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Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius was a Roman Christian poet born in 348. He is known for his significant contribution to early Christian literature, producing works that blended classical Roman poetic forms with Christian themes. His most famous works include the 'Psychomachia', which depicts the battle between virtues and vices, and 'Cathemerinon', a collection of hymns for various times of the day. Prudentius' poetry played a crucial role in the Christianization of Roman literary culture.

January 1, 348

January 1, 405

Latin

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Epilogue: Hymns For The Christian's Day (Epilogus)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.

Epilogus


Inmolat Deo Patri
pius, fidelis, innocens, pudicus
dona conscientiae,
quibus beata mens abundat intus:
alter et pecuniam
recidit, unde victitent egeni.
Nos citos iambicos
sacramus et rotatiles trochaeos,
sanctitatis indigi
nec ad levamen pauperum potentes;
adprobat tamen Deus
pedestre carmen, et benignus audit.
Multa divitis domo
sita est per omnes angulos supellex.
Fulget aureus scyphus,
nec aere defit expolita pelvis:
est et olla fictilis,
gravisque et ampla argentea est parabsis.
Sunt eburna quaepiam,
nonnulla q...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

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
...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Hymn After Meat (Hymnus Post Cibum)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.

Hymnus Post Cibum


Pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto,
quem lex corporis inbecilla poscit,
laudem lingua Deo patri rependat;
Patri, qui Cherubin sedile sacrum,
nec non et Seraphin suum supremo
subnixus solio tenet regitque.

Hic est, quem Sabaoth Deum vocamus,
expers principii carensque fine,
rerum conditor et repertor orbis:
fons vitae liquida fluens ab arce,
infusor fidei, sator pudoris,
mortis perdomitor, salutis auctor.

Omnes quod sumus aut vigemus, inde est:
regnat Spiritus ille sempiternus
a Christo simul et Parente missus.
Intrat pectora candidus pudica,
...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

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...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Hymn Before Sleep (Hymnus Ante Somnum)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.

Hymnus Ante Somnum


Ades Pater supreme,
quem nemo vidit unquam,
Patrisque sermo Christe,
et Spiritus benigne.

O Trinitatis huius
vis una, lumen unum,
Deus ex Deo perennis,
Deus ex utroque missus.

Fluxit labor diei,
redit et quietis hora,
blandus sopor vicissim
fessos relaxat artus.

Mens aestuans procellis
curisque sauciata
totis bibit medullis
obliviale poclum.

Serpit per omne corpus
Lethaea vis, nec ullum
miseris doloris aegri
patitur manere sensum.

Lex haec data est caducis
Deo iubente membr...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Hymn For Christmas-Day (Hymnus VIII. Kalendas Ianuarias)

Hymnus VIII. Kalendas Ianuarias


Quid est, quod artum circulum
sol iam recurrens deserit?
Christusne terris nascitur,
qui lucis auget tramitem?

Heu quam fugacem gratiam
festina volvebat dies,
quam pene subductam facem
sensim recisa extinxerat!

Caelum nitescat laetius,
gratetur et gaudens humus,
scandit gradatim denuo
iubar priores lineas.

Emerge dulcis pusio,
quem mater edit castitas,
parens et expers coniugis,
mediator et duplex genus.

Ex ore quamlibet Patris
sis ortus et verbo editus,
tamen paterno in pectore
sophia callebas prius.

Quae prompta caelum condidit,
caelum diemque et...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Morning Hymn (Hymnus Matutinus)

English Translation below Original

Hymnus Matutinus


Nox et tenebrae et nubila,
confusa mundi et turbida,
lux intrat, albescit polus,
Christus venit, discedite.

Caligo terrae scinditur
percussa solis spiculo,
rebusque iam color redit
vultu nitentis sideris.

Sic nostra mox obscuritas
fraudisque pectus conscium
ruptis retectum nubibus
regnante pallescit Deo.

Tunc non licebit claudere
quod quisque fuscum cogitat,
sed mane clarescent novo
secreta mentis prodita.

Fur ante lucem squalido
inpune peccat tempore,
sed lux dolis contraria
latere furtum non sinit.

Versuta fraus et callida

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Preface: Hymns For The Christian's Day

PRAEFATIO


Per quinquennia iam decem,
ni fallor, fuimus: septimus insuper
annum cardo rotat, dum fruimur sole volubili.
Instat terminus et diem
vicinum senio iam Deus adplicat.
Quid nos utile tanti spatio temporis egimus?
Aetas prima crepantibus
flevit sub ferulis: mox docuit toga
infectum vitiis falsa loqui, non sine crimine.
Tum lasciva protervitas,
et luxus petulans (heu pudet ac piget)
foedavit iuvenem nequitiae sordibus ac luto.
Exin iurgia turbidos
armarunt animos et male pertinax
vincendi studium subiacuit casibus asperis.
Bis legum moderamine
frenos nobilium reximus urbium,
ius civile bonis reddidimus, terruimus reos.
Tandem...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius