II

MORNING HYMN

O Father, uncreated God,

And Thou, of God the only Son, Together with the Holy Ghost, United ever, Three in One.

No man invoketh Thee in vain,
Nor e'er with unavailing sighs
Doth any lover of Thy light

Uplift to heaven his downcast eyes.

Do Thou regard each soul that breathes
The vows which eager suppliants make;
And hearts of them that sin confess,
To Thine eternal favour take.

To render thanks now justly due,

So warneth us the dawn of day;

And praises unto Thee to sing,

That gloomy night hath passed away.

We ask of Thee a goodly day,

That Thou, O Saviour, holy One, Mayst kindly order all our deeds, In faultless honour to be done.

III

DE LUCTU POENITENTIAE

[FROM AN ABECEDARY]

Ad coeli clara non sum dignus sidera
Levare meos infelices oculos,
Gravi depressus peccatorum pondere:
Parce, Redemptor!

Bonum neglexi facere, quod debui, Probrosa gessi sine fine crimina, Scelus patravi nullo clausum termino: Subveni, Christe!

Lugere modo me permitte, Domine,
Mala, quae gessi, reus ab infantia,
Lacrimas mihi tua donet gratia
Cordis ab imo.

Meis, ut puto, vitiis Tartarea Tormenta multis non valent sufficere, Nisi succurrat, Christe, tua pietas Misero mihi.

III

OF THE SORROW OF REPENTANCE

[FROM AN ALPHABET HYMN]

Although I am not worthy e'en to rest

My hapless eyes on stars of heaven so fair, Beneath the burden of my sins oppressed: Redeemer of my soul, I pray Thee, spare!

By me how oft undone the good I ought,
How endless are the evils I have done;
How numberless the secret wrongs I've wrought;
My help must come from Thee, O Christ, alone!

Let me, O Lord, but mourn my deeds of shame, A sinner even from my earliest years,

One favour still my inmost heart shall claim,

That Thou wilt grant to me relief in tears.

Methinks that all of hell's tormenting pains

Amends for my transgressions cannot make, Except, O Christ, my wretched spirit gains

Sufficient aid, for Thy dear mercy's sake.

Redemptor mundi, unica spes omnium,
Aequalis Patri Sanctoque Spiritui,
Trinus et unus Deus invisibilis,
Mihi succurre!

Si me subtili pensas sub libramine,
Spes in me nulla remanet fiduciae,
Sed rogativa me salvet potentia
Filius Dei.

Xriste, te semper recta fide labiis
Confessus, corde credidi orthodoxo,
Haereticorum dogma nefas respui
Pectore puro.

Ymnum fideli modulando gutture Arrium sperno, latrantem Sabellium, Assensi nunquam grunnienti Simoni Fauce susurra.

Zelum pro Christi sum zelatus nomine,
Nam sancta mater lacte me catholico

Tempus per omne nutrivit Ecclesia
Ubere sacro.

Gloria Sanctae Trinitati unicae
Sit Deo Patri, Genito, Paraclito,
Laus meo sonet in ore perpetuum
Domini semper.

Redeemer of the world, man's hope alone,
With Father and with Holy Ghost divine,
Thou unseen Godhead ever Three in One,
O be Thy mighty succour henceforth mine!

Shouldst Thou but weigh me in Thine equal scale,
In me nor hope nor courage would remain;
But still Thy power to save me would not fail,
O Son of God, whose aid none seeks in vain.

Xrist, ever have I Thee with faith correct,
With heart and lips most orthodox, confessed,
Disdaining sinful dogmas of each sect

That sought a resting place in my pure breast.

Yea, I despise the mocking Arian's whine,
The low Sabellian's barking, dog-like howl;
Nor have I joined with Simon's filthy swine
Whose jaws are ever parted with a growl.

Zeal for the name of Christ have I confessed;
For holy mother Church, with milk sincere,
Hath nourished me, and from her sacred breast
Hath fed me through each swiftly passing year.

To God the Father, Son and Paraclete,
Shall glory be ascribed, O Three in One,
And evermore the praise will I repeat

Of Thee, O Lord, while time its course shall run.