AMBROSIUS

I

HYMNUS MATUTINUS

Aeterne rerum conditor, Noctem diemque qui regis, Et temporum das tempora, Ut alleves fastidium;

Praeco diei iam sonat,
Noctis profundae pervigil,
Nocturna lux viantibus,
A nocte noctem segregans.

Hoc excitatus lucifer

Solvit polum caligine,

Hoc omnis errorum chorus

Viam nocendi deserit.

Hoc nauta vires colligit
Pontique mitescunt freta,
Hoc ipsa petra ecclesiae
Canente culpam diluit.

AMBROSE

I

MORNING HYMN

Creator everlasting, Thou
Who rulest night and day,
And giv'st the boundaries of time,
Our weariness to stay;

Now sounds the herald of the morn Who through deep night abides, A sleepless guide for wandering feet, And night from night divides.

Awaked by him, the morning star

From gloom clears all the sky, While error's every host, at this, Their evil courses fly.

The sailor now regains his strength, The sea's wild waves grow tame, As, at this sound, the Church's rock Himself deplored his shame.

Surgamus ergo strenue!
Gallus iacentes excitat,
Et somnolentos increpat,
Gallus negantes arguit.

Gallo canente spes redit,
Aegris salus refunditur,
Mucro latronis conditur,
Lapsis fides revertitur.

Iesu, labentes respice,
Et nos videndo corrige,
Si respicis, lapsus cadunt,
Fletuque culpa solvitur.

Tu lux refulge sensibus, Mentisque somnum discute, Te nostra vox primum sonet Et ore psallamus tibi.

Then let us rise up valiantly!
The cock rings forth his cry.
He doth upbraid the slumberers,
Refutes those who deny.

When crows the cock our hope returns,
Health o'er the sick is poured,
The robber's sword is safely sheathed,
The faint find faith restored.

O Jesus, mark us when we fall,
And by Thy look restrain,
Our errors cease, if Thou behold,
And tears wash out their stain.

Thou Light upon our senses shine,
Our minds' dull sleep dispel,
Our voices first shall sing to Thee,

Our mouth Thy praises tell.

II

HYMNUS VESPERTINUS

Deus, creator omnium
Polique rector, vestiens
Diem decoro lumine,
Noctem soporis gratia,

Artus solutos ut quies
Reddat laboris usui,
Mentesque fessas allevet
Luctusque solvat anxios.

Grates peracto iam die
Et noctis exortu preces,
Votis, reos ut adiuves,
Hymnum canentes solvimus.

Te cordis ima concinant,
Te vox canora concrepet,
Te diligat castus amor,
Te mens adoret sobria.