaves the swallows cry?         Know that by true similitude         Their notes our Judge's voice prelude.         When hid by shades of dark malign         On beds of softness we recline,         They call us forth with music clear         Warning us that the day is near.         When breezes bright of orient morn         With rosy hues the heavens adorn,         They cheer with hope of gladdening light         The hearts that spend in toil their might.         Though sleep be but a passing guest         'Tis type of death's perpetual rest:         Our sins are as a ghastly night,         And seal with slumbers deep our sight.         But from the wide roof of the sky         Christ's voice peals forth with urgent cry,         Calling our sleep-bound hearts to rise         And greet the dawn with wakeful eyes.         He bids us fear lest sensual ease         Unto life's end the spirit seize         And in the tomb of shame us bind,         Till we are to the true light blind.         'Tis said that baleful spirits roam         Abroad beneath the dark's vast dome;         But, when the cock crows, take their flight         Sudden dispersed in sore affright.         For the foul votaries of the night         Abhor the coming of the light,         And shamed before salvation's grace         The hosts of darkness hide their face.         They know the cock doth prophesy         Of Hope's long-promised morning sky,         When comes the Majesty Divine         Upon awakened worlds to shine.         The Lord to Peter once foretold         What meaning that shrill strain should hold,         How he before cock-crow would lie         And thrice his Master dear deny.         For 'tis a law that sin is done         Before the herald of the sun         To humankind the dawn proclaims         And with his cry the sinner shames.         Then wept he bitter tears aghast         That from his lips the words had passed,         Though guileless he his soul possessed         And faith still reigned within his breast.         Nor ever reckless word he said         Thereafter, by his tongue betrayed,         But at the cock's familiar cry         Humbled he turned from vanity.         Therefore it is we hold to-day         That, as the world in stillness lay,         What hour the cock doth greet the skies,         Christ from deep Hades did arise.         Lo! then the bands of death were burst,         Shattered the sway of hell accurst:         Then did the Day's superior might         Swiftly dispel the hosts of Night.         Now let base deeds to silence fall,         Black thoughts be stilled beyond recall:         Now let sin's opiate spell retire         To that deep sleep it doth inspire.         For all the hours that still remain         Until the dark his goal attain,         Alert for duty's stern command         Let every soul a sentry stand.         With sober prayer on Jesus call;         Let tears with our strong crying fall;         Sleep cannot on the pure soul steal         That supplicates with fervent zeal.         Too long did dull oblivion cloud         Our motions and our senses shroud:         Lulled by her numbing touch, we stray         In dreamland's ineffectual way.         Bound by the dazzling world's soft chain         'Tis false and fleeting gauds we gain,         Like those who in deep slumbers lie:--         Let us awake! the truth is nigh.         Gold, honours, pleasure, wealth and ease,         And all the joys that mortals please,         Joys with a fatal glamour fraught--         When morning comes, lo! all are nought.         But thou, O Christ, put sleep to flight         And break the iron bands of night,         Free us from burden of past sin         And shed Thy morning rays within.